Boar&#x27;s Head Resort

The Best of Charlottesville, Virginia

25,132 Postcards · 3,702 Cities

"The Boar's Head Resort A bucolic resort in the Virginia Piedmont, the Boar’s Head Resort is as deeply rooted in Virginia as its owner and neighbor, the University of Virginia. The land has hosted travelers since 1759, with the original Birdwood mansion dating to 1830. A short drive from downtown Charlottesville, Boar’s Head has plenty to keep a visitor occupied without even leaving the property, including an 18-hole golf course, a full-service spa, a fitness center with squash and tennis courts, and three swimming pools. The resort has 175 rooms spread over 573 acres; suites feature a seating area and balcony or patio, and some have fireplaces. Dining options range from healthy café fare (necessary fuel for all those tennis matches), to a grill overlooking the golf green, to an elegant meal in the restored Old Mill Room. The Blue Ridge mountains are renowned for their fall foliage, but visit in summer for fewer crowds (and UVA students) and the English-inspired grounds and gardens in full bloom. Be sure to ask for details on arranging a hot-air balloon ride over the countryside to appreciate all of historic Virginia."

Photo courtesy of Boar's Head Resort

The Best Hotels in Virginia

25,132 Postcards · 3,702 Cities

Photo courtesy of Boar's Head Resort

https://www.cntraveler.com/hotels/united-states/united-states/charlottesville/the-boar-s-head

42,481 Postcards · 5,685 Cities

Boar's Head Resort

"So, start us off: What can you tell us about the property?The historic Boar's Head Resort, which dates back to 1834, sits on 600 acres in the Blue Ridge Mountains. In service to its extraordinary setting, the hotel is fresh off a painstaking renovation that took into account its rich history and surroundings. What’s the crowd like?Boar's Head is owned by the University of Virginia Foundation; given its proximity to campus, it's a popular spot for visiting parents and prospective students. Abundant activities also make it popular with weekend-trippers. Now, onto the good stuff: Tell us about the digs.There are four buildings here, each with its own feel. Rooms in the Lakeside, Hunt Club, and Ednam buildings have private outdoor space, while the Main Inn is built with pieces of a historic gristmill transferred here from a nearby river, and it has the architectural details to match. All have notable touches in the form of vintage photographs, period-appropriate furniture, and memorabilia that references the region's rich ties to Thomas Jefferson and the university. And all the amenities were solid?Rooms have everything you'd expect: coffee makers, terry cloth robes, and plush bedding. What's the food situation?The main building houses The Mill Room, where chef Paul D’Amelio uses locally grown produce, Chesapeake Bay seafood, and wild game to create a modern, uniquely Virginian dining experience. There are three casual restaurants onsite, too if you want something quicker. Anything else you want to shout out about the hotel?Four pools, a golf course, a rock climbing wall, miles of walking trails, fishing equipment, and mountain bikes are just a fraction of the activities here. The resort also has a new Davis Love III (the PGA pro) golf experience, with an 18-hole course and putting course. The par-3 course will debut in fall 2020 or spring 2021 Bottom line: why should we book a stay here?This is a great home base for exploring the surrounding area. Then again, with so many top-quality activities right onsite, you might never want to leave." - Laura Ratliff

https://www.cntraveler.com/gallery/best-day-trips-from-washington-dc

42,481 Postcards · 5,685 Cities

3 Best Day Trips from Washington, D.C. | Condé Nast Traveler

"The historic Boar's Head Resort, which dates back to 1834, is set on 600 acres in the Blue Ridge Mountains. In service to its extraordinary setting, the hotel is fresh off a painstaking renovation that took into account its rich history and surroundings. There are four buildings, each with its own feel. Rooms in the Lakeside, Hunt Club, and Ednam buildings have private outdoor space, while the Main Inn is built with pieces of a historic gristmill transferred here from a nearby river with architectural details to match. All have historical touches in the form of vintage photographs, period-appropriate furniture, and memorabilia. The main building houses The Mill Room, where chef Paul D’Amelio uses locally grown produce, Chesapeake Bay seafood, and wild game to create a modern, uniquely Virginian dining experience. There are three casual restaurants onsite, too. This is a great home base for exploring the surrounding area. Then again, with so many top-quality activities right onsite, you might never want to leave." - Laura Ratliff, Kristen Schott

https://www.vogue.com/article/virginia-countryside-hot-springs-horses-historic-hotels-travel-destination

