The circa 1796 Bedford Springs Resort re-opened today following the completion of a $120-million restoration and expansion. A celebration honoring the property’s historic past and anticipating its promising future showcased the historic “springs” resort. The restoration unveiled refined public spaces, reclaimed exteriors, enlarged and updated guestrooms, state-of-the-art meeting facilities, casual and fine dining in six restaurants, and the new Springs Eternal Spa.
In its glory days Bedford Springs, which had been closed for 21 years, played host to U.S. presidents, heads of state and countless celebrities, and was where the first TransAtlantic cable was received by President James Buchanan from Great Britain’s Queen Victoria in 1858. The resort also served as Buchanan’s summer White House.
More than 100 employees and numerous guests assembled along the hotel’s flowering circular drive for a formal flag-raising ceremony and musical fanfares. Harkening back to the resort’s original splendor, special return guests arrived at the porte cochere in horse drawn carriages to the strains of the Bedford Springs March, composed by Adam Geibel in 1878. The guests were welcomed and then escorted into the hotel to sign the VIP guest register and tour the property.“We’re thrilled to welcome our new employees and very special guests to assist us in officially re-opening the doors to Bedford Springs Resort,” said Keith Evans, Managing Partner, Bedford Resort Partners Ltd. “This historic property has been restored with authenticity and filled with exceptional memorabilia, but offers the modern conveniences of a luxury resort. We applaud those who helped make this day a reality and invite everyone to visit this magnificent property.”
Slumbering for 21 years, Bedford Springs Resort awoke today restored and revitalized and again offers the world its healing springs and classic golf course. The 216-room destination resort now claims 134 queen guest rooms and 81 double/double rooms, plus two hospitality suites. All rooms have been elegantly restored to reflect the rich and diverse history of the property. Many feature sun and breeze-filled porches with rocking chairs and striking views of the Resort’s beautiful grounds. Rates range from $249 to $299 per night, based on views, day of week and seasonality. Spa suites start at $309.
Guests will find memorable cuisine and high-tech meeting facilities, a gold medal trout stream, mountain nature trails and Cannondale Bikes to traverse them, an outdoor wedding grotto, restored indoor and new outdoor swimming pools, plus winter sports.
Treatments at the Springs Eternal Spa are focused on water and hydrotherapies. Programs are designed to meet the needs of guests to distress, provide balance for the body, mind and spirit, esthetic services and to enhance health.
Six distinct dining opportunities offer traditional American cuisine with mid-Atlantic roots artfully prepared from fresh, seasonal ingredients grown by local and regional purveyors.
Set on 2,200 acres in the Southern Allegheny Mountains of south, central Pennsylvania, Bedford Springs Resort invites guests to experience the renewed ambiance of one of America’s finest Springs Hotels.
Close to the intersection of the Pennsylvania Turnpike and Interstate 70, the resort is a convenient two-hour drive from Baltimore and Washington, DC, 90 minutes from Pittsburgh, three hours from Philadelphia and four hours from New York City. Bedford Springs Resort is just 129 miles from Pittsburgh International Airport and 113 miles from Harrisburg International Airport. Bedford County Airport offers a 5,000-foot runway and can accommodate a wide array of private aircraft.
For information or reservations access the web site at www.bedfordspringsresort.com or call (866) 623-8168.
Bedford Resort Partners, Ltd. is the owner and developer of the Bedford Springs Resort project. The partners include The Ferchill Group of Cleveland, Ohio, a real estate development company that specializes in historic rehabilitation projects, Chevron TCI, Inc., a leading investor in tax credit rehabilitation projects in the United States and The Bedford Springs Company, LLC.
Benchmark Hospitality International, an independent hospitality management company based in The Woodlands (Houston), Texas, operates resorts, conference centers, hotels and condominium resorts both domestically and internationally. For locations of Benchmark Hospitality properties and for additional information, visit Benchmark's Website at www.benchmarkhospitality.com.
Media Contact:
Karen Moraghan
Hunter Public Relations – East
908/876-5100
908/963-6013 (cell)
kmoraghan @ hunter-pr.com
(Photo credit: Digital Photography Works, Ken Sepeda)
