Well photographed, but heartbreaking for me to see. Coolfont was my go-to place for a relaxing getaway for years. It was an affordable, non-snooty resort, with A-frame chalets and cabins which had jacuzzis and wood-burning stoves. There were great buffets day and night, and reasonably priced spa services. I've never found anything to replace it since it closed. The founder and owner, Sam Ashelman, sold it to a developer who was supposed to turn it into a mixed-use housing development. There was a market downturn, and nothing's happened since. The place is back on the market for $9.5 million. It's all very sad for those of us who knew the place, and would chat with Sam as he went from table to table in the dining room. Sam died in 2010 at age 97.
+Charlotte Dickson I have some pictures, but they're the old-fashioned paper kind. If I can dig them up and scan them, I'll circle back here and post. For now, here's what I found online: anneballenger.tripod.com/travel/cool.html www.cardcow.com/522299/treetop-house-restaurant-berkeley-springs-west-virginia/ www.cardcow.com/522298/coolfont-recreation-berkeley-springs-west-virginia/
Sorry I lost my response I was just saying it is really great when places like this can be preserved showing what it was to the current timeframe. I remember going to Vegas to meet my inlaws--a lot of the casinos from the 70's have been imploded and are gone now but at least you can still see pics online. I hate things just fading away and forgotten.
My wife and I stayed at Coolfont on 5/29-31/2023. The Lodge is beautiful once more! The cabins are rustic and well-maintained. I saw this video after our stay and it does my heart good to see that it has been resurrected!
What I like about Dan's approach to filming these empty places is that he shows empathy for something that is gone. It's not just some teenage gimmick to trespass and mock the structures which seems to be the modus operandi of 90% of other Urban Explorers who behave just as badly as the vandalizers who leave their mark everywhere. Keep up the good work!
*UPDATE* Jan 2018: Coolfont has been purchased and is currently under renovation. Will reopen as resort and microbrewery! I’ll update when it reopens if anyone is interested!!
Lia Serbyn nothing yet. Currently under construction. Local information says May 2018 but I don’t think they’ll make that deadline. The property was auctioned off in nine separate parcels so once more information is released, I can post something...
I live in Berkeley Springs and can tell you that Coolfont is expected to reopen within half a year. The project is being done by local people associated with the Country Inn in town. And about a microbrewery, Berkeley Springs Brewing Company has already relocated to Coolfont and is operating from there. But it will be a full resort like it used to be.
This is very sad to see. I stayed in the cabins many times. I loved the wood burning stove, jacuzzi and the lack of a television. Used to go just by myself, armed with books and a minimalist suitcase, to get away from everything for 3 or 4 days. I'd knock out about a book a day, walk in the woods, hit the dining room for my meals and be at total peace. Guess I'll just have to build my own cabin to repeat the experience.
you have a gift for capturing the beautiful sadness in places , i love to see what you post ( all that paneling reminds me of the penthouse on the glass bank, LOL ! )
Had dinner there today and it was a great meal - the main building looks great and has been restored. There is a hotel and the mountainside A frames are opening as they get them renovated - great job and great place
UPDATE December 2019: The main lodge and restaurant are restored and open for business!! I had dinner at the restaurant tonight and it was good, I'd recommend it. Conference rooms are currently in progress.
1:14 the stairs are so pretty. New photos at their website look great, but there aren't many photos yet of the area outside a room. I like to look around a facility before I book, but so glad it has been fixed up. Now maybe the tiny cottages in the Pocanos will be fixed up-I wish! Thanks for upload.
It really is heartbreaking to see this. It was such a beautiful place to go. Such homey atmosphere, good food. My family always enjoyed visiting there.
+Matt Hamby: Hahaha but I was referring to Jason Voorhees from Friday the 13 films for that film was set in an old holiday camp, think was called Crystal Lake
I recognize it all. We owned a weekend house in the Coolfont Mountainside that was built around this resort, from 2000-2016, Beautiful spot, sad situation.