@vogue

3,763 Postcards · 1,060 Cities

Hot Springs, Horse Country and Historic Hotels: Virginia’s Countryside Has It All | Vogue

"A historic hotel providing southern charm and hot air balloon rides over its sprawling property." - Rachel Waldman

Kim M

Google

Lovely getaway close to Charlottesville. The lake view room was spacious and the view was great. The bathroom is on the small side with little counter space. The beds were comfortable but worn as one had a noticable dip in the middle. The lake view would be more limited when the trees have leaves. The winter view was very nice. We would definitely stay again. The location in proximity to UVA was fantastic.

Joy C.

Google

For the price point, this resort was unfortunately very mediocre and overall disappointing. We are from Florida, where the word “resort” really means something (think year-round access to pools, water parks, gardens, activities, and amenities that are included and enhance the guest experience). Because of that, expectations were understandably higher. The hotel itself is extremely outdated. Furniture in the room was visibly worn and stained (see photo), which immediately took away from any sense of comfort or upscale-feel. For what is marketed (and priced) as a resort, the accommodations felt more like an overpriced two-star hotel. The biggest frustration was the mandatory resort fee. In the summer or spring, I better understand it's justification (due to the ability to golf, use the outdoor pool, enjoy the beauty of the gardens and grounds, etc). But in the winter, it’s genuinely unclear what this fee is supposed to cover. Most so-called resort amenities aren’t usable in cold weather (unless you’re willing to swim outdoors in 40-degree temperatures). If a property operates in a region with cold winters, it seems reasonable to offer winter-appropriate amenities that maintain a resort feel: an indoor pool, seasonal activities, ice skating, or at the very least complimentary access to the Christmas lights event for overnight guests. Unfortunately, none of that was offered. Even the holiday lights event (which was beautiful by the way) required an additional ticket, despite the resort fee. After paying it, we were left wondering what benefits we actually received. To be fair, the amenities we paid extra for were very nice. The on-site restaurant was delicious, and the spa experience was relaxing and well done (though a bit overpriced). Those experiences were the highlights of our visit. Ultimately, I would not recommend staying here. A much better option would be to stay at a more affordable hotel nearby and simply visit Boar’s Head for the spa and Christmas lights event, since you have to pay separately for everything anyway. There were no real perks to being a guest at the resort itself. And having access to an indoor gym in the winter doesn't make it a resort (many 2-star "non-resort" hotels offer indoor gyms, indoor pools and free breakfast). Overall, this property does not justify its price, and the “resort” designation feels misleading...especially during the winter season.

Judovf

Google

Beautiful resort. We went up for the winter wonderland and it was amazing. It snowed so it made it more beautiful. Phillip the bar tender is fantastic. The only negative was our room location. Our room 617 was a balcony right next to the door going outside. It was constantly opening and closing. We didn’t get much sleep. We booked the room 5 months in advance and we would think we would of gotten a better more quit room location.

James Z.

Google

Where to start? The room, smaller than a Hilton Suite hotel to be sure, was barely adequate for the price of $378 Thanksgiving eve and a shocking almost $595 Thanksgiving night. Add taxes, ridiculous "resort fee" and dinner and breakfast you're looking at $1600 for a two night stay here. Yes it was the holiday, and it was crowded. We get that. What was a major problem is barking dogs for hours on end in the rooms nearby. It's a dog-friendly hotel, and we love dogs. Just not people who lock their large dogs in their room while they go out walking around or whatever. And there were a LOT of dogs. So prepare not to get any sleep for your $1000 two night stay at this resort. We also had to call maintenance to come turn the heat on in the room. Boar's Head fancies themself a 4 star resort. They have a long way to go before they can earn that label.

Stephie J.

