Nemacolin Woodlands Lady Luck Casino
Ohiopyle State Park. Are you up for over 19,000 acres encompassing Appalachia’s and Southwest. Nemacolin is a family vacation destination situated on 2,000 mountain acres in the Laurel Highlands of Southwestern Pennsylvania – and also where the Lady Luck® Casino Nemacolin is conveniently located.
Nemacolin Woodlands Resort is the home to Lady Luck Casino all the way down in Fayette County, Pennsylvania. It’s about an hour south of Pittsburgh’s South Hills. Since it’s a resort, there are plenty of on-site attractions to get excited about.
However, given this venue’s location in proximity to some of the nation’s most historic areas and the Appalachian Mountain Range, you’d need to spend a week off the resort to savor the following 11 nearby attractions.
So, gear up for a family vacation if you’re heading out to the Nemacolin Woodlands Resort. Because you’re looking at far more than just the casino gaming over at its on-site casino, Lady Luck. This Pennsylvania gambling destination is only beginning when you’re on the resort, at the slots, or playing the tables.
Let’s look at all of what the area surrounding Nemacolin Woodlands Resort and Lady Luck Casino offer.
1 – Ohiopyle State Park
Are you up for over 19,000 acres encompassing Appalachia’s and Southwest Pennsylvania’s natural beauty of mountainous deciduous forest?
Then, the scenic Ohiopyle State Park should be on the to-do list and there are so many activities to embark on, I had to rank this one up there at number one.
Whether you’re up for hiking, kayaking, boating, fishing, sun gazing as it sets behind the mountains, or whatever your favorite activity, Ohiopyle is your one-stop nature shop.
Yeah, those casino games can be stressful, adrenaline-pumping. And they may not always end up the way you want them to. Fortunately, Ohiopyle offers greater stress relief than anywhere else on this list.
2 – Fallingwater Building
Frank Lloyd Wright designed this historic building, which served as Edgar J. Kaufmann’s summer home when he ventured into the area.
This nearby attraction has served over 4.5 million visitors since the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy acquired the land and building. Not only will it attract you and other patrons from Lady Luck Casino; this location brings in a worldwide audience to the obscure deep Southwest Pennsylvania.
3 – Great Allegheny Passage
If hiking and biking are you preferred forms of exercise, you’ll love the Great Allegheny Passage. Built for those who prefer the drier side of nature, take advantage of the hundreds of miles of trails this forested passage offers.
Just how far are we talking about?
This landmark will take you all the way to Washington D.C. if you’re up for the challenge. And yeah, people have hiked it. I once knew an individual who ventured across it on a nationwide hike from Los Angeles to New York.
Perhaps if you had an unlucky day at the casino, make a bet with a few locals that you’ll reach D.C. on your mountain bike. Hey, if you’re an endurance athlete, what do you have to lose? I got my money on you.
4 – Kentuck Knob
This venue is privately owned but always open to public tours. Serving as the home of our grand architect Frank Lloyd Wright, Kentuck Knob is really nothing more than a one-story Usonian house. Yeah, I know what you’re thinking; kind of boring.
Type “Kentuck Knob” into a Google search engine and see if you can spot the elusive cottage. But if you’re in the area, come over and make that half-mile climb above sea level and see the historic landmark for yourself. Yeah, you can probably just drive there. But there’s something thrilling and satisfying about climbing a half-mile up a mountain.
5 – Fort Necessity
Just like the land in nearby Kennywood (about an hour north near Rivers Casino Pittsburgh), Fort Necessity played a huge role in the opening battles of the French and Indian War.
And also, as in the Battle of the Monongahela on which Kennywood is located, a young George Washington saw action at the site. And also akin to the Battle of the Mon, the French decisively defeated Washington and his men.
Today, they have reconstructed Fort Necessity. So, pay a visit to this old battleground between British and French soldiers and have a drink and a bite at the Mt. Washington Tavern.
The fort is open daily, along with guided tours. And since you’re only looking at a ten-minute drive from the casino, what is there to lose? Especially if you’re a history buff.
6 – Duncan House
Yet another Frank Lloyd Wright design. What can’t this guy build? The Duncan House can trace its roots back to 1957, so it’s a rather newer building in terms of historic landmarks and attractions.
A fun fact about the Duncan House is that it was originally built in Lisle, Illinois, before being dismantled and reconstructed in its current location. The house serves as a stellar example of Wright’s finest works and serves as an epitome of Wright’s Usonian designs.
7 – United 93 Memorial
Created in remembrance of the crew members and passengers who passed on September 11th, 2001, the memorial serves a dual-purpose in protecting their final resting place while also telling their courageous story.
The flight was one of four hijacked airliners on September 11th, 2001. While two airliners hit the World Trade Center and another hit the Pentagon, the 40 passengers and crew members took action to prevent United 93 from hitting its target.
