This review is for their General Store ONLY since we did not rent a boat from them. The store is…read morelocated just outside the check in gate for the camping grounds. There are within sight of each other. The store is basically stocked to support the campers but also the people renting boats who may have forgot some critical needs. For such a tiny store they have managed to stock just about every need one could think of. And no matter how prepared you think you are, it seems you always forget something or run out of some supplies. This store has been a lifesaver for us. We needed a smaller styrofoam cooler to take on a boat instead of our full size cooler on wheels - check, they had it. We needed something to go on a sunburn - check, they had it. And it was a great product, an aloe gel with lidocaine. We forgot to bring the cereal, brought the milk, but forgot the cereal - check, they had eight kinds to choose from including our favorite, Frosted Flakes. Last year when we brought the granddaughters, they had all that weird packaged candy they like. And of course, they have three giant freezers of bagged ice. At $2.50 a bag, I think that's pretty reasonable all things considered. Some prices are high but fair for being remote. Kroger is six miles away. They aren't gouging you like some places outside the State Recreation Area.

My bf and I rented jet skis on a Sunday morning and I can't wait to do it again. Go in the morning…read moreand you get an early bird price! (And the lake isn't as busy) As someone who has boated on Monroe my whole life, jet skis created a whole new experience of the lake. I had never driven one, but it was super simple. Next time I'll rent one for longer. :) No complaints in regards to the staff. It's never a bad idea to take photo/video of the jet ski or boat before you head out on the water though. They were very thorough with us and I felt prepared! You may want to note that a $7 fee is required to get into the park where they are located- unless you hold the state park pass!

The staff at the boathouse are so friendly and helpful, especially the young handsome and strong…read moreman. He got my boat in and out the water lickety-split oh wow! I love visiting just to see his hard working fine butt pls give him a raise!

What a great spot! Feels like a million miles away from Bloomington. So calm and peaceful…read more We enjoyed the well marked hiking trails. Would love to return and get out on the water!

Welcome back to 1972 when The Fourwinds Lakeside Inn & Marina was built!…read more This motel is a step back into the past with no internet, sculpted carpeting, a wall made entirely of rocks, dark hallways, toilet paper as thin and rough as sandpaper, and what looked like a popcorn ceiling! The photos online are NOTHING like the real thing. This is not a fancy place. That said, the bed was comfortable, the room and bathroom were clean, and it was generally restful and quiet. We were able to check in early (at 1 pm) for free when we called the day we were coming in. Thank you! There was a gorgeous view of the lake in our lake-front room but on our patio, there was only 1 chair, and the dividers between patios didn't come all the way down which meant there wasn't much privacy. The internet was out most of our stay (2 days), though the staff tried hard to fix it. Turns out, the modem was above the ceiling tiles! Most of the staff was very responsive and friendly, including the cleaning people. We were able to get towels to the pool from them though there were no towels by the pool and very few towels in our bathroom. Parking was easy and plentiful. The pool was gorgeous and warm and lovely to swim in. There were a number of leaves in it, but, other than that, it was nice to swim in! The workout room was closed during the time we were there, but, we chose to swim instead which felt great. Tips: 1. If you want to check in earlier than 4, call the same day and ask if you can. 2. The Fourwinds Inn is inside a state park which means you will be paying $7 that you get back after your stay. They also give you a flier with your name and room number so that you can go in and out of the park without paying again. 3. Bring food and bottled water! The rooms have antiquated looking tea and instant coffee -- and if you're looking for anything more, it's not going to be right. 4. The restaurant gets horrible reviews and it's very expensive. They also don't have many or any gluten-free options. For food, I would recommend places like FARMBloomington, BRU Burger for lunch/dinner and Vivencia for breakfast. 5. They do have a kiosk that sells a few snack items but it's not very well-stocked. It would be nice if the hotel had bottled water in the rooms (for free) OR if they brought in a coffee company like Tinker or Hopscotch to sell coffee and breakfast items. They would make a killing! This is the kind of place you stay when you want to rent a boat (apparently, it's 25% off during the week), or want to avoid the Square during college move in or move out times.

My husband and I celebrated our 6th wedding anniversary at Fourwinds. While there were some…read morepositives, overall it evened out to be a pretty neutral experience and a bit of a bummer for a wedding anniversary. The website and even some of the Yelp photos make it look MUCH nicer than it really is-- they are clearly very outdated photos. There is a tiny indoor outdoor pool right next to the on grounds restaurant. It was too small and packed with people at all times for us to want to use. The room was average; nothing special. We ended up spending most of our time in the room or away from the resort. The lake itself is beautiful and it was nice watching so many families take boats out for the day. It was quieter during the day as families spent so much time on the water. The staff were friendly.

Bought my first camping gear here in 1981. Been going back ever since. Wonderful old store that's…read morelike going to your Grandpa's house. I love the creaked old floors. Knowledgeable personable staff there when you need them, but leave you be when you want to roam. Good prices, extensive gear selection, and they allow you to bring your dog in. What more could you want?

