Fun fact!-- I've stayed at this resort before, during and after the renovations. This is the first year I've been here with all the work complete. I must say, the final product is quite a beauty! Check-in was a little challenging because of misinformation, but that was the only bump in the road. My room was extremely spacious and clean. (Minus a little stain on the shower curtain). The housekeeping staff did a fantastic job preparing the room. (The water gets nice and hot, and there are a couple of settings on the shower head.) I was here for a conference, so I was all over the building! Some of the rooms were a little chilly, so make sure you have a light jacket on hand! The conference center was extremely accessible, as there was a skywalk to get from my room to the main building. I had three meals provided by the hotel (there are other eateries inside), and they were all delicious, and versatile. The hotel has a little snack shop that I purchased an ice cream cone from, it was a nice treat that I didn't know I needed. All in all, the facility was extremely clean, and most of the staff will speak in passing. -- I hope to come back to Margaritaville when it is warmer so I can take advantage of the beautiful lake, and other outdoor activities on the grounds. --Parking is kinda spread out, but there's plenty. This place is perfect for a nice in-state staycation. It's only 3 hours from Kansas City, and definitely worth the drive. read more

See all

This review is about Timber Falls Indoor Waterpark. First. It ain't Schlitterbahn. But few water parks are. Timber Falls has lots of splashing fountains and waterfall cascades from a big water tank. There's slides, tubes, an obstacle course and a lazy river. Add a "sports pool" and a hot tub and you're covered. It's warm & steamy inside. For young kids this is a great way to burn some energy in dreary days. The snack bar has burgers, dogs & pizza. Even some beer for mom & dad to help them survive the chaos. If you're a guest of Tan-Tar-A the price might be included or reduced. If not. Be prepared. We dropped $56 for one kid and a grown-up. Fortunately, our youngest wasn't charged. I'd also note we were surprised there wasn't a lifeguard on site. Be prepared to watch your kids at all times. (Shouldn't we all know that?) Bottom line? The grandkids had fun. Isn't that what it's all about? read more

Tan-Tar-A Estates - Hotels Near Me - Osage Beach, Missouri

We've been coming here yearly for 22+ years and have seen it transformed from rustic cabin decor to Caribbean-beach motif. We've never seen bugs and our rooms/cabins have always been clean. The food is good and the staff polite and responsive to your needs. We will continue coming here! read more

Terrible. It is supposed to have gotten remodeled but it is still dirty, moldy, and bug infested. The wifi in the room didn't work, neither did the door to the patio (busted lock and wouldn't close all the way at the bottom corner which is probably how the bugs got in). The escalators and most of the elevators were out of order (the one elevator that worked kept opening the doors before it reached the floor and wouldn't go to the first floor unless you pushed the button for a different floor first), the staff was rude and unhelpful, the pool/hot tub was drained, the waterpark smelled like mold and urine, and half the restaurants were not open. read more

Went for a conference. Rooms were basic but nice. They also had free bottled water in the rooms which is always a nice perk. Clean room, tons of towels, clean sheets and looked like new mattresses. My specific room had a ton of space-two king beds and a pull out couch. It's nothing fancy but it was clean and quiet. read more

Pros. The pools and the tiki bar. The beautiful lake. It's a nice place to enjoy warm summer weather and just a change in scenery. The staff has been great. Everyone is friendly. Parking and check in was a breeze. Hotel doesn't cost an arm and a leg. Good music. The bar staff at the Tiki were our favorite. Planned activities on site for both kids and adults. They have a daycare that you pay for of course. You can rent boats at the marina right on the resort as well. Cons: Our room had no microwave so any food you bring home from the restaurants is going get thrown away unless you are one of those I love eating cold left overs people. Showers aren't exactly HOT. No hair dryer in our room. The WiFi SUCKS if you have teenagers believe me you will hear about it constantly. Basic cable. Food and drinks are over priced and the food is only okay. I door water park cost us 70.00 for me and my husband and two small children I feel was over priced for what it was but the kids enjoyed it. Walking to different locations you and the traffic are both on the same road. A lot of hills but hey that will burn off some of those calories you just ate. ‍ Yes it is outdated but they are working on that. Will be complete by spring 2018. My 4 and 6 year old had a blast here. Me and my husband enjoyed it as well - talking about coming back out here again next year. Might rent little house/apartments on the water next time. read more

