In 1968, Pittsburgh industrialist Willard F. Rockwell (Rockwell International) established a private game reserve in the Laurel Highlands on what is now Nemacolin Woodlands Resort. This property was named Nemacolin Trails Hunting Reserve. The Rockwell’s invited friends and business associates to hunt and fish the 400-acre reserve, populated by silver fox, bear and white-tailed deer. A hunting lodge was constructed in 1968, together with the golf course and airstrip. Lakes Louise and Carol were also added, and Beaver Creek was developed into the excellent trout stream it is today.

The property was sold in 1979 to Cordelia Mellon Scaife, and became an exclusive conference center. Three years later, the property returned to the Rockwell Family. Kent Rockwell, Willard’s son, purchased the conference center and opened it to the public. In the years immediately following, the Maples and Laurel Ponds townhouses and a number of private homes were established on the estate.

In 1987, Joseph A. Hardy, III, founder of the 84 Lumber Company, purchased a large portion of the Nemacolin property at auction – an auction he attended in the hopes of purchasing a few acres of woodlands near a lake or stream for his daughter, Maggie, who loved fishing. 

As Hardy recounts, “I left the auction without that piece of property for fishing because I bought the main parcel and was out of money.” Hardy and his daughter, Maggie, promptly set about transforming the property into its present state – a 3,000 acre world-class resort, rated Four-Stars by the prestigious Mobil Travel Guide and Four Diamonds by the American Automobile Association (AAA).  In 2002, Hardy transferred full ownership of the resort to his daughter, Maggie Hardy Magerko, who still serves as President and Owner.

The Nemacolin Woodlands Resort timeline:

1987 (year of Hardy ownership) – The Tudor-style Lodge was expanded, and work on an elegant annex of 68 rooms commenced, together with the Executive Conference Center and new lobbies.   The Woodlands Golf Academy was established.

 1988 – The Woodlands Spa opened. Soon afterward, the Gazebo, Lake P.J., and the Panorama Pavilion were constructed.

1989 – The Lodge Annex was followed by the Townhouses on the Links.

 1991 – The Grand Ballroom is added to the Woodlands Executive Conference Center.

 1992 – The Tavern, the Caddy Shack, the Equestrian Center and the Fallingbrook miniature golf course open.

 1995 – Mystic Rock golf course, Paradise Pool, Kidz Club area, Heritage Court Shoppes, and Mystic Mountain ski area open.

 1997 – The elegant Chateau LaFayette hotel – including the Cigar Bar, Hardy & Hayes Jewelers, the Marquis Ballroom, and Lautrec fine-dining French restaurant – opens. 

 1998 – Major renovation and expansion of the Woodlands Spa.

 1999 – The Shooting Academy opens.

 2000 – The Auto Toy Store opens, featuring a number of rare and collectible automobiles.

 2001 – The Air Hanger opens.

 2002 – Woodlands World Outdoor Store and the Off-Road Driving Academy open.

 2003 – The John Daly Learning Center opens on the Links golf course, and the PGA TOUR 84 Lumber Classic comes to the Mystic Rock course.

 2004 – Falling Rock hotel – with Aqueous restaurant – opens and the Off-Road Driving Academy is expanded.  Mystic Rock golf course undergoes extensive renovations.

 2005 – Woodlands Spa is expanded, adding 12 treatment rooms.  Horizon Point meeting facility opens.  Nemacolin ventures into downtown Uniontown with the opening of 30 East Main restaurant and the Nemacolin Collection designer clothing stores.

 2006 – Woodlands World Outdoor Store moves to downtown Uniontown.  Wildlife habitats are built, bringing black bears, elk, emus, Patagonian Cayvees, Australian wallabies, and zebra to the resort.  Dogsledding is added as a winter adventure offering.  The Golden Trout restaurant is closed, and reopens after a total interior and menu renovation as Autumn.

 2007 – Marks the 20^th anniversary of Nemacolin Woodlands Resort.  Paige’s Beach opens as the new location for paddleboats, kayaking and canoeing.  The Canoe Museum – located at Paige’s Beach – opens.  Equestrian Center becomes new Wildlife Academy.  Buffalos join the mix of Nemacolin’s wildlife habitats – including a very rare, solid white buffalo.

2008 - Nemacolin's fine-dining restaurant, Lautrec, becomes one of only 50 restaurants in the United States to earn the prestigious AAA Five Diamond Award, making Nemacolin one of only 21 resorts world-wide to offer Five Diamond lodging at Falling Rock and dining at Lautrec.