I don't normally write bad reviews, even when they're deserved, and I won't this time either. Instead, this is a highly specialized recommendation, perfect for a very specific traveler: the team mom or dad of a Pee Wee hockey squad that prefers to practice their cardio by sprinting down hotel hallways at maximum volume all night long. If that's you, congratulations. You've found your destination. At the Snow Owl Inn, management will never trouble you with interruptions like "quiet hours" or "basic courtesy." Your young athletes can bang on every guest room door in the building, shriek with unrestrained joy, and conduct impromptu hallway scrimmages at 10 p.m. without anyone stepping in. Parental exhaustion, road-trip apathy, and total abdication of responsibility are all fully supported here. And if you're a connoisseur of mid-70s ski-lodge décor -- the kind that's not just vintage but extremely broken-in -- you're in for a treat. Every amenity has that perfectly worn, gently dilapidated charm that really completes the experience. So no, this isn't a bad review. It's simply salute to the only travelers who will truly appreciate everything the Snow Owl Inn has to offer. read more

The hotel is dated but very cozy with several public areas. Fantastic location, rooms are very clean and beds are comfy. Free breakfast is simple but does the trick. Staff is attentive and eager to please. Kalki Indian Restaurant (onsite) has been excellent both times we went there (2025 and 2026). read more

Great and tentative staff. Even in the summer it's a nice cozy hotel to stay in . Food was great! read more

Stayed at the inn this weekend because one of my kids was in an ice hockey tournament. This was the place the team chose to stay... This would not have been my choice but I know the kids have the most fun when they stay at the same place as their team. The inn is VERY dated. We did find some trash in our room from previous guests, the fitness center needs a huge revamp. The adults in my group were kicked out of all the common areas at 10pm and were told to "go to bed" by staff! The kids were quietly hanging out in a common area and they were also told to leave- they were between the ages 12-14 so basically just sitting quiet in their phones. The "free" breakfast- day old milk, stale bread and cereal. And that waffles were disgusting. Don't even both going down for it-just skip it and thank me. It was fine to stay for a night and like I said because of hockey and the ice arena being so close it was worth it. If you're looking at this area for a fun ski weekend, go somewhere else. There are much better ski resorts and ski areas then in water Valley drive the extra hour to go somewhere more updated and relevant. read more

my favorite hotel!!! so incredibly cozy, staff are so welcoming. they have an amazing new indian restaurant HIGHLY RECOMMEND

I wouldn't recommend it unless you're a hockey family staying when there is a tournament. The reviews from a year ago has created a culture change by the management team. I definitely wouldn't recommend the rooms that surround the lobby! If you are visiting for skiing stay elsewhere! read more

Air conditioning won't go below 74 degrees. Entire building smells like urine. Customer comfort is of no concern to owner. Please, stay elsewhere. Spend your money where the owner is striving to benefit the community not just themselves. Definitely not worth what you pay. These guys are not investing in the community or property, just themselves. read more

This place is ran by a tribe of Indians who are completely and utterly clueless. We showed up to a hockey tourney with 25 other teams and weren't allowed to bring sticks into the hotel. The elevators were broken all weekend so you couldn't use those either. There was a curfew of 10pm and god help you if you stayed out later they would call the cops. The only thing worse than the hotel were the parents from the Marlboro Sparks Team. Complete losers the wives the husbands and the kids... The wives were trash and the husbands were cheering and yelling at the refs like it was an NHL game. Would I go back to this hotel absolutely not. Merry Xmas read more

Snowy Owl Inn is comfortable and clean. This little place is tucked into the Waterville Valley and is so serene. The employees were very kind and always smiling as we entered and exited the main lobby. read more

Snowy Owl Inn - Overlooking the village - Hotels Near Me - Waterville Valley, New Hampshire

Quaint inn conveniently located next to Waterville Village, very rustic with common nooks to hang out in the public space. Friendly staff, basic food, but tasty and well prepared. Nice breakfast offering, excellent coffee. Our room was very basic and aged, but me our needs. Had good hot water, comfortable beds, and temperature was easily controlled. read more

