Great Places – Part 10
Now, this great place is not as close as the others have been, and it’s a little different because it’s a resort I am talking about. But, the history of Bedford Springs Resort makes it a great place. Bedford Springs Resort, which is located in Bedford, PA, has a history as rich as the mineral springs that reside on the property.
In 1796, Dr. Anderson purchased the 2,200-acre property on which the resort now stands. He built a home on the property and as word spread of these unique waters, visitors arrived from around the globe to experience them. He housed the guests in tents and offered custom prescriptions for guests based upon their needs.
According to the resort’s Web site, as more and more guests came west to ‘take the waters,’ Dr. Anderson decided to build a hotel. The Stone Inn was built in 1806 from stone quarried atop the mountain located adjacent to The Springs, and carried down the mountain by oxen. Guests making the trek to the hotel encountered a rugged journey. They often arrived by train in Cumberland, and then made the 21-mile trip through the Cumberland Valley to Bedford Springs.
The resort featured one of the first golf courses in America in 1895, and it was renovated in 1923.
Over the years, the resort played host to many dignitaries including 10 U.S. Presidents. And, the first transatlantic cable was received by President Buchanan in the lobby of Bedford Springs Resort in 1858. He spent 40 summers in Bedford Springs.
In 1984 the property was designated an historic landmark, and the property closed in 1986. It fell under disrepair for many years, but a plan always seemed to be in place to reopen the resort. In 1998, the property was purchased, and in 2007 Bedford Springs was restored to its historic grandeur after a $120 million restoration. The new resort is the most modern of meeting places, featuring state-of-the art technology and conveniences. And, not to mention a spa, gourmet dining and luxurious hotel rooms.