I really enjoy that you visit places that are relatively close to my location, meaning once I have the courage and right gear, I can check some out for myself. Also! I feel like the mall in my area is going to be dying out within a few years, stores keep closing, and new ones pop up and leave within a few months, and I've noticed a lot less amount of people there from when I was a teenager. I know that many stores are actually losing more money than making it (I worked in a salon there so I knew many of the workers in the mall) I'll let you know when it dies down and you can check it out for your dead mall series :)
What an awesome A-frame building. I do love the artistic framing shots that you usually use within the videos - always delightful. Thanks Dan (and collaborators)
In case anyone stumbles upon this video in 2018, this resort is being reopened! People are working to restore it to it's former glory, and this very building will be saved and fixed, as the structure was not unstable. It seems sometimes there are happy endings after all.
My best friend used to live in one of these chalets. I have many fond childhood memories of playing with my friends and siblings there. It was sad to see the resort go, but unsurprising. The area around Berkeley Springs is full of decay and has been for years. There's hope for restoration to it's former glory, but for now it's just closed business after closed business.
I'm amazed at how fast things turn to ruin and nature reclaims its own. It's almost comforting. I enjoy the videos more with your comments and explanations.
Sad. I remember going there as a young kid. Too bad it's come to this. Don't think it's worth 9.5 mil, though, as it would probably take way more than that to restore it to its former glory.
+Meta Minder The site was supposed to be rebuilt as vacation homes in a mixed-use development, but the developer faltered with the economy 8-9 years ago, and shut it down.
Just sad...vandals break the windows, steal the wire and pipling, pigeons, mice, squirrels and raccoons and other vermin(besides the vandals) get in and pee and crap all over the place and finally the wet, cold weather finishes the place off. Just sad
+GrandsonofKong I hate vandalism, i told my friends years ago that if they did´nt stop we were done with each other. It´s so pointless retarded and childish
Elvis Chick Very true..the critters are doing what comes naturally. I had a boat once, left one window open just enough for air circulation to prevent mold. Then I left it open a tad too much, and a family(and all their relations!!) of pigeons moved in. God what a mess! Took two days of a lot of cleaning. Didn't blame the pigeons...blamed myself for not double checking the window. My action and the consequence..like vandals breaking all the windows in these abandoned places.
Reading the comments and looking at the video this looks like a really nice place… It is very awesome to hear from people that either work or visited there… How sad it has got run down but somebody in the comments said that someone had purchased the site and want to make a microbrewery and resort so I hope that works out for them…
Very depressing. Used to go to Coolfont frequently and always had a blast. Ever since they close the town seems to have taken an economic downturn. Such a shame.
I was just there recently ...well on Route 9 and saw the signs for the resort I wish I had known it was abandoned I would've explored it...next time I am up there I will look into it. Thanks for the video.
+elmin82 The resort (992 acres) was sold to a developer who was going to turn it into a mixed-use project, then folded when the economy took a downturn.
just 9 years. The 200 year old place was in much better shape. by the way not cool. still 41 to 06 that's a nice run through some pretty hard times truth be told. one wonders why it didn't go to 08.
2020 Update: Coolfont has reopened! Both the hotel and a restaurant are on site. A new brewery opened across the street and a new winery down the road. The area is in recovery! www.coolfont.com/
Out of the whole video… I can’t stand those stupid old plastic coffee carafes. It always means watered down dirty weak coffee at hotels or sales conferences…😂😂😂
this is absolutely beautiful. I'm going to check it out soon. check out my friends RUclips @exploringwithjosh and then the rest of his crew. you'd really like their stuff
Yeah I live in Hedgesville which is only 30mins away from that resort. I also thought he'd enjoy exploring with josh and the crew cause they go to a bunch of abandoned places. They even went to Chernobyl
Well photographed, but heartbreaking for me to see. Coolfont was my go-to place for a relaxing getaway for years. It was an affordable, non-snooty resort, with A-frame chalets and cabins which had jacuzzis and wood-burning stoves. There were great buffets day and night, and reasonably priced spa services. I've never found anything to replace it since it closed.