Google

This resort is perfect for those that want to golf and spend most of their time at the sports complex. There is a spa onsite and one restaurant. If you are looking for any sort of entertainment or anything else to do, you’ll need to go offsite into Charlottesville. I came here based on other reviewers recommendations, and how it was Better than the Omni homestead. I personally did not feel It was better. It was simply more convenient and much cheaper. If you are looking for a more Upscale place, and more to do, this place is not for you. Additionally, there is no mini fridge in the room.

paulrH8155BF

Google

I stayed at the resort using the Winter Wanda package and I loved it. I booked the lakeside double queen room (Building 600) which had a large balcony overlooking the lake and the Christmas lights. The room was immaculate, the food great and the overall Christmas vibes of the resort were amazing. Also, the staff were very friendly and helpful. I will definitely stay there again.

monico698

Google

Attended a wedding and stayed at this resort for two nights. Beautiful venue, and accommodations. Both nights - food and events were perfectly catered with an excellent wait staff. Felt spoiled the entire time. Decorations throughout the resort and for the wedding were amazing and elegant.

tomgM5908HQ

Google

I would not recommend this resort due to several major issues that completely undermined our stay and we have been coming here for the past 5 years. First, our reservation was completely incorrect when we arrived, despite confirming all of the details three days prior. We were then forced to wait over an hour just to check in, only to receive a room that still did not match what we had booked.||||On top of that, the room next to us was allowed to host loud parties that went on past 1:30 in the morning, with constant door-slamming and noise that made it impossible to rest. The lack of enforcement of quiet hours or any form of guest consideration was extremely disappointing.||||Finally, the on-site restaurant served one of the worst meals I’ve ever had in my entire life, compounding an already frustrating experience. The scallops were completely undercooked, almost raw in the center. The oysters were some of the worst I’ve ever had, both in quality and in the breading, and I’ve eaten all around the world. Moving on to the entrées, especially the steaks, which were the primary orders at our table. Whoever is responsible for selecting the cuts of meat is choosing quality that is far below choice. It was some of the most subpar, tough meat I’ve ever been served. On top of that, the steaks were not seasoned, not cooked properly, and simply disappointing in every way. The sides didn’t redeem anything either. The carrots were so undercooked they were inedible, and even the mashed potatoes fell flat.||||All of these issues—the incorrect reservation, the long wait, the wrong room, the excessive nighttime noise, and the terrible dining experience—make it impossible for me to recommend this resort to anyone.

Amy I.

Yelp

The resort is massive and decorated so pretty for Christmas time! This is the whole reason my family and friends came to Charlottesville area! We bought tickets to the Christmas Winter Wander! They had lines that were organized and you can get hot chocolate, hot cider, wine, cocktails and even add some alcohol to the hot drinks! The bathrooms only had 2 stalls and that was annoying but it went quickly. Then we went out to look at the lights and walk around through them. They had some cool spinny lights and a tent with food and drinks, you just walked around and took pictures and they even had a tiny ice skating rink kids could skate on. It was soooooo pretty!! I highly recommend it!!

Jess L.

Yelp

This review is for the hiking trails. They are very-well marked, giving you a few options of mostly well-paved paths. Dogs on leashes are allowed. You'll feel like you're in the middle of nowhere - though with some sneak peaks of the golf course. There isn't really any seating, but I did see one spot that had bathrooms. The harder path, which takes you up the hill/mountain, will eventually yield some nice views of the reservoir. With leaves falling this time of year, a walking stick or something like that would be good for the descent. Parking at the resort was pretty easy on a fall weekend morning.

Jenn M.

Yelp

This is a review for a resort spa day pass that I had bought to kill time before my 7pm flight. I arrived around 11am and someone kindly let me into the spa area although it wasn't quite opened yet. I was able to store my small duffel bag in a locker and change. The pool was perfect, comfortable chairs, towels provided, and peaceful adult only relaxation. I stayed for about 6 hours and read my book and thoroughly enjoyed it. I should have booked something at the spa ! I was able to freshen up and the sweet spa staff even searched and found deodorant for me that I forgot to pack! Highly recommend this for a lower key day pool/spa day with a group of girls. There aren't drinks or food readily available poolside so keep that in mind but it did seem you could walk somewhere on resort to get them... although not sure. Only 15 mins from airport. 5/5 experience

Mary A.

Yelp

We visited Winter Wander on a Saturday night and had a wonderful time once we got into the light display. A lot of traffic to park so plan accordingly. The line for drinks was incredibly slow and appeared to be understaffed and the few staff working would disappear occasionally which slowed things down tremendously. The lights display was good. I would recommend skipping drinks and just enjoy the lights.

J C.