This is a fantastic place to visit if you’re on vacation with the entire family and to tell your kids about the courageous actions these passengers took in one of the darkest days in American history.
8 – Christian W. Klay Winery
While there are plenty of fantastic dining options at Nemacolin and Lady Luck Casino, you’ll probably find yourself tempted to see what is available around town.
Well, if you’re into complimentary tastings and vintage wines, then the Christian W. Klay Winery is your top destination on this list. Located just minutes from Nemacolin, gear up for tours, tastings, and special events that include live entertainment.
Open seven days a week, you can hit up this venue any time you’re looking for something different.
9 – Ridge Runner Distillery
If you stop at the Christian W. Klay Winery, you may as well make the Ridge Runner Distillery the second act of your quest to experience the area’s finest wine and liquor around.
Uniqueness is the best way to describe the flavor of the Ridge Runner Distillery’s grape-based wines and liquor. One thing is for certain: You can place a safe bet that what you’re about to experience is unlike anything you’ll find at your local grocery store.
10 – Touchstone Center for Crafts
Technically, it’s a craft school. So, get ready to immerse yourself in both contemporary and experimental techniques infused with historic techniques in trades like blacksmithing, glass, oil, watercolor painting, ceramics, photography, and printmaking.
So, if you have a thirst for knowledge or just want to enhance your artistry, Touchstone Center for Crafts is definitely a place to circle in red.
11 – Laurel Caverns
If you’re into caves and mystics, then the Laurel Caverns is probably the first stop on the list. This 430-acre geological park is the home to Pennsylvania’s largest cave.
So, let your inner-adventure seeker shine as you explore nearly three miles of passages in this cave. It’s a fantastic way to get in a challenging and thrill-seeking hike whenever you’re up for an endurance workout.
Oh, and if those natural sculptures you see out west mesmerize you, don’t worry. You’ll find plenty of natural sculpturing deep within these caves. Even if you’re on a time limit to return to the casino for another round of intense gaming action, make sure you stop and admire what you’ll find within the catacombs of the Laurel Caverns.
When you return to Nemacolin, you’ll find yourself refreshed and ready for the second half of the day after you undertake perhaps the greatest hiking and thrill-seeking experience in the area around.
It’s definitely worth taking a break from the gaming floor to visit.
Conclusion
While Nemacolin Woodlands Resort and Lady Luck Casino isn’t located in or anywhere close to a large city, the nature and historical sites provide plenty of attractions off of the resort.
Starting with Ohiopyle State Park all the way to the Laurel Caverns, you probably can’t think of a greater area that offers the best in natural scenery that Southwest Pennsylvania offers. And between the nature and beauty that you’ll find at several of these locations, you’ll also experience history, architecture, fine wine, arts, crafts, and trades.
If you’re the hands-on type of adventurer, you’ll love all 11 of these attractions outside of Nemacolin Resort and Lady Luck Casino.
Have you been to any of the nearby attractions surrounding Nemacolin in Southwest Pennsylvania? Or have you taken a trip and played at the casino itself? If so, let us know in the comments and share your experiences with other readers.
Tucked in a part of Southwestern Pennsylvania well known as a five-star vacation destination since the early 1900s, Lady Luck Casino Nemacolin is a rather small PA casino operation that represents just one of many guest amenities that are a part of the Nemacolin Woodlands Resort.
The property seems content to stay a small, local operator. It did not apply for any online casino licenses. Additionally, it is the only casino in Pennsylvania not to apply for a $10 million sports betting licenses.
Here is some background on the property, which is currently owned by Eldorado Resorts, but managed by Churchill Downs.
The Laurel Highlands history
The Laurel Highlands area became a popular retreat for wealthy Pittsburgh industrialists and merchants in the early 1900s. In the 1930s, a number of vacation retreats and summer homes were built.
Pittsburgh industrialist Willard F. Rockwell built a summer home and hunting and fishing area on 60 acres of land in the Laurel Highlands that became the Nemacolin Trail Hunting Game Reserves by 1968.
The 12-suite Nemacolin Inn opened on the property in September 1970. An 18-hole golf course, swimming pool, and tennis courts were added two years later. The property was then sold to Cordelia Scaife May, who turned it into a private conference center.
However, the Rockwell family bought it back in December 1981, making it a public resort once again. Over the next six years, the property was transformed into a full-service resort. The Nemacolin Inn was upgraded to feature 26 rooms andtwo restaurants. Plus, an 18-hole course and pro shop, two tennis courts, two swimming pools, and a private airstrip were added.
Lumber king Joseph A. Hardy bought the Nemacolin property at auction in June 1987. Hardy and his daughter Maggie Hardy-Magerko have since transformed the property into a 2,000-acre, world-class resort. Hardy-Magerko took over full ownership in 2002.
