BEDFORD, Pa. -- Currently undergoing a $110 million restoration and expansion, with a re-opening date slated for mid-2007, Bedford Springs Resort has launched an extensive search for the oldest living guest of the vintage Pennsylvania “springs hotel” that captivated American society for three centuries. When identified, this person will be the Resort’s guest for a weekend of grand opening festivities this fall.
In 1796, Dr. John Anderson discovered the medicinal curative powers of the Bedford Springs. The elite of Colonial America immediately began to congregate at the “springs” which necessitated the opening of the first hotel rooms in 1805. From then on through the 1970’s the Bedford Springs Hotel was one of the preeminent destination resorts in this region of the country. The property is a convenient two-hour drive from Washington, D.C., Baltimore, and Pittsburgh. Over 10 million people live within this two hour drive market.
Among some of the letters already received by the resort was from a couple that spent their honeymoon at the Bedford Springs Hotel in 1952 as a gift of CBS Television. The couple had been married on the television show, Bride & Groom, and last year renewed their vows on The Early Show.
With a rich and storied heritage, Bedford Springs was a favored retreat for U.S. Presidents, numerous diplomats and politicians, the United States military, captains of industry and high society. The hotel’s keepsake mementos were circulated by well-heeled guests and traveled the mails and rails spreading word about the destination’s fine lodging and the curative powers its seven surrounding natural springs.
The resort is also seeking memorabilia of any kind, including ledgers, especially water bottle ledgers because Bedford Springs was known for bottled, healing spring water. The created Bedford Springs Historical Society also wants to find old photographs, documents, books, brochures, newspapers and maps; Bedford Springs Hotel stationary, envelopes and postcards; furniture, paintings, dishes and silverware, water bottles, menus, napkins and table linens.
Bedford Springs Resort welcomes information regarding earlier guests up through the hotel’s closing in 1989. Please contact the property directly at (814) 623-8100 or email Todd Gillespie at tgillespie@benchmarkmanagement.com .
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