The founder and owner, Sam Ashelman, sold it to a developer who was supposed to turn it into a mixed-use housing development. There was a market downturn, and nothing's happened since. The place is back on the market for $9.5 million.
It's all very sad for those of us who knew the place, and would chat with Sam as he went from table to table in the dining room. Sam died in 2010 at age 97.
+Mitchell Baxter Thanks for sharing that.. It would be great if you had any photographs from back in the day...How sad though..
+Charlotte Dickson I have some pictures, but they're the old-fashioned paper kind. If I can dig them up and scan them, I'll circle back here and post. For now, here's what I found online:
anneballenger.tripod.com/travel/cool.html
www.cardcow.com/522299/treetop-house-restaurant-berkeley-springs-west-virginia/
www.cardcow.com/522298/coolfont-recreation-berkeley-springs-west-virginia/
Sorry I lost my response I was just saying it is really great when places like this can be preserved showing what it was to the current timeframe. I remember going to Vegas to meet my inlaws--a lot of the casinos from the 70's have been imploded and are gone now but at least you can still see pics online. I hate things just fading away and forgotten.
RIP to him.
Mitchell Baxter I loved it their. my state is so beautiful
This is sad. I worked at this resort for 6 years. It was a beautiful place. Such a shame that it's been allowed to rot like this.
My wife and I stayed at Coolfont on 5/29-31/2023. The Lodge is beautiful once more! The cabins are rustic and well-maintained. I saw this video after our stay and it does my heart good to see that it has been resurrected!
The quiet and tranquility here helped get my day off to a good start.
What I like about Dan's approach to filming these empty places is that he shows empathy for something that is gone. It's not just some teenage gimmick to trespass and mock the structures which seems to be the modus operandi of 90% of other Urban Explorers who behave just as badly as the vandalizers who leave their mark everywhere. Keep up the good work!
*UPDATE* Jan 2018: Coolfont has been purchased and is currently under renovation. Will reopen as resort and microbrewery! I’ll update when it reopens if anyone is interested!!
Cabin Grl Are there links to this? Can’t find anything on the net. Thanks!
Lia Serbyn nothing yet. Currently under construction. Local information says May 2018 but I don’t think they’ll make that deadline. The property was auctioned off in nine separate parcels so once more information is released, I can post something...
If it's going to be a microbrewery then it's going to be very spendy I'm afraid to stay there
I live in Berkeley Springs and can tell you that Coolfont is expected to reopen within half a year. The project is being done by local people associated with the Country Inn in town. And about a microbrewery, Berkeley Springs Brewing Company has already relocated to Coolfont and is operating from there. But it will be a full resort like it used to be.
This is very sad to see. I stayed in the cabins many times. I loved the wood burning stove, jacuzzi and the lack of a television. Used to go just by myself, armed with books and a minimalist suitcase, to get away from everything for 3 or 4 days. I'd knock out about a book a day, walk in the woods, hit the dining room for my meals and be at total peace.
Guess I'll just have to build my own cabin to repeat the experience.
you have a gift for capturing the beautiful sadness in places , i love to see what you post ( all that paneling reminds me of the penthouse on the glass bank, LOL ! )
A beautiful setting, and great presentation.
I'm off today and should be cleaning, but I'm so addicted to your channel.....LOVE It!
Such a peaceful and tranquil video. But how am I supposed to know whos video this is without the customary "Hi, this is Dan Bell.." intro?
Had dinner there today and it was a great meal - the main building looks great and has been restored. There is a hotel and the mountainside A frames are opening as they get them renovated - great job and great place
UPDATE December 2019: The main lodge and restaurant are restored and open for business!! I had dinner at the restaurant tonight and it was good, I'd recommend it. Conference rooms are currently in progress.
SpaghettiGoat that’s great news! Is it still that A frame chalet?
@@deendrew36 Yes it is! The architecture is restored and preserved.
SpaghettiGoat that’s awesome....an “abandoned” success story. ☺️
Your camera work is always top notch :)
This is just so beautifully shot. I always love coming back to the dead motels on your channel because they are so unbelievably stunning.
