Stonewall Resort, situated in Stonewall Jackson Lake State Park, near Weston, West Virginia, has been informed that it will receive the prestigious Automobile Association of America (AAA) Four Diamond rating for the year 2004.

Greg Parsons, general manager for the resort, stated, “To receive this award is an honour, but to receive it when we`ve been open less than a year is outstanding. This is a testament to the quality of our workforce, the efforts of our partners, the State of West Virginia and the Division of Natural Resources, the foresight of our owners, McCabe-Henley-Durbin, and the hospitality philosophy of our management company, Benchmark Hospitality.”

Representatives of AAA visited the property in the spring and evaluated the resort in six key areas: Management & Staff, Housekeeping & Maintenance, Exteriors, Grounds & Public Areas, Room Décor, Ambiance & Amenities, Bathrooms, and Guest Services.

According to AAA`s Lodging Requirements & Diamond Rating Guidelines, “Four Diamond establishments are upscale in all areas. Accommodations are progressively more refined and stylish. The physical attributes reflect an obvious enhanced level of quality throughout. The fundamental hallmarks at this level include an extensive array of amenities combined with a high degree of hospitality, service, and attention to detail.”

AAA distinguishes lodging and restaurant properties on a scale of one to five diamonds, with five being the highest rating. “Less than three percent of the estimated 30,000 AAA-rated lodgings are awarded Four Diamond designations each year,” Parsons indicated.

Stonewall Resort is a 208-guestroom property with a lakeside lodge and lakeside cottages. It boasts the exclusive Mountain Laurel Spa offering an a la carte menu for massage therapy, facial treatments, and body therapies, together with a number of spa packages ranging from an hour-long getaway to a pampering all-day escape. All spa services can be performed in the spa, on the pool deck, or the spa sun deck. The resort also provides a complete fitness centre and swimming pool, plus an 18-hole Arnold Palmer Signature Golf Course.

Stonewall Resort is a joint private/public development between McCabe-Henley-Durbin and the West Virginia Department of Natural Resources. It is managed by Benchmark Hospitality, an international hospitality management company based in The Woodlands, Texas. Benchmark operates luxury resorts, hotels, spas, golf clubs and conference centers throughout the United States, in Canada, and Japan.

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