Snowy Owl Inn - View from dining room. Unfortunately snow had melted a couple weeks earlier. - Hotels Near Me - Waterville Valley, New Hampshire

Hockey tournament fail! If zero stars could be given, they would be. This place should not hold any hockey tournament teams because they clearly don't want the children to have fun. Do yourself a favor and stand clear. The staff is rude, the food is terrible and the room smells. read more

Stayed there this weekend for a hockey tournament and it was horrible. First off you aren't allowed to bring the hockeys sticks into the building. They actually stand at the door and make you go to your car. The "manager" sits in his car in the parking lot and smokes cigarettes all day and night. They wouldn't let the kids do anything and instead would threaten them that they wouldn't be able to play their hockey games. They treated us like complete garbage. Took all the cushions off of the seating areas in the common space so we couldn't hang out together. Had the cops talk to us at 10:20pm. The second night they couldn't say a word to us because they had a party in the conference room with loud music way past 10pm even though we were told the first night it's state law that they can't open the conference room that late and it has to be quiet. Overall miserable stay there. Will not stay here again. read more

Snowy Owl Inn - One of the common spaces where they removed all the cushions. - Hotels Near Me - Waterville Valley, New Hampshire

Just spent the weekend here for a 8U hockey tournament. The inn itself is fine but very old and outdated. The staff treated us like criminals because the kids were running around having a good time, and the whole place was filled with other hockey teams doing the same. The 10PM quiet hours is STRICTLY enforced, to the point where they brought the cops in at 10:20pm to make us disperse on our first night. The 2nd night they removed all of the couch cushions from the common area so we wouldn't congregate there for the night, but we complained and they put them back. Make sure you don't get a room near the Indian Restaurant on site, the smell is overwhelming and gets stuck in your clothes, jackets, etc... Place is OK, Staff is TERRIBLE!!! Do yourself a favor and stay at one of the other local places!! read more

They yell at you if you run down the stairs no knee hockey even though you are in the middle of New Hampshire the check-in is at 4 and then make you wait longer. The staff is horrible. They know there are hockey tournaments and teams traveling so they don't have to be cordial. Absolutely horrible! Don't stay here! We where eating breakfast and saw a mouse read more

I can't believe folks give The Snowy Owl bad reviews! Look, skiing is an expensive sport, and the other hotels in the area mandate 2 night minimums. The Owl, does not. So, if you're looking for an affordable way, to do a two-day/one-night ski trip to Waterville Valley.. do it at The Owl! Is it old? Oh yes. Are the furnishing updated? Goodness, no. Are The Silver Fox, or The Black Bear Lodge a little nicer? Yup. Are they both, like, $100 more each night, 'better'? Nah. But, at the Owl: you can stay one night, it's a three minute walk to town sq. and, like Victor Willis so nearly sang: "..young man, when you're short on your dough You can stay there, and I'm sure you will find Many ways to have a good time. It's fun to stay..." read more

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Awesome experience, everything was perfect. We enjoyed the stay. Excellent location and great food.

If I could give this a lower rating, I would...people type this a lot, but here, I really mean it. This place failed on all accounts from being absolutely filthy (see pictures) to the staff being downright rude. I'll explain the 2nd part first. We were there for a hockey tournament in late July 2021 and from the minute we arrived, the staff continuous harassed our group of 13 year old children for "running and talking" in the hallways. The staff claimed that since the building is old, every footstep is heard everywhere. The problems with this claim is (1) it was only 7:30 PM (quiet time starts at 10:00 PM) and (2) myself and 4 other parents were sitting in the lobby right next to the staff member who yelled at them. After we instructed the staff to NOT speak directly to our children (especially not to yell at them) and instead to come to us in the event they were being disruptive, the staff agreed, but then continued to ignore the request. We spoke to the assistant manager who was on scene and while he agreed our children were actually well behaved, his staff (namely a women named Kat) ignored his instructions to come to us. Now onto the filthyness of the hotel...the bath tub, shower and bathrooms in general were nasty. We had a long hair in our tub upon arrival and the shower head was grimey. The floors were dirty with trash under the beds and there were cobwebs everywhere. Also, several dead bugs in the light cap in the elevator...way more than a summer's worth. While our kids loved the Waterville tournament, this hotel detracted from a good time. There are many better places I am told on the scene and so I will never have my family stay here again. read more