I work at Coolfont now. Larry has revamped everything and its absolutely beautiful!
That was great, beautifully shot and no added sound/music.
I get so relieved when I see you have someone with you!
I've realized that "Abandoned for 11 years" sounds way better than "Abandoned in 2006" lmao.
My cats absolutely loved the bird sounds at the beginning!
That ending was really pretty. Another good one. 😊
How sad. This was a beautifu,relaxing spot I visited frequently in the late 90's/early 2000's.
Looks like it was an awesome place in its day!
1:14 the stairs are so pretty. New photos at their website look great, but there aren't many photos yet of the area outside a room. I like to look around a facility before I book, but so glad it has been fixed up. Now maybe the tiny cottages in the Pocanos will be fixed up-I wish! Thanks for upload.
It really is heartbreaking to see this. It was such a beautiful place to go. Such homey atmosphere, good food. My family always enjoyed visiting there.
I was waiting for Jason to appear in the hockey mask
+Tony Pincham Halloween theme song starts playing!
+Matt Hamby: Hahaha but I was referring to Jason Voorhees from Friday the 13 films for that film was set in an old holiday camp, think was called Crystal Lake
I recognize it all. We owned a weekend house in the Coolfont Mountainside that was built around this resort, from 2000-2016, Beautiful spot, sad situation.
I admire how you show respect to the places you visit.
I really enjoy that you visit places that are relatively close to my location, meaning once I have the courage and right gear, I can check some out for myself. Also! I feel like the mall in my area is going to be dying out within a few years, stores keep closing, and new ones pop up and leave within a few months, and I've noticed a lot less amount of people there from when I was a teenager. I know that many stores are actually losing more money than making it (I worked in a salon there so I knew many of the workers in the mall) I'll let you know when it dies down and you can check it out for your dead mall series :)
What an awesome A-frame building. I do love the artistic framing shots that you usually use within the videos - always delightful. Thanks Dan (and collaborators)
In case anyone stumbles upon this video in 2018, this resort is being reopened! People are working to restore it to it's former glory, and this very building will be saved and fixed, as the structure was not unstable. It seems sometimes there are happy endings after all.
That was unexpected ! Imagine all the efforts and money to bring this place back !
My best friend used to live in one of these chalets. I have many fond childhood memories of playing with my friends and siblings there. It was sad to see the resort go, but unsurprising. The area around Berkeley Springs is full of decay and has been for years. There's hope for restoration to it's former glory, but for now it's just closed business after closed business.
Tara hung onto that payment sheet, but they never got around to discussing it. Tara's ghost still waits...
.... ha, ha, ha.... you noticed that, too....
I'm amazed at how fast things turn to ruin and nature reclaims its own. It's almost comforting. I enjoy the videos more with your comments and explanations.
Another great one Dan...you captured things in such cool ways!
Excellent video Dan !! I was really getting into it and then it ended. Wish it was longer !!
Me, too. I am admiring it four years after Andy was. And I, too, wish it were longer. Extremely well done.
Somehow I missed this one.
Sad. I remember going there as a young kid. Too bad it's come to this. Don't think it's worth 9.5 mil, though, as it would probably take way more than that to restore it to its former glory.
+Meta Minder The site was supposed to be rebuilt as vacation homes in a mixed-use development, but the developer faltered with the economy 8-9 years ago, and shut it down.
This four-minute video is more unnerving than any horror movie I've seen in the last 10 years.
Another place just left and we have homeless folks I'll never get it
Watching this, I felt like I was there--experiencing beauty and sorrow
I love Chalet's..
