Unveiling Our NEW Gingerbread Castle

Guests have come to expect the sweet smells of baked goods and candy that linger in our Chateau Lafayette Lobby as our Gingerbread House display has become part of the Nemacolin Holiday tradition.  What guests find to be unexpected is the feeling of anticipation as they wait for the unveiling of each year's gingerbread creation.  We have featured a life-sized house, village, dollhouse and more, all made from gingerbread and candies, but this year the Nemacolin Food & Beverage team worked 200 hours to present our Gingerbread Castle!

GINGERBREAD CASTLE STATISTICS

1,400 GINGERBREAD BRICKS

96 POUNDS POWDERED SUGAR

10 POUNDS OF EGG WHITES

180 CANDY CANES

4 POUNDS CHRISTMAS NONPAREILS

3 POUNDS CHOCOLATE STARS

2 POUNDS JELLY BELLS

5 POUNDS STARLIGHT MINTS

2 POUNDS CINNAMON JUJU SANTA’S

5 POUNDS JUMBO MINT BALLS

3 POUNDS ROCK CANDY

1 POUNDS GUMMY BEARS

15 FEET SOUR APPLE LACES

250 FEET SUPER ROPES

7 POUNDS CHRISTMAS NOUGAT

OVER 200 HOURS TO COMPLETE

A special thank you to our associates that worked on creating this year's Gingerbread Castle:
Sheena Husar, Alicia Fallas, David Sampson, Brittany Wertz, Kayla Derbish, Josh Lind, Courtney Zito, Christina Crouse, Cassandra Patridge, Ashley Drummund, Abigail Kuhn, Isaac Ortiz, Krystal Jennings,  Jake Juricich, Banquet Set-Up and Banquet Prop Team.

The wooden frame was completed by Ed Wood, Owner of Woodco Contracting, Inc.

Executive Pastry Chef Scott Tennant oversaw this year's project.

“Deck the Halls” – The Gallery Halls that is!

The holidays are a special time of year, especially here at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort. With an unexpected snowfall due to Hurricane Sandy, you can be assured that the resort is already freshly blanketed with a crystalline coating where autumn leaves once laid. It is that period between seasons when time seems to stand still just long enough for our little elves start decking the halls in preparation for this beloved holiday season.

Like thieves in the night, our elves pillage secret storage areas and transform this mountain retreat into a winter oasis that even Santa himself would envy. Wreaths and garland go up in halls and on windows. Twinkling lights illuminate the dark, cold nights outside as the ovens warm up inside in preparation for our Chateau Lobby Gingerbread House. You can expect the smells of warm brown sugar and cinnamon to linger like a magical yuletide wave beckoning you back. Evergreens pop up in every lobby possible, acting as a reminder that our whimsical spirit is alive even in the coldest months. Each tree, with its unique display of ornaments, has become a signature feature of our holiday season décor. In light of this newly realized tradition, you can expect that we would not just stop there.

In addition to our holiday décor, our guests have come to expect to find the Hardy Family Art Collection all year long. And, in one hallway in particular, guests can expect an ever changing display of artwork – our Nemacolin Galleries hallway between the Academie du Vin and the Chateau Signature boutique. Here, regional artists share their gifts and talents in a series of seasonal exhibits. So, why not combine this artistic endeavor with a new holiday tradition. One that embodies the magical spirit of the holidays; that showcases local artistic talent; and that takes that holiday ornament tradition here to a new level. Why not “Deck the Halls” of the Nemacolin Galleries!? Oh, wait – that’s exactly what we plan to do!

During your holiday stay this year, as the gingerbread aroma leads you from the Chateau through The Lodge, you will find the gallery hall decked out with unique handmade ornaments and winter scenes. Our elves have searched high and low for some of the most talented ornament artists in our region. Each has their own style that, much like Nemacolin, offers “something for everyone.”  From felt elves by Nicole Golden and quilted bulbs inspired by the Kansas prairie by Darlene Anderson, to a collection of ceramic ornaments by Becky Keck and Jan McAllister and the return of Cynthia Grant’s hand-painted porcelain, you may find yourself wanting to start your own holiday ornament tradition. And, painters Ray Forquer and Dan Marsula will delight you as you gaze upon their pristine winter landscapes, so much that you might forget you’re not looking out a window upon the snow-covered Laurel Highlands.

The “Deck the Halls” Holiday Art Show will open during our Thanksgiving holiday weekend and continue through New Years. With our holiday season in full swing, we invite you to meet some of the artists on Saturday, November 24, 2012, in the gallery. We’re sure you will find an ornament that will speak to your own individual whimsy. This is just the first of the annual ornament showcases, and we look forward to welcoming you back each year to build your collection in remembrance of your holidays here with us.

For more information on the “Deck the Halls” Holiday Art Show, or to see examples of the artwork and learn more about our artist, please visit our Special Events page, or contact Brenda Girod at 724.329.6481 or by email at brenda.girod@nemacolin.com.