Tan-Tar-A Estates - Hotels Near Me - Osage Beach, Missouri

Horrible. We found cameras in the cabins spying on us. We had 2 small kids over occupancy and they kicked us out in the middle of the night and they still charged us. Please for your safety dont go here. read more

Just average. It is a average resort, and is not to heavy on the pocket book. Would maybe explore other places before returning again. Staff was helpful. Beware to not go to Jeffery's Prime Rib and Lobster. It was a very poor decision. The owners will threaten you if you leave a bad review or below average review.* Jeffery's Prime Rib and Lobster tastes like salty dog food, perhaps gourmet dog food may taste better. Standby.* *(Based off of my opinions) read more

Looking for a family night off the beaten path? Looking for something safe to do with your teens? I brought my four kids to Tan-Tar-a (now transitioning their name to Margaritaville) and had the greatest Friday night in years. We started off with the arcade. I'd say about 30% of their games had out of order signs on them. Not a huge deal because my 4-year old still played them like an 80-year old lady spending her Social Security check at a casino. If they could fix those games or replace them, my other three kids would've had that much more fun. After the arcade we stopped to eat pizza at the cafe just around the corner from the arcade. It was surprisingly really good pizza and had a good deal of beers on tap. Great for parents needing to drown themselves in alcohol after plugging $100 into arcade games and walking out with a pencil eraser, a slap bracelet, and a rubber bouncy ball. We next went to the bowling alley. Yes, this is all under one roof. Nice for us parents who don't want to drive all over town for food and entertainment with four kids in tow. The bowling alley is dated but they've done a nice job of rolling with it... pun intended. My kids had fun taking score. It's not a digital scoreboard, instead it's one of those overhead projectors from like the 90's and you write on a laminated score sheet. My kids got a huge kick out of it. My two littlest kids loved the ball ramp (Cheater ramp for toddlers) that look like dinosaurs. I think that was the highlight of my 4-year old's night. I think Tan-Tar-a is in the process of renovating and updating much of the grounds. As long as the arcade and bowling alley are on their list of things to update, we will most definitely be back and bring more people with us. This was a great time. read more

See all

I just called to make reservations for two for Thanksgiving Day. The young lady who answered the phone (Lauren) told me that she thought that they were booked solid, however she would put me through to a manager for more information. I waited for about 30 seconds and the line went dead. Nope, won't call back. You're welcome for the one star. Terrible customer service. 11.13.18 read more

What are they thinking... Margaritaville?... A cheap example of a knock off... They renovated the Black bear restaurant.. And the new theme is a boat house very plain Jane not warm at all just a big disappointment Not very much selection on the menu subpar food no big complaints there.. The wind Rose restaurant... Very small menu but very big prices.. Different chef every time we come down here.. Some good some great.. Like the new tiki hut and they put in a hot tub which is over run by kids no place for an adult to relax in the water... They have a kitty pool for kitties can I have a hot tub for adults please? read more

I really tried and wanted to be able to give this place a better review but can't. We arrived as part of a conference this week and once we checked in the man at the front desk told us we could talk with the concierge if we wanted more information on parking or getting around the resort...I turned around and noticed no one else in line to check in and the concierge very busy so asked "can you tell me where the parking is?" and he continued to shuffle me over to someone else...weird. Our room was in the E building and was very very hot. It was 78 degrees and there was no air conditioning and when I called the man said they were "working on it" but had no timeline. It was fixed the next day but the first night was brutal as hot and stuffy and the windows don't open even though we were on the 1st floor. Moving on to dining, we took them up on the $10.99 breakfast in the Crystal Ballroom, however since that section is under construction it heavily smelled of paint and hearing hammers...not the best breakfast vibe. Also the buffet was okay (they did have great make your own omelettes) but the potatoes were not cooked at all. Also the walk down there is a windy tunnel of 1970s shops that just confuse you. Additional things to note are the outdated rooms, the paint falling from the ceiling in our bathroom, no bathroom vent, and my personal favorite a $50 charge for no reason just added to your bill after you have paid. I also received a survey follow up via email from Tan-Tar-A and completed it to give them some advice and pointers but then when I hit submit it read "Sorry. An error has occurred processing your request. For assistance please call Tan-Tar-A Resort Golf Club & Marina" How fitting.... Hope this place pulls it back together in the future read more

