BARNESVILLE — Mountain Valley Golf Course, one of Schuylkill County’s premiere special events venues, announced Thursday that it will close during the second week in October.
“After careful consideration, we have made this difficult decision that Mountain Valley Golf Course will cease operations at the conclusion of the 2026 golf season,” the owners said in a news release. “The entire complex is being purchased for future commercial development and industrial business use.”
The decision was not made lightly, the statement said.
“Mountain Valley has been a meaningful part of the community for many years, and we are incredibly proud of the memories, events and relationships built over that time,” it said.
Golfers, event guests and community members can expect business as usual, with scheduled tournaments, outings and events moving forward as planned.
“We are deeply grateful to our staff, loyal customers and the broader community for their continued support,” the statement said. “It has been an honor to serve as a gathering place for so many.”
Located at 1021 Brockton Mountain Drive, Mountain Valley Golf Course is assessed at $2.7 million for real estate tax purposes, according to records on file at the Schuylkill County Courthouse.
Since 2004, the property has been owned by Mountain Valley Corporation, which has offices in the St. Clair Industrial Park, county records show.
Mountain Valley has two 18-hole championship golf courses designed by Ault Clark and Associates, an internationally-known company.
It has restaurant and banquet facilities for weddings, corporate functions and special events. There’s also a golf pro shop, a driving range and a pavilion that overlooks Locust Lake.
The business employs about 70 people, according to online sources.
The announcement of the sale of a 108-acre property with access to Interstate 81 has led to speculation about its possible use as a warehouse or data center.
In February, the Ryan Twp. supervisors rezoned portions of the golf course from residential to industrial, township solicitor Christopher Riedlinger said.
The change was requested by Mountain Valley Corp. and Yudacot Limited Partnership, a St. Clair-based entity affiliated with the Cotlur Group of companies.
In addition to the rezoning, Riedlinger said, the township enacted new ordinances regulating data centers, solar farms and warehouses. Among other things, they require water feasibility studies and conditional use hearings, potentially making industrial development more difficult.
Mountain Valley’s statement did not indicate if the sale of the property has been completed, or to whom it was being sold. It also made no mention of what type of commercial and industrial use was planned for the site.