Rolling Rock Club
Encyclopedia
Rolling Rock Club is a private country club located on 10000 acres (40.5 km²) along Route 30 about fifty miles outside of Pittsburgh, in Pennsylvania
's Ligonier Valley.
, who left it to his son Richard Beatty Mellon, brother of Andrew Mellon and onetime president of Mellon Bank. Richard Beatty Mellon turned Rolling Rock into a rural retreat for his friends and family to hunt, fish, and ride. From this it steadily developed into an establishment that, in addition to the usual country club necessities - swimming pool and golf course - also boasted stocked trout streams, duck ponds, game birds and shooting ranges. The Club also kept up one of the best United States packs of English fox hounds, raising pheasants, and running the Gold Cup Steeplechase
(from 1933 until 1983). R.B. Mellon left the estate to his son, Richard King Mellon
, when he died in 1933. In the middle years of the twentieth century, Rolling Rock Club hunted over 75000 acres (303.5 km²), mostly owned by 240 farmers whose acres surround the Mellon 12000 acres (48.6 km²).
and originally built in 1921 to house 28 stalls, a tack room, veterinarian's area, grooms' quarters, food storage, equipment rooms and a great round room where trophies and ribbons were displayed. With an intent to preserve the landmark of its heritage, the facility was converted into private condominiums, preserving as much of the existing architecture as possible. Every unit has its own entrance, individual identity and is totally autonomous with respect to neighboring units. Vestibules and fenestrated entrance hall additions were designed to increase area to an average of 2400 square feet (223 m²) per unit. The private resort also features overnight accommodations and is known for exquisite cuisine, fine dining and numerous social events. Rolling Rock Club is considered a sportsman's paradise with golf, fishing, hunting, shooting, tennis and swimming.
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
's Ligonier Valley.
History
Rolling Rock Club was originally 12000 acres (48.6 km²) of land owned by Judge Thomas MellonThomas Mellon
Thomas Alexander Mellon was a Scotch-Irish American, entrepreneur, lawyer, and judge, best known as the founder of Mellon Bank and patriarch of the Mellon family of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.-Early life:...
, who left it to his son Richard Beatty Mellon, brother of Andrew Mellon and onetime president of Mellon Bank. Richard Beatty Mellon turned Rolling Rock into a rural retreat for his friends and family to hunt, fish, and ride. From this it steadily developed into an establishment that, in addition to the usual country club necessities - swimming pool and golf course - also boasted stocked trout streams, duck ponds, game birds and shooting ranges. The Club also kept up one of the best United States packs of English fox hounds, raising pheasants, and running the Gold Cup Steeplechase
Gold Cup Steeplechase
The International Gold Cup was first held in 1930 at Grasslands Downs, Tennessee.Two years later it was moved to the Rolling Rock Club course in Pennsylvania. For the next fifty-two years the meet was held at this private country club located in the Ligonier Valley about fifty miles outside...
(from 1933 until 1983). R.B. Mellon left the estate to his son, Richard King Mellon
Richard King Mellon
Richard King Mellon , commonly known as R.K., was an American financier from Ligonier, Pennsylvania.-Biography:The son of Richard B. Mellon, nephew of Andrew W...
, when he died in 1933. In the middle years of the twentieth century, Rolling Rock Club hunted over 75000 acres (303.5 km²), mostly owned by 240 farmers whose acres surround the Mellon 12000 acres (48.6 km²).
Golf course
The golf course at Rolling Rock Club in Laughlintown, Pennsylvania was designed by Donald Ross and was built in 1917. The course features 5,243 yards from the forward tees. The club opened nine new holes in May 1997. With only two water hazards in the form of environmentally sensitive areas, there are plenty of sand bunkers. The greens are very undulating, and the fairways are tree lined. This course is not long until players get to the greens and is a true Donald Ross design where you cannot see the bunkers until you are in them. Guests must be accompanied by a member in order to play this course.The Hunt Stables
The Hunt Stables were designed by noted Pittsburgh architect Benno JanssenBenno Janssen
Benno Janssen was an American architect.-Childhood, Education and Career:Benno Janssen was born in St. Louis, Missouri, the son of Oscar Janssen and Thekla Susenbeth. Janssen studied at the University of Kansas. In 1899, he began working in architecture in Boston, Massachusetts. He also continued...
and originally built in 1921 to house 28 stalls, a tack room, veterinarian's area, grooms' quarters, food storage, equipment rooms and a great round room where trophies and ribbons were displayed. With an intent to preserve the landmark of its heritage, the facility was converted into private condominiums, preserving as much of the existing architecture as possible. Every unit has its own entrance, individual identity and is totally autonomous with respect to neighboring units. Vestibules and fenestrated entrance hall additions were designed to increase area to an average of 2400 square feet (223 m²) per unit. The private resort also features overnight accommodations and is known for exquisite cuisine, fine dining and numerous social events. Rolling Rock Club is considered a sportsman's paradise with golf, fishing, hunting, shooting, tennis and swimming.