Big Meadows Lodge

The lodge is rustic with a "Campy" feel. It is a beautiful building with views that go on forever. After a long day of hiking it was perfect! We ate dinner at the Taproom which was excellent. The next morning we had a quick breakfast in the dining room which was just ok. Our room had the same rustic feel. On a negative note the bathroom was not very clean: hair on the shower walls and a shelf over the sink was not clean. Otherwise we had a good experience.

My husband and I stayed in Terrace Room #3, which is right off the lodge. Overall, we enjoyed our stay, as it was especially quiet and peaceful. The room itself was adequate - nothing special and nothing wrong with it. However, a queen-size bed and a thorough cleaning of the tub area would have made it even better. As former campers, we managed quite well. We really enjoyed sitting on the terrace with our morning coffee or an afternoon glass of wine. I did not see evidence of mice, as some other reviewers mentioned. All in all, I would definitely stay here again. There is nothing like fresh mountain air!

We have stayed here several times. The main building was originally built in 1939. They are continuously updating and tweaking the appearance. New sidewalks this year. Food and service are top notch in the Tap Room. Quick service and the Blackberry pie are delicious. They have live music on Saturday nights. The gift shop is one of the best parts of the location. They recently added a coffee bar that serves Starbucks. Views from the great room are stunning. Step out on the balcony for incredible scenery. Dining room is located on around the corner floor. While the food is good, expect a slower experience. Plan accordingly. All in all... Big Meadows Lodge is amazing.

Worth the stay just for the location. A perfect stop halfway on Skyline Drive. So easy to walk over for dinner and breakfast. Nice staff for check in. It’s part of the adventure! Nice, short hike to the Blackrock overlook. The great room has a puzzle you can attempt on a rainy day.

We were able to walk up & get a cabin with an enclosed, screened porch for 2 night mid-June. The cabin was very basic with comfortable bed & a bathroom with shower only. Everyone was friendly & helpful! Food & drink were great. The setting was gorgeous!

The mountain views here are amazing. We had a 2 bed room with a balcony, the view was unbelievable from the balcony. Cannot wait to return. Convenient location for stargazing and amazing hikes. The room did smell some of dog so if you have allergies be aware.

Big Meadows Lodge is in a state of transition. They are currently rehabbing or building new units, but that’s because most of the existing units are falling apart at the seams. There was a thunderstorm during our stay which knocked out power for two days. They tried to make up for it by giving us some free waters and Gatorade. The bathrooms were barely functional with one of the faucet handles just spinning around. And luckily, none of us were stung by the yellow jacket nest that was on the outside corner of our room. But probably what was worse is the dining service – well the menu items seem appealing as described. The dishes themselves were very un appealing in the weight. Staff was not interested in any feedback. In fact, they were kind of rude. The upside is that the location is beautiful. We saw fireflies dancing around a deer in the evening right outside of our unit window and it’s only a short hike to a rocky summit that looks over the Shenandoah Valley. So I guess you take the good with the bad.

Loved the location and offerings at and around the lodge, including multiple restaurants, coffee and seating area, and the nearby trails. Our room offered all the basic accommodations that we really needed (clean linens, bathroom items, coffee maker, etc), but the upkeep of the room itself could be slightly improved. You may want to think twice if you are at all sensitive toward cobwebs, cracked paneling, dusty corners, peeling furniture, occasional insect visits, and even what may have been some mold in the bathroom. You’ll also have the opportunity to hear any upstairs neighbors at all hours as they move around, talk and open and shut doors. The room itself was furnished in a way that I would expect of a nearly 100 year old building, with a scent that we endearingly referred to as “museum”. We’re typically tent-campers, so we have learned to be more relaxed with things like these. We ate dinner at the Dining Room twice and had excellent meals both times (the meatloaf and turkey were especially good) as well as sharing some pizza at the Tap Room one night as well. We took one lunch at the Big Meadows Wayside and I can attest that I am still dreaming about the Virginia Smash Burger and thick spiral fries I had there. Overall a great experience if you are an easy-going outdoorsy type. Despite all the things I described above, we would definitely come back!

The rooms at Big Meadows are pretty decent. The beds are comfortable and the room, which has a vaulted ceiling and ceiling fan, was clean. They had cable television with decent reception and a decent channel selection. The room also had a balcony which would have been nice. However, it was in serious need of a paint job which gave me some concern about how well it was maintained. The balcony view looked down on the roofs of the cabins behind our building which was... okay. Surprisingly, our room also had a wood-burning fireplace, though I don't know how we could have started a fire if we had wanted to (which we didn't). My medium, 3-star review comes from two points. First was the lack of A/C. We left the window open and the door cracked to get some ventilation. Even so, I heard another guest complaining about how hot it was in their room with no A/C. And then there is the cost. The room was +$300/night! For that kind of money, frankly I expect more from a hotel. Our stay was okay but for the money, I would not do it again.

This is heaven on earth. Hike to a waterfall, witness a gorgeous sunset from a rocking chair with dinner and a cocktail, then join a Ranger for a Talk - life just doesn't get any better. We stayed in Blacksman Cabin 114 two years ago & this time got Room #3 in the Lodge with a view of the Valley looking down on Luray WV. Next time we won't be in such a hurry, catching weddings, and will stay at least two nights. Are the accommodations rustic? You bet - that's the charm.