There is only one place in the US — and probably the world — where you’ll find Bengal tigers, Botero sculptures, cosmic bowling, merry-go-rounds, airplane collections, and all the trappings of a luxury resort. And that place is Nemacolin, a real-life magical experience in Pennsylvania’s Laurel Highlands.

Resort, quite frankly, falls short in describing Nemacolin. Magical gets much closer. But how else can you describe an experience that offers the grandeur of The Chateau, the art-deco oasis of its Falling Rock, the country living embodied in The Lodge, and the personalized, private luxury of The Home and The Estates collection? All the while offering a wildlife reserve, a family art collection, world-class dining and spa venues, and an annual pride event: Drag & Dive: Pride 2022!, created and curated by the iconic Susanne Bartsch. Reread this paragraph, and you’ll come to realize that Nemacolin is the gay Valhalla we’ve all been looking for!

For 35 years the property has been a passion project for its owners. What started as a gift from Joseph A. Hardy III, for his outdoor-loving daughter, Maggie Hardy Knox, turned into a five-star experience helmed by Maggie and her son, PJ, who have made real-life magical experiences for their guests, their north star. And magic is inevitable when you combine the variety of unique Nemacolin’s adventure, cultural, culinary, and hospitality experiences with the personal touch of a family for whom Nemacolin has become a life’s work.  

So, if they make real-life magic every day at Nemacolin, imagine how magical a wedding will be here? We’ve long advocated for the single destination bachelor party / wedding / honeymoon and Nemacolin is proof that this is possible. Bring your gents here for a golfing or a spa get-away or take it up a notch (or twenty!) and time your bachelor weekend with Drag & Dive: Pride 2022! Revel in your big day with your guests while axe-throwing, ‘painting and pinot-ing’, off-roading and shopping. Tie the knot in The Chateau Gardens, and dine and dance the night away in the Grand Ballroom. And honeymoon your way into married life holed up in your luxury residence, fielding only the care of unparalleled wellness experts. All of this never having to leave, unless of course Frank Lloyd Wright’s nearby iconic Fallingwater house calls for your attention.

Planning your wedding at Nemacolin is as simple as engaging the creative team at the Nemacolin Atelier to set in motion the event, catering, and even transportation planning for your magical big day. Pretty much anything your imagination can dream up, Nemacolin can make real.

Property Photos by: Jordan Millington