THE LODGE AT GLENDORN:

On the road to the woods of Pennsyvania

US Route 219 snakes  its way from Buffalo to Virginia, traversing some of the most wild and natural landscapes in the eastern United States. Heading south from Buffalo, through the winding valleys of the Allegheny Mountains, you encounter Bradford Pennsylvania, a few miles south of the New York State Border. This city of 9000 is best known as being home to the world's first billion dollar oilfield and is the birthplace of the iconic Zippo lighter. A short drive west of this rugged urban icon, nestled in the vastness of the beautiful wilderness of Northern Pennsylvania is home to a resort experience unlike any other. The Lodge at Glendorn is a time capsule of enchantment and glorious luxury a world away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

Situated on 1500 acres in a beautiful valley corridor filled with pristine hardwoods, the resort is the lasting legacy of the Dorn family.  In 1927 C.G. Dorn, an oil industry entrepreneur, used his wealth to acquire this little piece of heaven to share with his family as a private compound. The hunting and fishing retreat became a collection of lodges, cabins, cottages and memories over the years for the family. Opened to public guests in 1995, the resort and its uniqueness have left lasting impressions on many. Visitors will experience being a guest in the style of the Dorn family. The current ownership has maintained this family atmosphere, while sharing this nearly century old retreat with a new generation of guests.

The solitude and serenity of the resort is immediately evident from the drive through the wrought iron gate. The gate post is adorned by the Relais & Chateaux plaque signifying your entrance to an exclusive hotel and dining experience. The winding drive takes you past Bondieu Lake and along a babbling brook framed with tall cedars and hardwoods. The arrival at the Big House lets you know you have arrived. The friendly, welcoming staff take it from there. A personalized orientation to the property and review of your itinerary established earlier through the virtual concierge helps get your visit started.

A tour of the Big House, the central hub of the resort, reveals the Dorn family’s character. The impressive redwood lodge houses four guest rooms, a billiard lounge and a grand dining hall featuring a spectacular two-storey sandstone fireplace and beautiful open beam architecture. The building is replete with an extensive collection of Dorn family memorabilia and pictures offering a peek into life at the lodge in bygone days. A wonderful stone terrace is the perfect setting for a post tour beverage.

For those travelling with young children the next stop is to introduce the kids to the Playhouse. Located steps from the main building the Playhouse is a kid's paradise complete with board games, toys, video and arcade games and their own ice cream parlour and popcorn machine. Once they get a taste of the Playhouse, you may never see them again!
Glendorn guests are blessed with an array of four season activities to fill the itinerary. Presented with a rugged mountain valley wilderness at your doorstep, hiking, biking, canoeing, nordic skiing, outdoor curling, snowmobiling, snowshoeing and guided jeep tours open your eyes to the stunning beauty of the property.  With the hills filled with critters big and small this is a place where Mother Nature is on display presenting her best side. The resort is also home to a heated outdoor pool, tennis courts, basketball nets, shuffleboard, croquet and bocce.

In the beginning the property was used by the Dorn family primarily as an outdoor sporting compound for private hunting and fishing. This heritage has been ingrained in the resort since its founding and is an Orvis endorsed resort. With nearly four miles of stocked trout fishing waters and three lakes on property, guests at the Lodge can book a lesson with one of the professional guides or just borrow the fly rods left by the front door of the welcome center for your own quest to catch some beautiful rainbow.  Off-site excursions can be arranged to the sister property at Spring Creek Preserve, or to the nearby Allegheny River to chase the ultimate Steelhead. The Dorn family were hunters, with a deep connection to skeet and trap shooting. Expert instruction is available at the trap range for those wanting to experience shooting for the first time. For the more experienced, hunting expeditions for everything from grouse, wild turkey and whitetail deer can be arranged.

Dining at Glendorn is a world-class experience. Whether it be a wonderful breakfast of "feel good," homemade goodies to get you started, a delightful terrace lunch or a four course dinner, the dining experiences available at the Big House are both delicious and tantalizing. If you are setting out for a day of adventure on the property the staff of the Big Houses will prepare you a backpack full of delicious treats for your own personalized picnic lunch. Another option is the "destination dining" program where lunch will be delivered, table and all, anywhere on site. Take a hike on one of the miles of trails or go for a horse ride and lunch will be waiting your arrival at the destination point of your choice.

The Grand Room of the Big House is where fine dining lives at Glendorn. Executive Chef Joe Schafer and his team of culinary experts create a fabulous meal featuring a menu presented with the most exquisite in setting and service. Savoury delicacies with a regional flair and graced with fresh local ingredients, a dinner at Glendorn will stimulate the senses. On Saturday evenings head on down to the shores of Skipper Lake for an après dinner aperitif and complimentary smore at the bonfire to cap the night. 

Glendorn presents you with a variety of different luxurious and cozy accommodations. The resort has twelve unique, finely appointed, stay options, each tied to a member of the Dorn family. From Mr. Dorn's personal "Hideout," a hillside, stone and brick cottage filled with charm and character to the expansive Jill's Cabin named for the only daughter, featuring two bedrooms, a full kitchen and three fireplaces. There is a range of rustic hideaways available to suit your tastes.  Each experience is its own living museum, filled with period furniture, photos and family heirlooms. Staff takes care of all the finer details from the scrumptious jar of homemade cookies, to setting a fire for when you are ready to relax the night away.
It is easy to see why Mr. Dorn selected this piece of Pennsylvania for his family's private retreat. A locale filled with the best Mother Nature has to share combined with his visionary rustic luxury, this historic step back in time is an experience that shouldn’t missed.

The Golf:
Golfers have a few choices with a stay at Glendorn. Nearby Pine Acres Country Club, a semi-private James Harrison creation, welcomes play on one the region's most challenging layouts. Playing 6511 from the tips along tight tree-lined fairways, Pine Acres is a local favourite. Glendorn guests can access the private Pennhills Club, a 1922 Walter Travis design.  Routed over the aforementioned Penn Hills the course traverses the hilly landscape and features numerous creeks to challenge even the most skilled player. For course details visit: www.pennhillsclub.com or www.pineacrescc.com

The Lodge at Glendorn
1000 Glendorn Drive
Bradford, PA 16701
Phone: (814) 362-6511
Toll Free: (800) 843-8568
www.glendorn.com