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The definition of a Rustic Inn, I loved everything from the fireplaces to the room keys. I spoke to the owner who purchased the Snowy Owl in 2020 at the height of the pandemic and they are making updates and upgrades throughout the hotel every day and it shows. The executive suite has the best views and is so spacious. The staff was so friendly and welcoming. It truly feels like a family place. Added plus - Bartender Kyle made delicious cocktails, the Snowy Owltini is a must try! read more

Service was good and location is perfect. Close to village shops and restaurants. Would recommend.

My husband and I stayed here at the snow we are well for a wedding a wonderful lodge feeling it is obviously an older hotel however the service from the staff and the most delicious breakfast we've had in a long time and we do travel often was fantastic! when visiting Waterville Valley again I will mainly stay here at snow we all in if anything read more

I've always wanted to enjoy the fall foliage of New Hampshire (or, leaf peeping, as the locals refer to it). I picked this Inn because it's not a bad drive (150 miles) from my fly-in point of Boston. I easily made online reservations 8 months in advance. Here then is a list of: THINGS I LIKED: Quick & easy check-in with a friendly staff A "babbling " brook with trail at rear of property. A next-door town square with sports bars and general store with beer/wine! Ample parking THINGS I DIDN'T LIKE: This place is literally stuck in 1975! Basic furnishings that are scratched and dented; VERY RATCHET! Very spotty intermittent Wi-Fi. Old ginormous TV with very limited channels Very loud mini-fridge that stunk of weeks old cold cuts. Sub-par breakfast: basic coffee and plastic wrapped muffin or donut: that's it! Overall, for a no more than 1 night stay to enjoy driving through the very beautiful area, it's passable. read more

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Breathing New Life We had a delightful experience when we stopped in for a dinner at the Snowy Owl Inn. The staff was very accommodating and the food and seasonal cocktails delicious. We spent some time talking with Sean Ward, the owner for the last year. He bought the neglected inn and is quickly turning it around! It was impressive to hear about the updates that have already been done to the inn, including all new beds and bedding in each room. The carpeting is in the process of being replaced as well. Sean has an exciting vision about the future of the inn including a beautiful wedding venue near the brook. The location is perfect- right next to the Waterville Valley Town Square, where we enjoyed listening to a local band after dinner. I look forward to staying here next time we are in town - can't wait to see the next set of improvements! read more

Last time here they had just begun operating restaurant son bartending did well I did it for 30+ years food was great only bad point came up for pool it was closed read more

This Inn is like stepping back in time. It is pretty outdated but the room prices are affordable. PROS: 1. The room was fun. We had the loft. It had a weird window going from the bedroom to the bathroom. It was hilarious 2. Lots of things to do in the town square: pond, arcade, restaurants, boats 3. Hiking trails and playground nearby 4. Affordable room prices 5. Breakfast included: apples, bananas, various breads for toast, oatmeals, cold cereals, juice 6. Room air conditioner worked great CONS:1. Very outdated 2. No housekeeping. They are supposed to empty trash and give towels daily but they never came in. I emptied our trash daily and requested toiletries daily at the desk. 3. Holes in the couch arms, counters have chips in them, broken tiles in bathroom 4. Common areas and hallways in hotel were very hot 5. 4 PM check in. Very late compared to most hotels have 1 PM check in 6. No pool. They used to have an indoor pool but no more :( read more