Really awful customer treatment. Manager was rude and there prices are way too much. Check out REI…read moreoutlet online.

When I first bought my boat Dave went to Charlotte North Carolina and picked it up for me. Very…read morereasonable in the charges. When I got my dock at Lake Monroe he helped me pick one that would get less exposure from wakes and wind. I also had them install a lift in my dock slip and they did an excellent job. I highly recommend The Dam Boathouse

Dave Utley(owner) had installed my lift and that was the only interaction I have had and it went…read morewell. A couple months later my boat breaks, pull it out, leaf springs on trailer break on a Sunday afternoon around 3pm he comes out almost immediately to help get my trailer in good enough shape to get it to his shop - the following weekend being July 4(one of the biggest weekends for boating) he was able to get my trailer parts 2nd day air and repaired in time for the mechanic to get my boat fixed and floating for an important weekend. I'd recommend the service to anyone and everyone. He definitely went over and beyond at more than a fair price as well as took my boat to the mechanic for me due to timing being so important. Thanks to Dave and The Dam Boathouse.

Renting a boat for the day was a simple process. But what led me to leave this review was the…read morehelpful follow through with their cancellation policy. We unfortunately had to cancel our trip to Lake Monroe due to a series of unforeseen events. Angel was quick to respond and mentioned their policy regarding cancellations. Today I received word that the boat had been re-rented and that our fees would be returned less the cancellation fee. Happy to have worked with an honest and helpful company. Looking forward to getting back to Lake Monroe and using Lake Monroe Marina to get back out on the water.

I recently had a very good experience here and an awesome day spent out on Lake Monroe. A group of…read moreus rented the smaller pontoon boat with the slide on it for the day we found the guys working here to be top notch. Friendly atmosphere, nice peaceful lake and a great day with friends. Highly recommended.

I enjoyed swimming here, but I was a little disappointing with the upkeep of the beach. Being from…read moreCalifornia I had forgotten the rest of the states don't have the anti-smoking laws that we have about not smoking in public places. Personally I always thought it was a dumb rule until I hung out at Lemon Lake. Let me tell you, nothing ruins a fun rollick in a beautiful lake more than coming out of the water and stepping into a huge pile of nasty cigarette butts. Gross. Other than that it was great fun, and not overly crowded. I enjoyed my time there.

One of the nicest marinas ive been too. The owners are very nice and will help you in any way…read more When i had a dead battery she helped me get it jumped. The amenities they provide are really nice also. Small convenient store. Very clean bathrooms and showers. Washer and dryers and ethanol free gas. Prices gor their slips are very reasonable also.

Paradise made it very easy for me and my family to set sail on Lake Monroe this summer. We had…read morenever been on a boat together before, and I was kind of wondering what I had gotten ourselves into when we stepped aboard. The thoughts running through my head included: How the heck does a boat work? How am I going to shuttle us along safely when I've never driven a boat before? And other anxious boating thoughts. But luckily, Paradise makes it easy to rent a vessel and take it out on the lake, even if you've never driven a boat before. First, when you book your reservation, you are directed to watch a long video about the dos and don't of boating on a lake. Then, the kind people at Paradise go over the rules again when you're there before you shuttle off. It turns out that boating isn't super difficult, as long as you follow some common-sense rules! And also, always wear a life jacket! We rented a pontoon, which is great if you have kids with you because this vessel has a canopy that provides lots of shade. Kids can't be in the sun all day, you know! The pontoons also have lots of storage space so you have places to put all of your snacks and extra supplies. We spent about three hours out on the lake, and by the end of the journey, I felt like I was almost a boating pro! Renting from Paradise was a great experience from start to finish, and I'll definitely be renting from them again the next time we want to spend time boating on Lake Monroe.

New boats, friendly and helpful staff a beautiful lake and great memories created every time we…read morerent with Paradise boat rentals at Four Winds Marina. Bring your own trash bag or 2 bc the trash stacks up quickly at the marina and it all has to be carried back the long dock to the dumpsters. Definitely recommend !

BEAUTIFUL LAKE IN THE FOREST…read more =========================== We rented an amazing Airbnb right on Lake Lemon at the beginning of May. My son, who lives in Bloomington, found it for my husband and I because the hotels in Bloomington were doubling their rates for graduation weekend which was a total ripoff. Lake Lemon is a thirty minute drive from Bloomington and it's surrounded by two big forests. The drive through the countryside is beautiful. I would recommend spending a lot less money and finding an Airbnb instead of a hotel.

I've grown up on Lake Lemon, and spend almost every weekend here. I love this place…read more It is not as large as Monroe, or as fancy as Geist (thankfully), but I prefer it over the others. We have a party cove (the dam), plenty of room for skiing/wake-boarding/tubing, great fishing, a bar with a dock (the Porthole), beautiful wooded shoreline, and great locals.