Yelp

This is a review for the spa - My husband and I visited Boars Head Spa for a couples massage, and while the experience was mostly wonderful, it ended on a sour note. I opted for a prenatal massage and requested harder pressure, which my masseuse Joanna accommodated perfectly. Joanna was fantastic and I'd highly recommend her. However, upon checkout, Dawn informed me of an unexpected $15 upcharge for the deep tissue massage Joanna provided, which hadn't been mentioned beforehand. When I expressed my surprise, Dawn rudely replied, "It's only $15," and then condescendingly added, "Well, is $15 really a dealbreaker for you?" That wasn't the point. Her dismissive attitude and lack of empathy were shocking, especially considering I was a pregnant woman trying to relax. Dawn's behavior was unprofessional and added unnecessary stress to what should have been a calming experience. Despite my request to speak to someone else, Dawn, who claimed to be the manager, reluctantly called the spa director and then only offered a partial reduction of the extra charge. Maybe she was having a bad day? I'm really not sure, but Dawn's unpleasant demeanor and lack of customer care were unacceptable, and she single-handedly marred an otherwise great experience. Her rudeness and unprofessionalism were entirely out of place at a reputable resort like Boars Head.

Andrea W.

Yelp

Calling you out, Boar's Head Resort! Bought a Winter Wander ticket with my daughter-in-law and others. Needed to change my ticket due to COVID Exposure. They would not allow it, even though I was willing to pay the change fee! I will never go there again and will share this on as many venues as possible! Bah humbug and shame on you. Grinches! 0 stars.

Bridget S.

Yelp

Booked a luxurious KiNG RESORT view. Well, next to Maid closet and elevator with view of roof top and exhaust. No manicured lawn. Requested another room and was told by Brian Day, Manager, nothing available which was a lie. Mid week and it was not busy. WILL NOT be back!

Cristina W.

Yelp

Very nice experience to an away weekend. Restaurant is amazing with beautiful customer service.

Kristy W.

Yelp

My family and I attended the Wander Lights on December 4th, 2022 at the Boar's Head Hotel and it was a excellent. The property is stunning and the staff are very helpful and friendly. I love the Hot Cocoa and Spirit huts along the way. We got the Marshmallow kit and set by one of the fire pits and had a great time!! We will certainly be back either to stay or for a spa treatment.

Jennifer M.

Yelp

I think the Boars Head is gorgeous and I think they have a great chef. We were super excited to get tickets to the Breakfast with Santa. It cost about $166 for our family of 4. You have to fill up a table so a family of 4 can't sit at a table with more than 4 seats or sit with strangers. Luckily we were able to get friends to go with us so we bought an 8 top table. Santa and Mrs, Clause: AMAZING! Horse drawn carriage ride: super cute. Decorations: on point Food: UNDERWHELMING. I've been to nicer breakfast/brunch buffets at the Double Tree's restaurant. For the money we paid we got a self serve coffee bar which I wouldn't have minded except we only got paper to go cups for our coffees. Actual coffee cups would have been appreciated and given the price point were expected. There also wasn't a huge selection of food. The tiniest charcuterie board ever with no bread or crackers, bacon, sausage, grits, fried chicken breasts, waffles, French toast sticks (like the frozen kind they serve in elementary schools and these were hard as rocks), biscuits, scrambled eggs, some thawed pastries, and fruit. Kids got plastic bottles of juice and milk. Adults could have orange juice in an actual glass. No mimosas, no bloody Mary's, etc. All in all we had a nice time, but definitely left unimpressed by the buffet.

Bill T.

Yelp

I stayed here for almost a week while taking some professional development classes via Darden that were hosted here. On the positive side, the grounds are beautiful. It was very pleasant to walk around the grounds and enjoy the scenery each morning. Also, there's a fitness center and a golf course (with a snack bar and grill, respectively) so you have some eating and recreation options. The bar/restaurant in the hotel was very nice with super staff. The only downside was it was closed Monday and Tuesday when I was there which necessitated a drive into town. Service at check in was very nice and throughout the resort, service was good. On the downside is the inefficiency in checking out. They need to use technology so you don't have a half dozen people standing in line just to to turn in keys. Also, the first night I was there, I paid for my room. The total bill (just room and taxes) was almost $500. I will tell you my room was not worth that. It was small, the bed was super uncomfortable with a big dip in the middle, the AC would not go below 70 and it was sooooo noisy. I get that it's an old building but it was unpleasant. If you can get a deal on a room, maybe it's worth it but if they want to charge you $500 bucks, it's likely you'll be disappointed in the accommodations. But as long as you're not in you're room, you'll probably enjoy it.

