I would love to give the Circle 9 Ranch a 5 star rating because the venue itself was outstanding. While the tablecloths and floors were a bit dirty I was able to look past that because the space that was available for use was perfect! The venue itself could fit about 200 people and had a large dance floor with a bandstand and everything. It was decorated in a country western style and it had a cool vibe. Even the bathrooms said "Cowboy and Cowgirl!" We were able to move the tables around as we pleased and hang up whatever we needed hung up! And for the price of $50 per hour to use that huge space, how can you pass it up? So for the actual use of the space and for functional needs I would give it 5 Stars!! But why, then you ask, did I give it only 1? Let me tell you!
I had paid for the venue starting at 10am. I wanted to make sure I got there early so that I was able to park, get situated with paying and also moving stuff into the venue (we had a baby shower and I needed to unload a butt load of stuff). Upon arriving I was not aware of where the parking lot actually was because it was covered in snow (plowed but still hard to see) so I parked at the side entrance near the office. My friend and I walked up, rang the door bell and the owner came to the door. When I told him my name he looked up at the clock and this started the rudeness that was to follow pretty much all day! He kept telling me how early I was and how much of a hassle that was and then when he showed me the venue and I asked if the heat was going to be turned on he said "Well if you had come on time the heat would have already been going!" SERIOUSLY? Well even though he complained the whole time he still charged my for being early! Fine charge me for starting to set up 15 minutes early but do not COMPLAIN about it the entire time!
Then, and this is the kicker and where I started to get a bit uppity, I had moved a table near the exit door for the cake. I know, I know tables can not block exits and I was just running around with my head cut off at that point and totally spaced it. Well he came in through that door and had to "kick the table out of the way," instead of just going around to the other entrance. He then began his 2 minute yelling spree about putting the table there. All he needed to do was politely ask me to move it and remind me that it could not be there. In the same breathe he was telling me how poor our parking jobs were (my friend moved her car to the parking lot with all the snow after asking where people were going to park and getting a response of "um did you not see the parking lot when you came in?" No buddy it was COVERED IN SNOW!!). I apologized and told him that it was really hard to see the parking spots so we didn't know how to park! To ehich he rolled his eyes and snorted at us like a bunch of silly kids! I felt as though if we were older (we are 24) he might not have talked to us like that, but then after the shower ended we found out that was not the case.
About 2:30pm rolled around and we started to pick stuff up while the mother and father were opening gifts. As we were doing that and trying to pick up the kitchen some of the people that worked there were actually walking through the venue and went into the kitchen and started cleaning paint brushes. I am pretty sure when someone pays for a venue until 3pm they should be allowed to have a venue free of people walking in and out while the party is still going!!! Well I was finally ending everything and putting stuff in the cars and it was exactly 3:13pm when everything was picked up and put away. The mother's aunt asked the owner where we could take the garbage and he replied "In the dumpster," as if we knew where the dumpsters were located! She then asked where it was and he said "Over there," and pointed. Finally, she was done in the kitchen and came out and explained to the owner that we would have been out of there exactly at 3 if it were not for his workers washing paint brushes in the sink that she needed. While they complained the whole time of us being in there. He offered no apology or explanation, didn't say anything, just walked away. And that is when I found out that it wasn't just my age that was making him act rude towards my friend and I but that he just does that to everyone.
So alas, I have to rate it only 1 star because of the owner and his employees!!! I would recommend the venue itself but it's not worth having to deal with the staff and their bad attitudes. read more