I stayed here recently for two nights to attend a work conference. I had never been to Tan Tar-A, or the lake of the Ozarks for that matter. I had heard the resort itself was fairly dated but this is beyond that! They seriously need to remodel. The actual location and outdoor amenities at this place are awesome, but they are totally overshadowed by the old dingy interior. My actual hotel room was large, with a king size bed but just had an awful smell that I couldn't seem to ignore. The shower, toilet and sink were stained with years of who-knows-what. Even the dark carpet had some suspicious stains on it. The television in the room was archaic. I may have even mistaken it for a microwave at one point. The conference itself was held in the main building. Breakfast and lunch were provided, and was disgustingly terrible on both days! The boxed lunches provided tasted like they were prepared days ahead (think soggy translucent bacon with wilted lettuce in a dry wrap). The only upside about the whole stay, was the short time I got to layout by the pool viewing the gorgeous lake. I highly doubt that I would pay with my own money to stay here again, but I wouldn't say no if it were for a work related conference. read more

Tan-Tar-A Estates - View from room - Hotels Near Me - Osage Beach, Missouri

I'm highly disappointed in this resort. 1. The elevator in our building did not work at all. We are on the 6th floor. 2. Now I'm one to complain at all. I take things as they go. But we came into our room.. ants everywhere not a big deal at first but it got worse over night even without us having and open food or drink. Again something that shouldn't happen. 3. BLOOD! Blood on the pillow my husband was going to use. (See pictures) that when showed to house keeping (Millie) said it was from the previous day and had not been changed. 4. Aside from Millie no one cared. I went down to the lobby and spoke to a manager (Kyle Kemp) who could have seemed to care less even though I was visibly shaking with anger. He said he could not move our rooms but could see if there was anything else he could do. Did not apologize once or anything. Completely unapologetic. I'm only giving one star for Millie the housekeeper. read more

See all

The estate area offers some great views of the lake. Parking is provided in front of your room. Amenities included a small refrigerator, iron, ironing board, and hair dryer. The room itself was dated. Minimal lighting. Everything dark. Taller guests will not like the shower that is built for those 5'8" or shorter. Carpet throughout the living room and bedroom. Tile in the bathroom. Water stain on bathroom ceiling from upstairs' guests. Safety concern: if you are not fully mobile, knee/hips, this is not a place for you! Many stairs.... MANY! Security issue: In the living room of the lower level of the estate was a door with a thumb lock. The door led to stairs that led to another room... The living room for another guest's room! There is no way for that room to keep someone from the lower room from entering. Must be fixed. This is dangerous !! read more

Tan-Tar-A Estates - The estate area offers some great views of the lake. - Hotels Near Me - Osage Beach, Missouri

If you love "fresh mold smell" you came to the right place! My room looked like a Sears catalog "Master Bedroom Suite" from 1971. Did they hit every garage sale in Missouri to furnish this place? If so, then I'm very impressed. I slept like a small baby, however do you know that fatigue can also be caused by mold allergy? Also, they overcharge and don't tell you so your bank statement will have an extra $50 added. This place is so out of date I think I'm 10 years younger. read more

My husband and I booked a weekend get away; checked in Friday evening and left Sunday morning. Having compared and reviewed packages available we choose the Escape to Tan Tar A package. This package includes breakfast and dinner for every morning/evening of your stay and 2 free drinks at the bar (1 for you and 1 for your spouse). The breakfast is a help your self buffet, and was excellent. The dinner not so much. If we had to truly finance the dinner we would have been highly aggravated. The waitresses are super sweet but the food itself is just... off. Tasteless and bland at best. The rooms are very nice. And I highly recommend opting for the lake view. So beautiful and relaxing. Now. If you are going with out children don't bother with the water park. With children it will be totally worth the 18$ a person fee. Maybe. If you plan on buying in the morning and returning several times through the day. For us, having left our children with my parents. It was a waste. The in door pool is a good size, but in a desperate need of a face lift and or a major cleaning. On a more positive note. The spa and salon is very nice and super relaxing. The women are so nice and I feel like the price is very doable. If I were to do this weekend again I would avoid the Black Bears Restaurant and op for the shakes and burgers or the pizzeria that's also on location or take the time to go somewhere off location. I also feel that it isn't required to have a room booked to the amidities available. read more

Tan-Tar-A Estates - Drive way leading to the resort - Hotels Near Me - Osage Beach, Missouri

