I recently hosted my twin daughters' 5th birthday party at Autumn's Gate, and unfortunately, the…read moreexperience was incredibly disappointing--especially considering we paid several hundred dollars, even with a promotional rate.
From the moment we arrived, not a single employee greeted us or provided any direction. In fact, another parent who happened to be there with her daughter was the only person who offered any assistance. I initially thought she worked there because she was the only person helping us. Thank goodness she was there, because without her, things would have gone even worse.
The party was originally booked to be held outdoors, weather permitting. Since rain was in the forecast, I proactively contacted the owner beforehand to confirm there was a backup plan. On the day of the party, however, the weather turned out to be beautiful--sunny with some wind, but overall a gorgeous day.
When we arrived, we were directed into a barn that was in very rough condition. The owners knew we were expecting approximately 50 guests, yet there was no way that many people could have comfortably fit in the space provided. Since no staff member was communicating with us, I called the owner myself and asked if we could move the party outdoors. She explained that the tent couldn't be set up due to high winds, which I completely understood. She then told us a staff member would walk us to the outdoor area so we could see the alternative setup.
This was about 10 minutes before guests were scheduled to arrive.
When we got outside, it was obvious the space had not been prepared. There were bicycles and miscellaneous items scattered around, no garbage cans, and three employees were hurriedly wiping down tables while guests were already arriving. It felt as though no one had planned for us to use the space at all, despite that being where we had originally booked the party.
To make matters worse, one of the owners casually told us, "If you need anything, I'll be in the woods through that path," and disappeared. No one explained the schedule, the activities, or what to expect. There was supposed to be a tour included, and I had to track someone down to ask about it. We later learned that the owners didn't even inform staff about our party until midnight the night before. The employee assigned to lead the tour appeared understandably frustrated because she had only been told about it roughly 20 minutes before she was expected to conduct it.
Thankfully, the kids still had fun, but as the host, I was embarrassed in front of my family and friends. The entire event felt disorganized, unprepared, and poorly managed.
The property itself was also concerning. The potholes in the driveway were so severe that my brother's car nearly bottomed out. The grounds were overgrown with weeds, and there was junk scattered throughout the property. Given the cost of hosting events and riding lessons there, it raises the question of where that money is being invested, because it certainly does not appear to be going toward property maintenance or guest experience.
To top it all off, after providing virtually no support throughout the event, the owner wanted another parent to take photos of the party for advertising purposes. That request felt incredibly inappropriate given the experience we had.
Near the end of the party, one of the owners finally approached us and asked if we needed anything. By that point, we were already packed up and leaving.
I booked this party nearly a month in advance and expected a professional, organized experience. Instead, I received the complete opposite. If you are considering booking a birthday party or event here, I would strongly encourage you to reconsider. The children may enjoy the animals and activities, but the lack of preparation, communication, customer service, and overall upkeep made this one of the most disappointing event experiences I've ever had.
I cannot recommend Autumn's Gate, and I would not spend my money there again.