Make This A Helping Holiday

It all began about two weeks ago when I walked past the television and caught a glimpse of a commercial featuring Santa. I had no idea the jolly old elf was already in town.  That knot in my throat, breaking out in a cold sweat feeling of pre-holiday panic began to set in and had a firm grip on my psyche and my dreams.  Work projects and family obligations have had me on the run for the last few weekends and the increasing trails of dust and mounting piles of clutter at the house were weighing heavy on my mind and I envisioned being featured prominently on the next season of Hoarders.  With so much to do just to return to some sense of domestic normalcy, how in the world would I ever manage extra preparations for the holiday season?  When could I hope to begin the deep cleaning that I associate with this time of the year or begin to bake for family and friends?  And shopping?   I might as well just wave the white flag of surrender and resign myself to the fact that I simply might not have the time to bake everyone’s favorite delicacy this year or hang that extra string of lights that brings a special glow to the living room.

Photo Credit:  NEW YORK DAILY TIMES

Then, this past Sunday, while contemplating my annual dilemma and formulating this season’s shopping strategies, my holiday stress suddenly dissipated.  I was pulling the pre-pre-pre-holiday toy circular from the local paper when I noticed a photo on the front page that struck every Christmas chord in my body and forced me to take stock of what is truly important during the holidays and every day.  That solitary image of total devastation from the Breezy Point neighborhood borough of Queens made me realize that my holiday preparations, no matter how hectic and hurried, would be very different from those of our neighbors in many northeast communities.  Instead of fretting about a clean home or a special glow, they will be searching through rubble in the spot where they placed their tree last December.  They will not be worrying about the number of Christmas cookies they bake but agonizing over how they will continue to feed their families.  These neighbors will not be hanging holiday lights but concentrating on finding warm and safe shelter for their children and explaining to those very same children how Santa will find them this year…if he finds them at all.

This should be a very different holiday season for each and every one of us whether we were in the direct path of Superstorm Sandy or many miles away in communities untouched and unharmed.  At Nemacolin Woodlands Resort, we are committed to aid in the recovery efforts as a handful of our associates will be traveling to affected neighborhoods to volunteer their time and to deliver supplies to those in such incredible need.  Knowing just how generous and caring our amazing guests can be, we are certain that many have already contributed to the massive relief efforts along the eastern seaboard and we humbly ask that everyone reading this consider a donation of time or supplies if they are able.  We have learned of a number of items that are in great demand and we are placing collection receptacles at the Concierge Desk with plans to ship the contents to a New Jersey community near Ocean City.  If you live in our region or are visiting us within the next month, we hope that you will join us in our efforts and bring one or two of the requested items to help us help those whose holidays have forever changed.

Needed Items

• Dish Washing Detergent (small sizes)
• Cleaning Supplies (small sizes)
• Toiletries
• Diapers
• Baby Wash
• New Linens
• Non-Perishable Food (dry milk)
• Juice

Zelma Kassimer
Director of Marketing and Guest Relations Manager

Nemacolin Woodlands Resort

Nemacolin Associates Of The Month...

It is that time... when we come together and recognize the many bright and shining all-stars that make up our Nemacolin Customer Service Team.  Our Associates of the Month have been chosen by their peers, supervisors and / or Managers for a variety of reason including their work ethic, attitudes, character and customer service skills.  We congratulate this Month's associates and thank them all for their dedication to our Resort.  Below are our winners and a sampling of their Nomination Letters.

BACK OF THE HOUSE:
Micheal Jordan - Turfgrass


"Mike is a very hard worker.  When he sets out to complete a job assignment he gets it done and is ready for his next job.  We appreciate everything Mike has done and will continue to perform throughout the remainder of the season."


FRONT OF THE HOUSE:
Clyde (Thomas) Bushmire - Golf Department

 

"Clyde has a unique personality that ALL guests (golfers) enjoy.  He truly cares about our guests' experience on and off the course.  He is consistently positively remarked upon on golf’s comment cards (that are placed on each golf cart)."

RISING STAR:
Sarah Cook - The Nemacolin Field Club


"Sarah is the centerpiece that holds everything together at the Shooting Academy.  Whether it is assisting group shoots on scoring their events as quickly as possible, being the first face customers see and making sure the communication with trappers is smooth, or any retail information, she does it all."


LEADER OF THE MONTH:
Aimee St. Clair - Conference and Catering




















"Aimee did an awesome job with a recent group. It was their first time at Nemacolin and Aimee spent countless hours making sure all of their functions ran smooth. Even with many day-of changes, Aimee never skipped a beat in making sure all their needs were fulfilled. They were very happy upon the completion of their program and said everything was great. Kudos to Aimee for all of her hard work and smiling no matter what was happening around her."


TEAM OF THE QUARTER:
Tavern and Paradise Pool

"Their determination, hard work, dedication and pride in the Tavern and Nemacolin are always unwavering.  Without a doubt the Tavern and Paradise Pool Associates deserve Team of the Quarter for exemplifying what it is to be a team and what Nemacolin stands for."