See all

We (family and I) had fun with our stay here... there is a lot of activity options like bowling, billiard and mini golf... the view is pleasant and relaxing read more

Tan-Tar-A Estates - Hotels Near Me - Osage Beach, Missouri

Overall not a bad place to stay in the Ozarks. It absolutely is stuck in the 70's a bit - almost like an episode of Mad Men when Don goes on vacation. And yes, some stuff is a bit run down. But most of it is up to date, it's quite clean, the people were friendly, and the scenery really is beautiful. Pros: Clean. Friendly. Lots of amenities - mini golf, bowling, arcade, three pools ( one with water slide), indoor water park, gym, restaurants, running trail. Relatively cheap. Sunset boat tour. Mostly families and not drunk party bros. My four year old loved it. Cons: It is a little run down, but our room was nice and clean. Very hilly which could make getting around tough for the elderly / handicapped / overweight. Parking is hit or miss. The 5K jogging trail is just the road that goes through the estates. The gym is a little cramped but has a lot of stuff. The restaurants are just okay but are fairly priced. The water park is expensive for what it is but we never went to it - the big pool with the free slide was more than enough. Mini golf was $7.50 a game but we brought our own clubs and balls and played in the morning for free. We had no hot water when we arrived but one call and a ten minute wait was all it took to get it fixed. Overall this was a much nicer place than I expected. You could definitely do worse in the Ozarks. The place is self contained but it's easy to get out and about. Maybe some rooms aren't updated yet but ours was nice, and if your experience mirrors ours you will be satisfied. read more

I liked the decor, reminded me of Bass Pro shop but some may find that too outdated. The place will be remodeled or actually may be in the middle of being remodeled, they were bought out by Margaritaville and 2017 was the last time you'd get to see any of the neat items they had displayed. The arcade was in need of a major upgrade but for my three younger ones it was fun. The slide they have is only open on weekends if you go during the off season so the kids were bummed when they only had one day to play on it! The breakfast buffet was decent and it was nice not having to leave the resort to do anything. The staff were nice and the night manager helped me when I was in a bind so I was really thankful for that! read more

I want to start by saying that we booked a room at Margaritaville for $180/night directly off their website. There were 6 of us, so we booked 2 rooms. We were the first of our group to check in and were promptly given an "estate room", which sounded nice enough, even though we had asked to be near our other party, who were in the rooms directly across from the lobby. Not even the golf cart shuttles would go to our room, which was a bad sign from the beginning. When we finally got to our room, it was something straight from the 70s. Absolutely zero amenities, a musty scent on all linens, and overall something you would only expect if you were camping. All of the furniture looked like something you would find in from a garage sale in a low end neighborhood. We didn't argue the first night, until our air conditioning didn't work and our room was upwards of 80 degrees. The next morning, we went to meet our other group at their room, and were immediately stunned at the value given to them for the same price we paid. Their room had 2 beautiful beds, a living room nook with a huge tv, a massive bathroom, all new appliances, nice water bottles and shampoos, etc. We went to the front to request a change and they immediately said they could only give us a room with 1 bed and a pull out couch for our group of 4. We give in, considering we wouldn't do another night in AC, and go to the new room. The "new room" was a literal graveyard for bugs. We walked in and there were approximately 30 dead beds and a dozen live bugs all over the beds, floors and walls. Not to mention it didn't actually have a pullout couch. Nope. We go back up and the manager apologizes and says she can get us another 1 bed room with a pullout couch but it wouldn't be ready for a few hours. We head out for lunch and get a text, so an hour later we come back and they had given our room away..... After another 30 minutes at the front, discussing if we could just cancel, they magically find a room with two beds in the same tower as our friends. THIS room would be given 5 stars had we not had to deal with the other 2 first and all of the back and forth with management. Especially considering the other attractions on the resort are awesome (we spent hours at the adult pool, eating and drinking at the restaurant, playing golf, etc). The biggest take away here is that we, and many others, paid a large amount of money to stay at MARGARITAVILLE. The old "estate" rooms are all still branded tan-tar-a and should not be sold at the same price or description as the Margaritaville rooms, because it is no where worth the same value. I'm not sure if this weekend was over booked, but those rooms are nothing more than a 2 star and truly are unacceptable to be marketed as anything more. read more