Terrible TERRIBLE experience!! Where do I even start??? We came with a group for a hockey tournament. This was the only place left that had enough room left for our entire group and I can see why! Initial impression was a rustic, outdated ski lodge inn which is fine.. I can deal with old furnishings and stylings but this is a whole other story! The room was dirty when we checked in... the rug was filthy, stained and poorly vacuumed. There were crumbs of food under the table (they definitely do not move the furniture to clean.) I didn't allow anyone to use our tub since it did NOT look clean and after I heard another mom in our group turned her jets on and black hairs came flying out.... GROSS! The shower curtain was covered in mildew and the shower floor creaked like I was going to fall through it. We had a clogged toilet and several lights were out in the bathroom. My mother has a mold allergy and her allergies were going crazy in this room. We didn't have fitted sheets on our mattress.. just a regular sheet draped over the mattress so if you moved... the stained, disgusting mattress was now visible. The second day ...housekeeping pulled up the blankets over the bed...didn't even make the bed, did not leave towels or vacuum the room at the very least... let alone clean anything in there. The third day we had to request a vacuuming and towels as we were out and the pile had been left on the floor for two days. Hotel staff is mean and unaccommodating. They were screaming at our kids from day one for being in the hallways at noon time. (mind you they were just going from one room to another. When confronted they told us our kids had been terrible and were the worst group they had ever seen and our entire group had been out of the hotel all day! They HATE kids. Kids are not allowed to play in common areas of the hotel. The hotel must be library-silent from morning-night. And why would you want to stay in the common areas anyway the hallways are FREEZING. Especially down by the pool where you are not allowed to take towels from so you must walk soaking wet without a towel from the pool area that is in the 50 degree basement to your room. The "light fare" continental breakfast is a joke. The muffins were hard and stale and wrapped individually in saran wrap so they just put back out what hasn't been eaten the day before. They are definitely WEEKS old. The restaurant is closed. This hotel wasn't cheap.. at almost $200 a night this is not what I would have expected. Of course it's non-refundable so it wasn't like we could pack up and go elsewhere. Close this dump down, it is a HEALTH HAZARD. Do not stay here! No matter what...your car is a better bed trust me on this! So much potential to be a great inn such a shame. read more

This used to be a really nice Inn. 20 years ago. Apparently the current owners don't care about keeping up appearances. It is sad really. To have expectations of how things should be and to have them be completely opposite really makes me sad. A voicemail message was never returned about extending my stay so when I showed up they had to find a clean room. I am pretty sure we are the only guests in the entire hotel tonight. Coming back from dinner the front desk is unattended and all the lobbies/hallways dark. Understandable if we are the only guests but a heads up would have been appreciated. All in all the place needs a good cleaning and some paint, updated furniture and bedding in the rooms. It is more like a Motel 6 then the quaint ski resort Inn that it used to be. The Silver Fox was a much nicer, friendlier atmosphere last year. Should have stayed there again. read more

The new ownership is taking this once premier destination in the White Mountains back to its heritage. Old school ski lodge type of setting with great service and now, again, breakfast and dinner dinning. Highly recommended...more upgrades we understand are coming to make it a group destination. read more

The place itself needs updating like the heating system , beds,carpeting!!! The bathrooms were awful with poor lighting and lack of heat ! But the worst part is how terrible the staff is and unfriendly or accommodating to their guests. Any request for basic necessities like toilet paper or clean towels was met with disdain and usually a No !!! The area is great and I have stayed before but these people running the place were rude and should learn how to treat guests or get out of the hospitality industry !! Also the housekeeping staff doesn't do a good job or come everyday !!! Dirty and gross beds !! It's a shame because the place has so much untapped potential !! The place needs to be bought by someone who is customer focused and can bring it into the present day !!! We paid over 200.00 per night and were so disappointed with our experience!!! read more

Love this place . Staff is helpful and pleasant. Dogs are welcome in one wing which is an added bonus!!

