The Riverstone Lodge itself is absolutely beautiful. The design and layout are thoughtfully done,…read moreand the amenities are excellent. The fitness room, pool, covered patio, and open grass areas all create a welcoming environment that makes the lodge feel like a true community space. For the facility itself, I'd easily give it 5/5 stars.
As a reminder for anyone interested, you do have to be a homeowner or attend with a homeowner to use the lodge.
The event we've been able to attend was very fun. However, the event staff was a mixed experience. During the St. Patrick's Day karaoke event, there was a bar with a few specialty cocktails and White Claws. One bartender was friendly and great to interact with, while the other (a male bartender) was noticeably rude. Even though there was only one person behind us in line, he rushed us, and when we asked for a specific whiteclaw flavor, he abruptly responded, "No, you get what I grab." Interactions with him took away from an otherwise enjoyable evening.
We also had an issue during check-in. We had received an email from event staff confirming that we had been added to the guest list, but when we arrived our names weren't on it. This created confusion for staff. Fortunately, the employee working check-in handled the situation professionally and kindly, but the registration process needs improvement. Because of those experiences, I'd rate the event staff experience around 3/5 stars.
My biggest frustration is the process for registering for events. As Riverstone has grown, the lodge simply hasn't kept pace with the number of homeowners who want to participate. For example, I received an email about the June and July events at 5:01 p.m. and tried to register at 6:30 p.m. when I saw it. Every event I tried registering for was already full.
Considering these events are funded in part through our monthly HOA dues, it's disappointing that so few residents are actually able to attend. While there is a waitlist, we've never successfully been moved from it despite calling multiple times to ask if there was any way to better plan or if anyone had canceled allowing us to be moved off the waitlist .
I think there are different ways this could be improved:
* Build an additional clubhouse to serve the newer developments.
* Increase event capacity so more homeowners can participate.
* Implement a confirmation system requiring registered attendees to reconfirm attendance, allowing waitlisted residents a fair opportunity to attend when spots open.
Right now, the registration process simply doesn't match the size of the Riverstone community. The lodge itself is outstanding, but access to the events where it's my understanding that homeowners help fund is extremely limited. For that reason, I'd give the event registration process 1/5 stars.
I truly hope management addresses this as the community continues to grow because the facility has so much potential, and more homeowners should have the opportunity to enjoy it.