Nemacolin preparing to open in limited capacity Friday

FAYETTE CO., Pa. — Nemacolin Woodlands Resort is opening May 8 in a very limited capacity, while workers are back already preparing for the grand reopening.

Guests arriving will be greeted with a sign when they arrive, saying they have to stop and get their 'health check.’ Workers told Channel 11 they are basically operating one hotel, which is an essential business, and modifying everything around it.

Have questions about the spread of the coronavirus? We have an entire section dedicated to coverage of the outbreak. CLICK HERE for more.

The Falling Rock Hotel is the only hotel on the property that is opening on Friday.

“It is just 40 rooms, limiting the number of guests to 40 individual reservations,” Christopher Baran, director of sales and marketing, said.

Baran said they brought in multiple health and infectious disease experts over the last few weeks to figure out how to open safely.

“We are doing a combo of staying with the federal and state guidelines, not opening restaurants or spas … providing those services in an augmented form,” he said.

In Pennsylvania, hotels are considered life sustaining and have reopened. Like restaurants across the state, restaurants inside Nemacolin will only offer food to-go and for room delivery.

And while the resort's spa is closed, they are offering massages in a designated room with masks and gloves on. The masseuse will shower between every appointment.

According to the Pa. health department, Fayette County is still in the red phase. This means that the only businesses that can open are life-sustaining businesses. So, Nemacolin opening would not be consistent with the current stay-at-home order.

In addition, Pa. Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine has said that spas and massage therapy locations will remain closed in the yellow phase because of the inability to practice social distancing in these settings.

Resort officials said they believe they are operating within the guidelines.

Hotel workers said if all goes as planned, they hope to open more of the resort on Memorial Day.

Westmoreland Co. petitions Gov. Wolf to move into yellow phase Westmoreland Co. petitions Gov. Wolf to move into yellow phase

© 2020 Cox Media Group