Just sad...vandals break the windows, steal the wire and pipling, pigeons, mice, squirrels and raccoons and other vermin(besides the vandals) get in and pee and crap all over the place and finally the wet, cold weather finishes the place off. Just sad
+GrandsonofKong I hate vandalism, i told my friends years ago that if they did´nt stop we were done with each other. It´s so pointless retarded and childish
+urduib agreed. yet unfortunately many vandals don't see it that way and keep it up.
its not the critters fault
Elvis Chick
Very true..the critters are doing what comes naturally. I had a boat once, left one window open just enough for air circulation to prevent mold. Then I left it open a tad too much, and a family(and all their relations!!) of pigeons moved in. God what a mess! Took two days of a lot of cleaning. Didn't blame the pigeons...blamed myself for not double checking the window. My action and the consequence..like vandals breaking all the windows in these abandoned places.
so many of these abandoned in an old holiday town I used to go to in Slovakia
Reading the comments and looking at the video this looks like a really nice place… It is very awesome to hear from people that either work or visited there… How sad it has got run down but somebody in the comments said that someone had purchased the site and want to make a microbrewery and resort so I hope that works out for them…
Just Sub'd to you,.... Dunno what recording gear you use, but your sound is always f'n flawless!! Keep it up!!
Nature doesnt wait....it starts taking over quicky
Very depressing. Used to go to Coolfont frequently and always had a blast. Ever since they close the town seems to have taken an economic downturn. Such a shame.
beautiful.
I was just there recently ...well on Route 9 and saw the signs for the resort I wish I had known it was abandoned I would've explored it...next time I am up there I will look into it. Thanks for the video.
Looks like this was a great place, such a shame
wow, something close by.
Anything is scary and creepy in WV....it doesn't have to be abandoned.
Dan, your videos are just so much better than the rest, from the editing to the definite absence of idiotic bro commentary.
Now, this building has already retired.
+This is Dan Bell what kinda camera do you use? I also wanna start exploring going on adventures like you and making videos
when this chalet was abandoned? nice video
+elmin82 It was in the opening of the video. It closed in 2006.
FireCracker3240 sorry i didn't notice that
elmin82 No problem. :-)
+elmin82 The resort (992 acres) was sold to a developer who was going to turn it into a mixed-use project, then folded when the economy took a downturn.
Mitchell Baxter ok thanks a lot for the answer
just 9 years. The 200 year old place was in much better shape. by the way not cool. still 41 to 06 that's a nice run through some pretty hard times truth be told. one wonders why it didn't go to 08.
+touristinexile It was '61 to '06.
3:28 The piece of board on the ceiling looks like it has a face.
I can confirm that this place is being restored, and is expected to reopen within months!
Wow, that much destruction in so short a time.
sucks it looks like it was a nice place!! sad they would let it go down hills like that!!!
This place looks so unhealthy with the leaks upstairs. Yikes. I hope you wear a respirator in places like that.
Color me confused when this is the top video the resort I'm hoping to stay at.
all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy
2020 Update: Coolfont has reopened! Both the hotel and a restaurant are on site. A new brewery opened across the street and a new winery down the road. The area is in recovery!
www.coolfont.com/
used to be so cool!
Did you see the ghost with the camera!!? Creepy
Sad
what 9 years will do
at 0:56 you can see someone walking in the car left door
Ashley Thompson wow you have a nice eye
It would be awesome to just clean up this place and make it your own home.
Sad ! People can be so stupid 😈letting something like that just rot.
Anyone for tennis?
Again what town ,city, state ???
West Virgina
Raise money to fix it up and provide housing for the homeless.
Great idea. but it's so broke up and broken down that the most that could be done is demolish it and build something in its place.
+Michelle B What are the homeless going to do on a mountaintop in the wilderness?
+Michelle B
Heh, another liberal do gooder who wants to "help the poor" without contributing any time or money of their own. So noble of you.
Out of the whole video… I can’t stand those stupid old plastic coffee carafes. It always means watered down dirty weak coffee at hotels or sales conferences…😂😂😂
this is absolutely beautiful. I'm going to check it out soon. check out my friends RUclips @exploringwithjosh
and then the rest of his crew. you'd really like their stuff
Sylvia S really...
Yeah I live in Hedgesville which is only 30mins away from that resort. I also thought he'd enjoy exploring with josh and the crew cause they go to a bunch of abandoned places. They even went to Chernobyl
i never realized i could find the sound of birds so annoying
Hated Coolfont