Sue F.

Yelp

What a lovely gem in the Charlottesville area! The Boars Head is sure to be a welcome haven.

Ray L.

Yelp

Very nice place service was top notch! Went during Christmas lites walk stayed 3 nites had beautiful gym biggest place ever had all amenities great snack bar with a beautiful Salad Bar fresh! Decent prices! The Mill was great too overlooking the Trail of Lights can't really say a bad word bout it went there for b-days getaway with friend we both had b-day hers day after mine! Restaurant knew that did nothing tho not even free ice cream I guess times are tough! Lol I guess that's only thing I can think of that was weird lol but I had brought something and employees never said a word! I wasn't gonna use unless they had did something they did give us $50 food credit only cause Hotel said if we don't use maid service you get a coupon off most restaurants on property lol we took it! Glad we did The mill was very expensive burgers were over $20 lol but very delicious we ate at all restaurants on property all delicious we had a beautiful balcony overlooking mountains and the Christmas Lights it was gorgeous! We had a ball definitely would go back! And room was spotless decorated great also! Prices vary I feel what we got was Fair prices I would like to come back in Summer but I will have to see the prices for warmer weather they have 3 huge pools so I am sure prices will be jacked up but loved our stay!

Alisa O.

Yelp

Excellent service, warm hospitality, beautiful grounds! We only stayed one night but we would definitely return if we are in the Charlottesville area.

L. J.

Yelp

Meh.....nice amenities, but the hotel itself is extremely outdated. Food was good (can't say great), service was decent, overall, I cannot say I would recommend this place to anyone. If asked, I would say, "it was fine".

Kaitlin M.

Yelp

Not worth the expense. This is the type of resort that likely used to be very nice many years ago when it opened. But it has since fallen into a state of mediocre disrepair. I stayed here for 3 nights for a wedding. The rooms are clean but simple things like the shower not draining, the "body wash" in the shower was a watery mess and clearly housekeeing just watered it down instead of refilling it. The restaurants take forever and again, simple things like none of the salt shakers working or being so old there is build up all around the nozzles preventing them from grinding. This resort is old money with emphasis on "old". Looks like very little has been done to update or modernize.

Robert O.

Yelp

Below average in organization , help, and overall efficiency. Need to look past the almighty dollar.

Adam D.

Yelp

My experience at Boar's Head might have been a case of too high of expectations, but I believe that for the price I paid, that the expectations should certainly be higher than just some little motel up the road (where I might have honestly preferred to stay). First, we called ahead to confirm that we would have a mini-refrigerator in the room as we needed a place to keep our baby's breastmilk from spoiling. When we arrived, the hotel had no power and the fridge was hot on the inside. Despite our cooler, we lost a lot of breastmilk to spoilage due to the power outage (although it did eventually come on during our first night). Additionally, without power, we were forced to traverse the pitch-black hallways and stairwells at night (elevators didn't work) to bring in our luggage and the best the resort did to light those spaces was to throw glowsticks on the ground. Had there been a fire, that building would have been highly dangerous to try to get out of for the guests. For the entirety of the stay, our room smelled rather stale. Perhaps that was the result of the room being without power or AC for an entire day but it never seemed to leave the room through the course of multiple nights. On our check-out morning, we were rushed multiple times out of the room as we were trying to get our things and baby packed up before our check-out time. Despite all of this, there was no offer to compensate any of the price of the stay. The facility/campus that is the resort is honestly very beautiful. And leaving it felt odd considering the rather terrible experience we had there. As if we yearned for the experience we thought we would have there. But as we left, I couldn't help think that I would not come and stay here again.

Brandon M.

Yelp

The hotel is the prefect place to stay when visiting CVille, especially with family. The staff are very accommodating (Doug and Mayu at the bar were great) and the grounds are replete with activities. Be sure to check out the huge sports complex and golf course--lots of activities for an extended stay and all members of the family.

Quetzalcoatl T.

Yelp

Pretentious and overpriced. sagging back-aching mattresses; unintelligible HVAC. In-room Nespresso coffee maker the best thing about the room. On-site athletic facilities are great but often booked and thus unavailable. Go elsewhere. We'll will never return.

David P.

