Spa Profile: Woodlands Spa and Salon at Nemacolin

Nemacolin is a stunning destination spa resort located in the Allegheny Mountains of southwestern Pennsylvania.

Nemacolin is a 2,200-acre destination luxury spa resort located in southwestern Pennsylvania’s beautiful Allegheny Mountains. Guests can enjoy a relaxing stay in one of the property’s elevated accommodations include The Chateau, Falling Rock, The Grand Lodge (to be completed in Fall 2023), The Homes, and The Estates—depending on their personal preference.

The expansive resort is also home to two championship golf courses, outdoor activities including fly fishing, wildlife experiences, numerous dining options and lounges, art tours, shopping, as well as an award-winning spa. Open since 1988, Woodlands Spa and Salon at Nemacolin features a Feng Shui design that balances and harmonizes the flow of energy throughout the spa with the five elements of wood, fire, earth, metal and water.

In addition to 40 treatment rooms, an indoor pool, whirlpools, steam rooms and saunas, a fitness center, full-service salon and retail boutique, guests can also experience wellness consultations at the Holistic Healing Center, a cutting-edge wellness center that helps them achieve their wellness goals. Consultations are complimentary when they book the Acupuncture or Holistic Integrative Therapy, and treatments such as salt water float therapy and cryotherapy are tailored to the guest based on recommendations to assist with stress, nervous system issues, post-traumatic stress, sleep management, and more.

We interviewed Katlyn Hatcher, Director of Spa and Wellness at Nemacolin, to learn more about treatments to try, insider tips, and more.

Nemacolin offers a variety of accommodations for guests including The Chateau (pictured).

Why You’ll Love It: Guests enjoy the complete experience we can provide—our relaxing treatments, rejuvenating therapies, and luxe salon services combined with the tranquil and sprawling facility allows our guests to feel like they are transported to a world away in order to create a memorable experience. Our balanced Feng Shui design, soothing water features, and signature neroli and sandalwood scent create a calming sensation upon entry—our guests often comment they feel lighter just walking into the space.

Nemacolin has two championship golf courses, outdoor activities and wildlife experiences, as well as an award-winning spa.

Key Features: We offer locker and changing facilities stocked with products for convenience, gender-specific wet areas that include a whirlpool, lavender-eucalyptus steam room, and a dry sauna with a Himalayan salt wall. The Woodlands Spa also offers a co-ed indoor and outdoor spa pool and a full-service fireside lounge—including complimentary light bites and beverages and an a la carte lunch and wine menu.

The entrance to Falling Rock, Nemacolin’s bespoke accommodations that are influenced by architect Frank Lloyd Wright and feature art decor interiors and personalized butler service.

Insider’s Tip: Pre-book the fireside lounge and lunch! It’s a complimentary reservation that reserves a chaise surrounding a relaxing, wood-burning fireplace. A full-service attendant can deliver light bites, coffee, champagne, or a fresh salad or wrap from the spa lunch menu. It’s the perfect place to cozy up with a faux fur blanket to enjoy a break between services, or finish with a glass of wine by the fire.

The Grand Lodge at Nemacolin is currently under construction (slated to open in Fall 2023) and will elevate a worldwide measure of luxury that embodies the resort’s whimsical and woodsy charm.

Bonus: Salon services include complimentary house wine or champagne, and our fireside lounge includes complimentary coffee and tea bar and light bites.

Snacks Served: House-made dark chocolate granola, quinoa bars, and lemon-zucchini muffins, yogurt raisins, veggie chips, dried fruit and nut blends, banana chips, and a daily house-made appetizer.

The resort’s Fitness Center offers group classes, private sessions and more.

Splurge Treatment: The Biologique Recherche 120-minute Facial is the ultimate indulgence in self-care. This ultra-targeted facial experience uses high concentrations of the purest active marine and biotechnological ingredients to deliver seriously glowing skin. It is paired with our sculpting massage protocols and remodeling face machine which uses micro-current, galvanic, and high/low frequency to sculpt the face, cheekbones, and chin—producing immediate and impressive results!

Woodlands Spa and Salon is the resort’s award-winning spa that features a Feng Shui design.

Unique Treatment: Our Five Elements Journey is a signature treatment we created honoring our spa’s Feng Shui design. The five Chinese earth elements are used throughout the space and are pillars of the design: wood, fire, earth, metal, and water. This treatment walks the guest through a journey that will leave the body feeling relaxed, the soul feeling lighter, and the mind at peace. The treatment includes a personal reflection with ceremonial candle lighting, palo santo cleansing, hot and cold hydrotherapy with a walk through our signature Water Path, essential oils and heated bamboo massage, and pressure-point foot massage with a bronze Kansa wand.

Insider’s Favorite: A favorite of mine is our Dream Catcher Service honoring the Native American heritage in the Laurel Highlands. This has been a signature treatment on our menu for over 15 years. Combining the wisdom of Native American therapies with the sacred principles of Hawaiian Lomi Lomi massage, this session begins with ritualistic music and the burning of white sage. Subsequent craniosacral, Reiki, and bodywork promotes deep relaxation, both physically and spiritually. The treatment concludes with the traditional “casting of the nets,” which symbolizes rebirth. For those in the mindset to release pent-up emotion, stress, or in emotional transition, it is a powerfully soothing experience.

The full-service salon also offers a vast selection of nail and hair services.

Featured Products: We use some of the finest and most effective products from all over the world including Natura Bisse, Biologique Recherche, Red Flower, Hydra Facial, Eminence Organic Skin Care, Circadia, OPI, and FarmHouse Fresh. Our fragmented coconut and avocado bulk massage oils are ancient healing oils that are sourced locally just a few miles away from the resort property.