This hotel is very much in need of a serious renovation and repairs. There was obvious water damage in the bathroom, scrapes along the bottoms of all the door jambs in all of the rooms and a walk down the hallway you could see they wear. The paint had been scraped off from doorways and the hallway walls. It's typical of a convention hosting hotel to nickel-and-dime you for everything. This was no different here. The buffet had four items; limp bacon, bad sausage, frozen potatoes and oatmeal. You can get made-to-order omelettes and eggs both were cooked to death. Everything was priced at a premium even though we went during the offseason and nearly all the facilities; the marina, water park and horseback riding, were all closed. read more

See all

Came up for a brief couple day get away but the room was below average. Robe in closet smells, toilet lid is dirty, peeling paint and concrete on deck do not make for an appealing stay. Many amenities here but you have to pay for most of them. We decided to leave after only one night. read more

The issue with Tan Tar A estates is that each property is personally owned so you have some great properties that are updated and you have some properties straight out of the 70's. I've stayed in both. It is unfortunate there aren't some required minimum standards. The first time I stayed the unit was straight out of the 70's. The bed was ok but everything else was really dated. The most recent time, I was in a studio room above a full suite unit. It was nice, clean, and had a great bed. You just can't go in with any expectation if you booked through Tan Tar A or now Margaritaville as they will put you in whatever is open. read more

I didn't care for this place at all. We were placed in a shanty shack that had cockroaches in it. I don't think anyone had stayed in the building for quite some time. There were cob webs and strong smell of mold. We complained and were told that a room just opened up at the main resort. They placed us in a much nicer room but that first impression is what makes or breaks a place. I can't say that I'll ever go back for anything. Sorry read more

This was my first visit to the Ozarks. The portion of the hotel they put us in was under construction. The 2nd and 3rd floors were being demoed. You could walk right through those areas. I would recommend making them inaccessible to guests staying in different areas. Food options were eh. We ate at JDs boathouse, wasn't overly impresses with the food. I will say the bowling alley was retro amazing. Old school lanes, old school projectors, old school everything. I actually loved the bowling alley. Not for serious bowlers but a place to enjoy some drinks and nostalgia. I was there for a conference so I didn't get to use many amenities. I'm sure it's a more "impressive" resort during the summer time season. read more

See all

We had the best time ever! The resort changed to Jimmy Buffet Margaritaville and it's fantastic! From Brendan at the Tiki bar to Andrew the Manager at the LandShark Restaurant all the way down to Ace and Scott in the Lobby we were highly impressed! I was a little nervous when they said we were staying in the Estates Vs. hotel! Turns out we got an entire house to ourselves for a week! Triple bonus... private pool across the street! read more

I came here for 3 days on my last trip home to Missouri. It is very dated, but has a ton of potential. I remember growing up in Missouri and Tan-Tar-A was the place to be. I don't think they have touched the rooms for at least 25 years. My biggest complaint: if someone is a single mother (at least on vacation) and they have a toddler how in the world are they supposed to carry all their luggage and bags with a toddler down a huge hill and up 2 flights of stairs. I have 2 options: A) leave my child unattended in my room while I walk up and down huge hills and walk a great distance (still several times) B) make 5 trips while carrying a toddler up and down a hill with all our bags, suitcases, blankets, toys, food, etc. (this took me an hour) I chose option B because I am that type of Mom, but I was a very ticked off Mama only half way through the trip. If your not going to offer a place to unpack your bags to your room you either need Rent-A-Daddy service, Valet and someone to help with bags to your room, and elevators. Good lord! Another thing I learned after 2 days of my room being cleaned. The do not disturb was apparently on the door handle (but not in the part you put your key) when I checked in. They said that's why we didn't clean your room. Hmm. Ok most hotels you have to actually put it in the card slot. The one day they did clean the room our patio wasn't touched. Room service closes at 10pm. Hmmm that's really stupid. I checked into our room late (then add on an hour with carrying bags) and now I have to drag my exhausted toddler and myself back up the hill to my car and leave to feed her? Ugh!!!! Everything besides the pool is a fee. Horseback riding, mini golf, water park, obviously the restaurants and marina. The best part of the resort? The pool. It's gorgeous with waterfalls and the prettiest part of Lake of the Ozarks. They had a bar and snack place next to the pool. That place makes awesome spicy Bloody Mary's with jalapeño juice! Definite perk! Would I come back? If I knew there was some changes and of course had someone with me to help. The pool is fantastic you need to make changes on the rest of the place By the way I had breakfast the last trip at the Black Bear restaurant with the omelet station and all that. Really good food! read more

