Given the circumstances we're living with in 2020, I honestly didn't think I would get the chance…read moreto safely travel again for a couple of years. So when a family member approached me and asked me if I wanted to stay at this inn, I was surprised; but, after learning more, I excitedly said yes. This was the right decision and led to a fantastic and relaxing weekend away from the city.
This nature inn sits in Bald Eagle State Park and has 16 guest rooms, a handful of meeting room/library spaces, and is absolutely beautiful. The rooms on one side of the inn overlook a lake, with the other side facing a cluster of trees. My relative and I ended up facing the trees, but we were totally fine with that - especially since the fall foliage was starting to set in. We were on the 2nd floor, so we were able to enjoy the view from a private balcony throughout the weekend; it looked like the 1st floor rooms had little patios instead, so no matter what, guest rooms have some sort of outdoor seating.
Normally, guests would all be able to enjoy a communal patio and fire pit here. Granted, some other guests (as it appeared that a large group came here together) did go ahead and enjoy this space. My relative and I did not because avoiding people is a must these days, but still, what we saw of these spaces looked great. Definitely something to remember for the future.
Speaking of avoiding people - it's 2020, so naturally, my relative and I were focused on what the inn is doing to protect guests. The answer is, plenty! Cleaning and sanitizing the inn is a big thing, naturally. The small size of the inn definitely helps, as it's not particularly big and doesn't lend itself to the gathering of huge crowds. Masks are a must and for the most part, this rule was adhered to; I passed by a couple of guests that I think just forgot theirs momentarily, but staff definitely took the rule seriously. Their dining room is currently closed - all meals are prepped and offered as take-out or delivery. Fortunately, the rooms include a fridge, so it was super easy for my relative and me to bring snacks and store our leftovers so that we were stocked and well-fed all weekend. Also, while you can request items that you need for your room, daily turn-down service is not happening right now - that way, only guests are in their rooms during their stay. The result was that I felt extremely relaxed while I was in the inn, knowing that my space and health was being respected and taken seriously.
A couple of notes - the mattresses here were admittedly very hard and uncomfortable, and while they didn't ruin our stay, it's still nice to have my comfy soft bed back. I don't really hold this against the inn though since, frankly, I think all hotel beds are uncomfortable by default. Speaking of things I don't hold against them - this is a nature inn, so you better expect some of the local wildlife to try to get into your room. When I first opened my balcony door some stinkbugs fell onto me because they had gathered around the door frame - whoops! The good news is that the door itself was very well sealed, so the little jerks couldn't get in when the door was closed. Again, I don't hold that against the inn at all, seeing as it's set right in a state park. Still, I think it's fair to remind other guests and readers that when you visit a nature park, you better be ready to experience everything nature throws at you.
If any of this sounded like something you would enjoy, I encourage you to visit the inn's website to learn more about staying here; there is a lot of information there about a range of other topics, such as how the entire facility is designed to be ecologically sound, what to expect when you visit during different seasons, and what sorts of outdoor fun awaits you in the surrounding nature park. I definitely recommend this beautiful inn as a getaway option - now and in the future; and I hope to be back one day to enjoy more of the surrounding area!
