Omni Bedford Springs- Bedford, PA

Omni Bedford Springs sets a high bar for historic hotels. It is everything a Victorian resort should be, yet also works as a modern retreat. Nestled in the mountains among the areas many thermal springs, this recently restored beauty awaits your arrival.

The resort’s beginnings can be traced back to 1796 with the discovery of eight high mineral content thermal springs on the property. By 1802 bathing facilities had been constructed on the site, followed by the first of the hotel’s buildings in 1806. People flocked to the resort to “take the waters,” as their unique mixture of minerals were believed to have medicinal value. The resort expanded accordingly, and soon was considered the “Montpelier of America.”

Bedford Springs soon started hosting notable politicians, as well as those seeking to escape the increasingly polluted cities of the East Coast. Thomas Jefferson was an early visitor to the resort, spending three weeks there in 1819. Between 1857 and 1861 James Buchanan used the hotel as his Summer White House, receiving the first transatlantic cable sent from England there in 1858. Over the years, Bedford Springs would go on to host 10 in office presidents, as well as many politicians that would eventually assume the role, including Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush.

Bedford Springs flourished during the golden age of America’s grand resorts. In 1905, the current double decked colonnade was added as well as one of the country’s first indoor swimming pools. This pool still exists, and is magnificent.  There is also a newer vintage outdoor pool, which is nice, but seems WAY too small for the size of the resort.

But times change, travel preferences change, and bad things happen to good resorts. Bedford Springs was shuttered in 1986, and was devastated by flash floods two years later. A long steady decline all but ensured the demise of the once grand hotel. However, we were spared this fate when the property was purchased in 1998, and the long process of restoration began. Like a Phoenix, Bedford Springs rose from the ashes, or floodwaters as it were, and is fabulous once again. There is a detailed video regarding this process on the in house cable channel, and you must watch it. They did an amazing job of saving what they could, so the property still retains many original features.

It is very obvious when you stay here that the original hotel was constructed over time, and several different buildings were combined. Hallways are long, and often change elevation. It is fabulous. You must get a porch room, as it is the perfect place to sit and take in the surrounding mountains. And have your morning coffee. And evening cocktail. All around pleasant. The rooms themselves are fine, fairly updated, and period appropriate.

The hotel restaurants were a pleasant surprise. The Frontier Tavern is a great spot for lunch, however, oddly for a place with tavern in the name, the bar is really small. Like 5 stools small, but you can take your drink to go, and they have a great firepit right outside the door. The 1796, while pricey, was OUTSTANDING, with the steaks perfectly cooked. The Crystal Room reminds you of what hotel dining was like in past eras, and is a lovely space.

Finally, this resort has an excellent Donald Ross course. It is kept in immaculate condition, and impossibly scenic. It is a challenging course, but so much fun. It is very expensive for the area, but it is worth it. I would suggest playing early enough to allow for a replay, because you will want to, and they offer a great replay rate.