I have mixed reactions to our recent visit and. I have wavered between giving this review 4 or 3…read morestars. We have visited this retreat for over 35 years previously known as Chain 'O Lakes. We have noted and appreciated the improvements made over the years.
Beautiful, serene, rustic setting-a great place to unwind.
-WIFI worked well and consistently throughout our visit.
-Cabins basically clean, good beds, clean bed linens and generous numbers of towels. Dining table, dining chairs, side tables and coffee tables as well as couches are well worn. Basic dinnerware and eating utensils; there are no skillets, pans or cooking/serve ware utensils such as egg turners, no mixing bowls...you need to bring these with you.
-Communication and information lacking. The website does not provide current updates to the facility and the status of its amenities and services.
We had planned to enjoy one meal a day at The Hilltop restaurant and it was closed for our 3 day/2night visit. We had planned to have burgers/snacks by the pool and the snack bar was closed. These unannounced and unexpected closings caused us to leave the retreat and find a grocery store 15 miles away. Then we had to select food items that could be baked because we had no pots/pans or skillets nor utensils to cook and serve with.
Amenities not in service included The Hilltop Herb Farm Restaurant, the snack bar beside the pool, and the hot tub.
***PLEASE NOTE: The reason I am giving this review 4 stars is the congeniality of the people at the front desk. Had they been rude I would have dropped one or more stars.***
When I inquired as to why the restaurant and snack bar were closed I was given these points of interest from the very nice young
ladies at the front desk. Additionally they very graciously responded that they would inform management about my concerns.
-Oh the restaurant is closed during the week-well sometimes it's open.
It will be open this weekend I think. (Well, I was leaving on Friday!)
-Regarding the snack bar being closed: Well it's only open if the restaurant is.
-We've been slammed with big groups and some summers we are more family oriented. (I'm sorry, I was not advised that inconsistant hospitality was a management strategy!)
-Regarding the hot tub; well, things break. (Understandable that things break, but how is it being addressed and will it be repaired before my party leaves?)
-Carriage Rides? Nope, not in service.
There are limited hours of operation for the gift shop which has gifts, snacks, and fishing supplies. It would be a convenient service if this area remained open until 9 pm. A nice evening walk to this area for an ice cream for the kids would have been a nice option.
Overall there seems to be a lack of attention, concern, and dedication to providing guests with current information and procedures in order for guests to have an excellent experience.
When O think of this visit I feel the most descriptive words would be "sad and lacking". It stings a little to pay the prices of our stay and to have so much broken or closed. I could have spent much less and had similar natural beauty to behold at a state or national park.
I do hope that management will button things up quite a bit and provide a friendly, enthusiastic, friendly staff, with current information easily and readily available regarding amenities, services, and procedures for checking out canoes and other equipment.
Suggestions:
-E-Post daily retreat schedule of events
-Paddleboard rentals
-tennis or pickleball
-a kid/teen rec area with ping pong, tv movie rentals, vending machines
