American industrialist Jacob Langeloth directed that his estate of several million dollars be used as a place of rest, relaxation and recreation for people of education and refinement at an affordable cost. This generous bequest, which remained a secret until after his passing, was to be named Valeria, not only in honor of his wife, but also as a way of including her in his philanthropic dream. She immediately took charge of this extraordinary resort's development and management, forming a not-for-profit corporation on March 19, 1915. Two years later she successfully acquired the environmentally magnificent 550-acre Dickerson property, then quickly added four other equally pristine properties to bring the total land area to almost one thousand acres.
Its surveyor, John H. Duncan, the designer of Grant's tomb, deemed this expansive, habitat-rich tract exceptionally suitable for its intended purpose. Renowned architects, William Adams Delano, Chester Holmes Aldrich and Charles H. Higgins, were commissioned to bring Jacob's dream to life. As a partnership, Delano & Aldrich were already famous for designing Rockefeller family estates, and building social clubs for the Astors, Vanderbilts and Whitneys.
On May 17, 1921, the architectural plans for Valeria were approved, with its design incorporating the beauty and character of locally quarried native stone. Recently immigrated Italian masons lived and worked on the property for three years to ensure every structure was a luxurious work of art.
Valeria Langeloth visited the resort every Sunday, hosting a concert series performed on a mechanical organ for the pleasure of her guests. At the height of its role as an exclusive resort, Valeria's 121 employees served nearly 200 guests daily. By 1949 an estimated 125,000 visitors had enjoyed Valeria's extraordinary facilities and grounds which included a par-3 golf course to satisfy the newest recreational fad of the time. Today, Valeria's Old World Elegance combined with New World Luxury defines Valeria as the exclusive residential community with grand estate lifestyle.