Yelp

What a disappointing experience. I read the other reviews about snooty staff, substandard service, and all around mediocrity from a place that bills itself as a high end resort. I should have heeded the warnings to stay somewhere else. While check in went well, that was about it. The device that was supposed to help us book time in some of the hotel's facilities was missing. I called in the missing device twice, but it wasn't replaced. After we were out for the day we came back to an un-serviced room. We called and were told that the room would be serviced right away. We went out for two hours, came back, and the room was still undone. This time the front desk employee demanded to know the name of the person who told me the room would be serviced. That person then said that we had to ask for service on checking in, which didn't make sense since the hotel offered a discount if guests volunteered to go without service. I was then told that housekeeping was busy. This is supposed to be a resort where one can enjoy a good restaurant and other basic amenities. Unfortunately the Mill Room, their high end restaurant, was truly a bad. Not mediocre, but bad. We ordered the filet and the tomahawk pork chop special. The filet, ordered medium rare, came out well done about forty minutes after we placed our order. The server immediately took it back. About half an hour later the replacement came out bleu - warm on the outside with a raw center. The pork chop managed to be underdone and overdone at the same time. All around us people were waiting for food well after it was ordered. The managers seemed oblivious to the problem, and didn't even apologize for the errors with our order. This indifference to a guest's experience extended well beyond the restaurant. Our decision to leave halfway through our scheduled stay drew no comment or question from the front desk. Boars Head may have been an excellent resort at one time, but those days are long gone.

Emily M.

Yelp

My husband and I spent a few days here in a very nice room with a balcony overlooking a grassy hill and a lake. I enjoyed sitting out on the balcony in the mornings and reading while listening to the birds and drinking espresso from the in-room espresso maker. The birdwood bar and grill was fun for dinner one night with live music and putting area (basically mini-golf without the kitschy obstacles.) The atmosphere there was fun and laid back and the large doors open onto a stone patio with more seating. We spent time at the pool where there's a good selection of poolside lunch/snack items and adult beverages. The mill room has a good standard breakfast that we also enjoyed outside on the deck seating area. Dinner at the mill room was also good. We hope to come back.

Connie V.

Yelp

Beautiful setting , bed is comfortable, Bird Hill Golf grill accommodating . phone did not work in room or I Pad, no one answers at the front desk, old mill restaurant did not do take out! My husband was sick with Covid and we could not get take out. High end prices but not the service to go with it, I know times are tough to get help, but not giving someone food when they are sick is too much.

Sara P.

Yelp

I recently stayed at Boar's Head Hotel in the renovated 2-story Hunt Club building. I was picked up from the Charlottesville airport by a Boar's Head employee, a nice, older gentleman waiting in the baggage claim area and holding a placard with my name on it...made me feel like a rock star! As mentioned in previous reviews, there is no elevator at the Hunt Club building, but I found the stairs easily manageable; you may want to request different accommodations if needed. My room was bright, clean, charmingly decorated, and large. It also included a small private balcony that overlooked the hotel's pool and the beautiful Virginia landscape in the background. The bathroom was totally renovated, with very large white towels, new finishes, and Gilchrist & Soames bath products. I did not have time to eat or order room service from the Old Mill Room (which is closing down for renovations from Feb. 2018 until fall 2018), but I was still a little hungry. I made the small trek to the gift shop and found Power Bars, but wished the shop's snack area was more diversely stocked. The gift shop was fancier than the typical hotel version and had a wide range of Virginia, UVA, and Boar's Head themed merchandise. Since my hotel bill was taken care of by an outside party, I cannot speak to the value. Overall, I thought the hotel was a great mix of historical design, modernized rooms & amenities, and a relaxing atmosphere. It looks like the UVA Foundation is putting more funds into renovating the entire Boars Head grounds, so I'd definitely be interested in visiting again in the future and taking better advantage of the amenities.

Jamie R.