Our family Hs been coming here for 20 years. Always treated well, friendly staff. Met the new owner and his family, who purchased the Inn in July, already doing a lot of exterior work and have plans on making much needed updates inside. Can't wait until it's finished, but then new owner was great to talk to. read more

If you have other options..... Take them I stayed at the Snowy Owl Inn on March 9th and 10th for a hockey tournament. With taxes and fees, I spent $172.00 a night. I expected better, but the reality was far worse. The first thing to understand when you stay in the Waterville Valley area is there are not many options for lodging or dining. This has not been lost on the management for Snowy Owl in as the fixtures furniture for my room could have come out of 70s. I was told I would have a mountain view........ I guess the mound of snow outside my window could have been substituted for a mountain and it didn't get any better from there. I don't mind a cool room, but I had to be fully dressed as the heater was joke. Also, I should have brought my military sleeping bag since the covers were woefully lacking in their ability to keep me warm. The mattress was a mattress in name only. I have slept on cots that were more comfortable. I couldn't help but notice that the carpet in the room was so worn that you could tell where people put their feet when they got out of bed. Ditto for things like bathroom fixtures and trim. My room looked and felt like the absolute minimum was done to keep it maintained. The perception is, "We know our customers have no where else to go, so we can do the least and bank the rest." My reservation came with breakfast. I have stayed at Fairfield Marriott's for less money and had a better breakfast than plastic wrapped doughnuts and stale muffins and coffee that wasn't fresh for less money. I went to Benton's Sugar Shack instead and had a great breakfast. Bear in mind, Benton's was 13 miles one way......... This goes double for the $13.00 I spent a cheese ravioli at Legends that was obviously frozen ravioli with dab of tomato sauce. It wouldn't be so bad, but again with no competition around Waterville Valley, you don't have to raise your game. If I have to come this way again, I will be staying somewhere else, even if it means I have to drive. I don't understand what Snowy Owl is trying to do, but I am good. read more

Just awful! Old rooms with worn carpeting, non-functioning AC, and an EXTREMELY old "fitness room", if you can even call it that. The only plus is that it is RIGHT next to Town Square - which is why we chose to stay here. The rooms are just not worth it and we will definitely go with Golden Eagle or the Best Western even though they are further away. The staff here just could not care less. AVOID! read more

We stayed (family with two kids 10 & 8) at the hotel for a hockey tournament. The hotel has a 70's look and feel to it. That being said, the hotel was very clean. The room we stayed in had two full size beds with a jacuzzi tub. In my opinion, to have furnishings that are 40 years old (I am guessing by the look) and to be as clean as they are, the hotel does a great job of keeping everything clean and working. The pool was very clean and the kids had a great time. The hotel was very welcoming of having our two hockey teams. They let the kids be kids and have fun! If you looking for a fun family place that is reasonably priced for your next hockey tournament, this is the place. read more

I was there fri-mon nice inn, clean, good beds ,nice bathroom great location next to town square , nice pool area, sitting area each floor with microwave, good breakfast Steve at front desk was great helped with everything good value would stay again read more

I noticed between the arcade and the hotel, both owned by the same people, that there are very few male employees if any. I also stayed here over a year ago and I was told that there was going to be many great improvements, WHERE ARE THEY? THE PLACE IS STILL DISGUSTING, just with some new beds and bed spreads to cover up the dirtyness. NEVER STAYING HERE AGAIN. I recommend the black bear right next to the inn instead. read more