Really disappointed with the resort. This is the first time I have been back in a few years and the resort has really gone down hill. Our bathroom clearly has not been cleaned, dirt and hair on the floor. The beds were horrible! Very small double beds and lumpy. I woke up with my back hurting everyday! A few of the resort staff were rude and treated you as if you were extremely lucky to be staying on their property... not the Tan-Tar-A I remember. read more

Tan-Tar-A Estates - Dusty Air return in the bathroom. - Hotels Near Me - Osage Beach, Missouri

See all

Tan-Tar-A is in the middle of a renovation but it did not stop me from having a wonderful stay! The renovations should be finished by summer 2019 and the staff are all very helpful with getting you around the mess. The rooms have been renovated for the change to a Margaritaville theme and I found them both neat and clean. Most of the restaurants have already been transitioned into the new theme but the Landshark on the lake is not open yet (will be open in April of 2019 I believe). We were here for a conference and it was a wonderful time. I think the fresh update is what this resort needed and I cannot wait to come back and visit again! read more

Not impressed at all. Three gobs of hair behind bathroom door. Poor signage and minimal handicap parking. No non-slip strips in shower. Wife and I nearly slipped. No elevators. No dedicated pedestrian walkways. Very dangerous walking. Room itself average. Good thing we had friends with s beautiful summer home. Won't be returning. read more

I've always thought of the Lake of the Ozarks as sort of a haven for Hillbillies with more money than common sense. The self-styled "resorts" down here compete with another for disgusting and degrading standards each time I have to come down here for a conference. This property, sadly enough, is the best of the worst. The whole place feels tired and dated, stuck in the lake time warp and although this place was cleaner than Country Club and Spa and the Lodge of Four Seasons, it still maintains a defiant air of timeless arrogance. An attitude that it can charge you exorbitant, excessive fees in a pseudo-pretentious atmosphere of a "resort," which is as stale and dull as the tube television that they proudly maintain in the hotel rooms. Still, I would give them almost 3 stars for the room was very clean. But, any hotel that still uses bed spreads on a bed that must have been made for elves, is far behind even simple standards. But, then again buckets of dripping water along the corridor show how neglected this place really is. Seriously, buckets to catch rain dripping from swollen ceiling tiles? Common spaces are just barely maintained, everything everywhere needs updates and expect to pay extra for everything else. We thought about eating at the restaurant, but felt that $38 for a New York Strip was a rip-off. We were amazed at how many idiots crowded into the restaurant and lined up to pay it.... But then again, like I said earlier, this place is sort of like a haven for Hillbillies with more money than common sense. Trashy details like over-flowing ash trays filled with water and cigarette butts await you....along with other hidden gems. Good luck, if you have to stay here...... read more

After driving three hours from St. Louis to tantara, I wanted only to check in and lay down on my bed for a bit. When I arrived there were eight people also trying to check in, and there were no employees at the desk. After 10 minutes of waiting I called the hotel, and asked if there would be anyone to check us in. Finally one person showed up and I took about 10 minutes to resolve the first person's situation. Finally two other workers showed up and was able to check me in. (And they did not apologize for the wait) My cabin room was very difficult to find and parking is obnoxiously bad. And walking from your room to the main lobby is completely uphill and challenging. I was happy to see that my room had a sunken Jacuzzi tub. When I went to fill it up the water was luke warm. Now I'm trying to go to sleep with a wall unit heater that just has a run option, and the room is too hot. I'm sure that when I shut it off after while I'll be too cold. read more

This is the first time in a few years that I have stayed on this side of the lake and it was a quite the fun time. Tan Tar A is broken up into the Estates and the Resort side. We stayed in the Estates but because of the way the house is managed, we had rights to the resort side and got to partake in all the activities if we wished. Its a very family friendly community and you could see that all over. There are 3 pools on property, one on the estates side, and 2 on the resort side which were hopping the entire weekend. There is a shuttle bus that you can call and they will pick you up wherever you might be staying and drop you off at shuttle stops so you don't have to drive all over. That was a great thing to have. The boys golfed at Hidden Lakes and their experience was very easy and they enjoyed the resort. It wasn't crowded and they got to move through their holes at their own pace. We explored the shops and main area of the resort, which is great to be able to grab a snack or a gift if needed. The posters around the resort are faded and outdated, it would be a great renovation if they changed them just so the colors show. There's an arcade with games to satisfy any kiddo and the restaurants look amazing but we did not eat at a sit down one. There is also an indoor water park with an extra fee. I feel that if you're staying somewhere within Tan Tar A, it should be included and that a fee be charged to those who come from the outside - the fees are pretty high per person as well but if I had kids with me, I'm sure we would have ended up there. A great visit and I can't wait to explore again! read more

