3rd time I've stayed there. Really, really loved it.
About 10 years ago I stayed in the treehouse. Enjoyed it a lot. However, it is tiny and basic.
We live in Seattle & on spur of the moment decided to make a 1-night trip to Mt. Rainier. I looked at Wellspring's website and found it to be the best such website I've used in years.
It was the smartest and easiest reservation process for any lodging I have stayed at. Booking was so simple. And photos and descriptions of the cabins were excellent (and on-point: at Wellspring we compared the website descriptions and photos with the actual cabins and they were spot on). And the website showed exactly which cabins were taken and which were available, making it super easy.
Because it was noon Saturday when we decided to reserve, there was only 1 cabin available. Turns out it was the very cabin I would've chosen anyway, so it worked out great. It was a deluxe cabin, with jacuzzi, fireplace, full kitchen, King bed.
We arrived mid-evening after spending the afternoon at Mt. Rainier. It was a little bit challenging in the dark to follow the dirt road into Wellspring. As you turn off the main highway onto the dirt road, there is a large building and parking lot to the left. In the dark it was unclear if that was Wellspring. It was not. A large, clear sign indicating to continue forward on the dirt road would be very helpful.
About block later the dirt road has a Y, and yes, there is a small sign that says left to Wellspring, but it was not easy to see the sign in the dark and the sign is a bit faded. Again, a large, clear sign indicating to go left would be especially helpful for first timers.
For some reason, our keys had not been left for us where guests pick up keys. At first I didn't know what to do. I tried to call Wellring but my cell but had no service.
After a while I noticed a red phone. When I picked that up an operator told me a code so I could get my keys out of a lock box.
It would've been especially helpful if there would've been a large, lit up sign that said if you have problems call, pointing to the red telephone. I'm no dummy, but it was dark and hard to see the red telephone given there were lots and lots of things to read on the bulletin board.
So for several minutes we didn't see it and didn't know what to do about the fact that keys weren't there for us. We didn't know how we would get into the cabin that we had already paid for it and we were a long ways from other lodging.
In the end the problem was successfully resolved, but it was a little bit unnerving for a few minutes. Easily resolved with a lit up sign.
We loved the cabin. It was absolutely perfect. Everything was super clean. And all the cool, little extra things were very much appreciated. The bed was huge and so comfy with handmade log frame. I sleep on featherbed at home, and featherbed at the cabin felt like home.
The Jacuzzi tub was fabulous. Just the right size.
The bathroom was cute. Super clean.
The kitchen was great. Small but had everything we need. Full-size gas stove was great. Enough tools and kitchen utensils. Real cloth napkins! (no wasting paper). Cute little log dining table and chairs. Lots of hand crafted things.
Plenty of dry, chopped firewood. Cute container for matches.
It was immaculately clean. Comfy. Spacious. Cool. Artistic. Well decorated. Cool tree limbs separating the kitchen and jacuzzi from the bed. The mirror in the bathroom was framed with real logs. And numerous other cool and charming decorations and things that I can't remember. I just remember numerous times thinking "that's neat how they did that" or "what a great idea, I'm going to mimic that idea at home".
Organic soap in the bath and kitchen. Environmental tissue and toilet paper.
(I appreciate that and buy them too, so I recognize they are more expensive then traditional, cheaper, chemical-ridden products typically provided at lodgings).
Overall, we had a completely wonderful time. Peaceful. Relaxing.
So much that the next day after touring Mt. Rainier a little more, we booked a 2nd night. This time we wanted a little bit more economical cabin. We chose Timbuktu cabin. It was a modest cabin, did not have a toilet in it (which we didn't know in an advance and I wouldn't choose again). It had space heaters and a fireplace, so until we got fire going it was a chilly.
It was half the price of the prior night's deluxe cabin and I would not rent it again. I would choose another of the more modestly priced cabins at Wellspring. There was a stain the top of the ceiling, maybe mold or maybe it was wet because cabin was meant to look like an African or a Safari cabin and had a thatched roof and straw-like walls.
It was just ok. Of the more modestly priced cabins, I will choose a different one next time, one with a cedar ceiling and walls.
Overall, we had a wonderful time and loved Wellspring. read more