Let's get something clear. This is not a hotel, it is an inn. If you don't know the difference, look it up. If it were a hotel, then I would be looking for more services like a bar or a restaurant. Bottom line: It is a cozy inn with a rustic feel. Perfect for the skiing season, and nice for a summer stay too. In the summer, you will probably be out enjoying the picturesque mountains and driving all over and getting your meals from cool places in the area. It is clearly a structure that was built a long time ago, and the rooms are not updated. But they are clean with functioning televisions, showers, clock radios, refrigerators, and air conditioning units in the rooms. It is next to The Silver Fox, which is newer and more expensive. So, there you have it. I am a little put off by a Yelp reviewer's post calling it a dump. It is not a dump, and sweetie, from what you complained about in your review, you don't know what a dump is. So pony up and pay a HOTEL, and stop besmirching a good family run establishment. The beds were not the most comfortable I have slept on, but it worked and they give you extra pillows in the room. The bathroom was clean with complimentary sundries. I got no odor, and it was plenty humid and very hot. Usually odors are most noticeable in that weather. The pool is indoor and the area is warm and steamy. So being over 80 degrees, I decided not to hang out in that area, although it would have been cooler in the pool. The owners are there, on the premises and are nice and accommodating. Do the floors creak a little? Yep. Is there older decor? Yep. But there are nice common areas for friends to gather. Everyone is nice, and the staff is present cleaning the common areas during the day. Our stay was really quite pleasant. There clearly is an area to serve food, so I know they do events. There is a very small continental breakfast with coffee and juice downstairs in the morning. You can sleep through breakfast and go out to some cool spots on your own. read more

Really disappointed! I've been coming here with my family for the past twenty five years and am sad to say we will not be returning. There were just so many things that are left to be desired with this place now. To name a few: The rooms: - The beds are probably the same ones we slept on 25 years ago! It's not just uncomfortable, it's gross! - Televisions-- why bother? They are so small and so old. Go rustic and just remove them... Spend the money on new beds! The staff: - Just all around not accommodating, disorganized, and kind of rude for people in the hospitality business. The grounds: - Why would you paint all the entrance ways on a Saturday, during the last weekend of summer, when there is no vacancy, (there are two weddings and a half marathon event the next day)? Ever consider that maybe there's a little too much traffic for that to be ideal? - Pool: There were no lights! Well, they were there but I guess they were just broken? No matter how you spin it, we will not be returning. This was a really really poor experience! read more

Unfortunately this was our first and LAST time at the snowy owl. The rooms are old and in serious need of a renovation. I would have had a better night sleep on the floor. Beds are awful, sheets are like cheese cloth and way too small, the heat is either way too hot or cold and extremely loud. I do realize its a budget type hotel but come on a little sometimes goes a long way. The biggest problem over all is the EXTREMELY RUDE staff between the over bearing and frankly creepy security guard lurking around every corner and the lady at the night reception desk who makes more noise complaing about and yelling at customers. Maybe a change in career is what she may need because the hospitality business doesn't seen like the right fit. read more

Ugggh!! Worst hotel ever!! My family went their for a hockey tournament and I felt sick the whole time!! The rugs were disgusting (looked like they weren't vacuumed in years!!)I had found popcorn under the bed!! The TV is glitchy and small also extremely old!! The loft room we stayed in had holes in the walls on the upstairs and on top of the beds the comforters have never been washed!! The hotel was old and had scratches and bugs all over!!! The people who work their are rude and disrespectful one lady kept giving my family a nasty look! The pools had dirt all over the ground and had stone flooring wish is very slippery! Plus the bathroom hottub never really gets washed and there was hair all over the floor of the shower! I DO NOT recommend ever going to the nasty hotel! It's over all Ian awful experience! read more

Snowy Owl Inn - Ewww my nasty hotel - Hotels Near Me - Waterville Valley, New Hampshire

The Snowy Owl has seen better days - I assume. It's not very clean. The carpet in my room had not been vacuumed in a while. The sign reads "Continental Breakfast 730 - 9 am. Well, around 745 I saw a pitcher of apple juice (I think), a pitcher of something else (no idea what) and some muffins. Most of the employees I saw looked pretty miserable. As another reviewer wrote, the TVs are ancient and tiny. On the plus side, it's right near the mountain and the other shops and restaurants there and there's a free shuttle to Waterville Valley skiing. Oh and it's relatively cheap. read more