We stayed the night of February 13th. Parking to check in is ridiculously difficult. The congestion in front of the lobby is crazy. Front desk staff could have been friendlier. We we in room 697 in Building A. It was a crazy long walk to our room. We had out 7 year old daughter with us who of course wanted to enjoy the activities. I had knee surgery a couple of months ago. Going to Tan-tar-a was a really horrible idea. It was about a 15 minute walk to get to the restaurants, bowing and water park. Lots and lots and lots of stairs. Miserable and painful for me. The morning of Valentine's Day we waited for over an hour for a table to get breakfast, then we gave up and went to pack up our room and leave to find a restaurant with service. The hostess (who had told us a 30 minute wait) was extremely rude when we asked, a full hour later, how much longer it might be. From Black Bear Lodge (where we never got a take to eat) back to room 697 my Fitbit logged six flights of stairs. It's not a place I want to go back to. If you do go and take children with you I recommend at least a three day stay. There is too much to do, and it is far too spread out, to do everything in a day. Our room was nice and mostly clean. There was some stray hair in the shower. read more

I've stayed here for years (17-mostly for conferences), and it just keeps getting worse. My feet are black on the bottoms from the carpet. There is mold on the bathroom wall and shower curtain. The toilet is dirty down around the base. I feel dirty being in the bathroom even after a shower. They do not pay attention to the reservation notes, even if the notes have to do with medical situations/allergy accommodations. They are overpriced. They have recently been bought out by Jimmy Buffet Margaritaville who thinks painting the walls baby blue and adding tacky, beachy decor will fix the problem. Unsuccessful. read more

Jeez, this place is dated. It's like a back drop to a 60's bond movie. Not as bad as Lodge of the Four Seasons, but not good. Bugs everywhere in the room. If you do not wake up to a sliverfish crawling above your head count yourself lucky. I prefer to be in the resort than in the cabins. The cabins are down tiny, twisted lanes scattered throughout the points. What a hassle. It has some things to do like a small indoor water park, (calling it a water park is very generous) and very dated arcade but that's about it unless you own a boat. read more

I think the key to Tan-Tar-A is to stay in the main resort building. I booked a lakeview room in the resort, (versus the estate) "run of the house." "Run of the house" means they can put you anywhere in the resort area. There are several buildings in the resort area. We originally had a room in a small condo-like building. It was on the lake, but it didn't have much else to recommend it. It was very old and kind of dirty and rather dark. It just wasn't a room that I was comfortable in. It was depressing. That's the best way to describe it. My girlfriend called and complained and the next morning, we were in a room in the main building. It was no frills, but it was definitely a step up. Just brighter and seemed cleaner. My advice to those staying here is to book a room in the main building and don't expect luxury. It's about on par with a Red Roof Inn built in the 80s that has been mostly kept up but never renovated. Most of the fun at the lake is outside the room anyway. read more

Over all I'm pretty happy with our stay and probably stay here again. Check in was good and the directions to our unit was great. I love that they have a free shuttle for riding around on the property. The fridge needed to be leveled so it didn't drag across the carpet. The TV should have been a little bigger and needs to be mounted to the wall up high so it can be seen while laying in bed. No one enjoys getting a kink in their neck just so they see the TV. read more

See all

I'm surprised by the low rating here. My rating of three stars is not higher, only because the entire resort needs a renovation. It looks like it's not been updated since the 60s. Very drab and boring paint and look to the place. However, the resort itself is on beautiful property. The lake is excellent and the resort wraps its arms around the lake stretching around the shoreline. The hotel, cabins, golf course, and paths are all in view of the lake. I visited during November for a Marine Corps ball, so I wasn't able to take full advantage of its best features. But, the path around the lake is ideal for running. It's long and hilly, and fun to see all the vacationers along the way at their plots and cabins. I'd like to come back during the summer someday to see the lake when it's nice for boats and water skiing. read more