Nemacolin Woodlands Resort now features 335 luxurious rooms and suites spread out across a number of townhouses, private luxury homes, a boutique hotel, and a clubhouse.
The property also includes the Woodlands Spa, the five-star Lautrec Restaurant and 36 holes of golf on two championship courses.
Lady Luck Casino Nemacolin history
In January 2010, Nemacolin Woodlands Resort announced plans to apply for a resort gaming license with the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. It also announced it had reached a casino management and marketing agreement with Isle of Capri Casinos to manage the proposed casino.
Nemacolin Woodlands was granted the final Category 3 resort gaming license offered by the state in April 2011 and plans for Lady Luck Nemacolin were revealed.
The $50 million casino project was expected to include 600 slot machines, 28 table games, a casual dining restaurant, and lounge fully integrated into the guest experience at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort.
The entire project was to be funded by Isle of Capri Casinos and complete within nine months.
The project was expected to boost Laurel Highlands tourism. Hardy-Magerko said her family had built the crown jewel of Pennsylvania tourism over the past 20 years. The addition of Lady Luck Casino was expected to give guests an important new amenity that would attract even more people to the resort.
Lady Luck Casino Nemacolin opened to the public on July 1, 2013. The final construction costs of converting a bowling alley and arcade at Nemacolin Woodlands into a casino was upwards of $60 million. The Category 3 resort casino now features 600 slot machines, 27 table games, and two restaurants: Otis at & Henry’s and Lone Wolf.
Isle of Capri called the property the flagship of the Lady Luck casino brand.
In 2017, Nevada-based Eldorado Resorts Inc. acquired Isle of Capri and all its gaming operations, including Lady Luck Casino Nemacolin.
Lady Luck Casino Nemacolin revenues
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board unanimously voted to renew the Lady Luck Casino Nemacolin’s Category 3 casino operator’s license in December 2016. The license was renewed for an additional three-year period.
At the time, it was revealed that Lady Luck Casino Nemacolin had generated $112 million in gross revenue from the play of slot machines and table games since it opened. Plus, it had paid more than $53 million in gaming tax revenue over that same three-and-a-half-year period.
Lady Luck Casino Nemacolin Pa
Lady Luck Casino Nemacolin posted $33,981,632 in gaming revenues in 2016. This included $29,326,854 in total slots revenue and $4,654,778 from table games. Lady Luck Casino Nemacolin is the lowest grossing casino of the 12 operating in the state of Pennsylvania.
Casino games at Lady Luck Casino Nemacolin
With 600 slots, Lady Luck Casino Nemacolin doesn’t offer as many titles as some of the state’s larger casinos. However, there is still a good variety featuring everything from pennyandnickel slots to high-limit slots. Lady Luck Casino Nemacolin is also committed to offering new slot games on a regular basis.
With close to 30 table games, Lady Luck Casino Nemacolin has all the table game basics covered and more. The casino features blackjack with side bets, craps, roulette, criss-cross poker, four card poker, Mississippi stud, and let it ride games.
Unlike most Pennsylvania casinos, Lady Luck Casino Nemacolin has no plans to offer an online casino.
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About Lady Luck Casino Nemacolin owner Eldorado Resorts
Eldorado Resorts Inc. now owns and operates 19 casino and gaming properties in 10 states. This includes Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, Ohio, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania. The company’s casino brands include Lady Luck, Eldorado, and Isle of Capri.
Eldorado’s properties feature more than 20,000 slot machines and VLTs, more than 550 table games, and more than 6,500 hotel rooms.
In Pennsylvania, Eldorado also owns and operates the Presque Isle Downs and Casino in Erie. This property features 1,500 slot machines, more than 40 table games, and seasonal live thoroughbred racing.
Eldorado Resorts was founded in Reno, Nev., in 1973.
The Lady Luck Casino Nemacolin advantage
Lady Luck Casino Nemacolin is not one of the state’s largest casino properties and it isn’t very close to any of the state’s major city centers. However, its advantage lies in not trying to be anything it is not. It is a Category 3 resort casino and it knows it.
Like the bowling alley and arcade it replaced, Lady Luck Casino Nemacolin is simply an amenity for guests of the 2,000-acre, world-class Nemacolin Woodlands Resort and other vacationers in the Laurel Highlands region where it lies. Revenues may be low, but so are operating costs. It may not be to the same scale that Parx Casino or Sands Resort Bethlehem are, but Lady Luck Casino Nemacolin is certainly still a success regardless of that fact.
Nemacolin Woodlands Lady Luck Casino Buffet
Guests of Nemacolin Woodlands Resort on a rainy summer weekend will certainly attest to that.