Yelp

This review is complicated so stick with me.... First of all, this place is beautiful! We loved the bench swings by the pond, our view of the pond, and all of the birds which were exciting to see. We went here 5 years ago for our 10th anniversary & everything was impeccable. We currently went for our 15th anniversary and I am sorry to say the experience was NOT the same. We were greeted with beautiful chocolate covered strawberries, but also a filthy room. I called for them to clean the shower the first night, then again the next day, then again. 3 calls it took for someone to come & it literally looked the same. The staff was polite & said the right things but there was absolutely NO follow through. They are remodeling a building so the "adult only" pool was closed, but they never told us that upon booking. I love kids but this was our first time in 5 years without our 3 kids & the pool that was open is more like a YMCA. Kids camps & swim teams arrived bright & early by 8:30 am. Needless to say, it was not calm or relaxing. We didn't even try to go a second time because we could hear the screaming from our balcony every morning. We had great service at the Mill Room Restaurant. The bartender was obviously understaffed & yet he worked his butt off like a rockstar, much respect! So basically, we would give this place another shot AFTER REMODELING, & I hope they can get housekeeping back up to the standards we saw on our first visit 5 years ago. This place can be amazing & I truly hope they can figure out how to get back to that. Fingers crossed!

Michael B.

Yelp

This could be a really nice place. The staffing is horrible and they need more people. The staff they do have is very nice they just need to staff more people. This doesn't appear to lack of people to staff just not putting them on the schedule correctly. Several restaurants just didn't have the people to help and that lead to long lines. Who puts 1 barista to make all of the drinks and run the register? The room was missing it's shade curtain, towels had holes, the sink was clogged and the top railing on the balcony was rotten.. The smoke detector kept going off until they replaced it. My sister in laws room had the air conditioning break twice. My mother in laws room and mismatch handles on the dressers. I know things happen but the quality control was just horrible. Most of the activities (reason we came) were closed or had very limited hours. The schedule of events and then the prices for the activities were all wrong. We booked an outdoor activity that was supposed to be $70 a person. When it was over it ended up being $95 a person. All of the food options closed at 7pm leaving only the main restaurant as an option. This option was the high end restaurant for the area leaving no relaxing options after 7pm.

Amanda M.

Yelp

I DO NOT RECOMMEND the Winter Wander at Boars Head Resort. It was the most disappointing holiday light show we've ever experienced. The tickets are $15 a person and for our family of 5, we paid around $80 after tax. The "trail of lights" is simply a walk around the pond behind the hotel. It is about a quarter mile walk and you can see the entire display as soon as you cross through the ticket stand. The display itself isn't anything to write home about. It was equivalent to walking down a suburban neighborhood street at Christmas. The resort seems nice, but don't waste your money on the Winter Wander light display. Seriously.

Liza K.

Yelp

I absolutely loved the beautiful estate, the festive decorations and the cute little rooms at Boar's Head Hotel. I came out for a work event, and definitely added this to my list to return for a relaxing retreat! I was definitely wowed! Beautiful Estate Right when I first drove onto the estate, my jaw dropped! I had to walk around the lake a bit to relax before my work meetings, and was so glad I did! It was so relaxing. The were a couple pretty lakes, and lots of festive holiday lights and displays. It's a beautiful estate, with tennis courts and other athletic facilities on site. Hotel Room My hotel room was clean and pretty, with a bit of a cottage feel in terms of the decorations. Spacious bathroom too! Conference Space - Issues with No Mic and Small Screen The meeting spaces were nice, although there was only a little projector and screen for the big room we were in, and no microphone, so it was hard to present in such a big space. Multiple people told me they couldn't hear me at the back and couldn't see the slides because the screen was so small. So they may want to update to a bigger screen and a mic/speakers for the bigger conference room spaces. Catering The food was fine. Nothing special - salad, salmon and steak. However, the caterers somehow forgot the group's bar altogether. In past years, they had set up a little bar to serve drinks to the group. In the end, servers came by and brought us white and red wine in individual glasses. They had a couple other events going on the night we were there, so it might have been a bit too many events for them to handle in one night. Final Verdict It's such a beautiful space for a relaxing retreat or a work conference. Highly recommend going, especially around the holidays when everything is lit up to the nines! Despite a couple minor issues with the conference room setup/catering, this was still a great space! I definitely want to go back again for a personal retreat!

Lars L.

Yelp

Wonderful Inn with a full complement of goodies: three pools, tennis courts, paddle tennis, climbing wall-- and a superb restaurant (stuffy southern dress code: no shorts).

Mickey F.

Yelp

Another couple and my wife and I decided to get away fir a mid-week her away for my wife's birthday. Chose the Boars Head based upon recommendations. First: beautiful grounds. Wonderful golf and tennis. Second: young girl who checked us in too fooooorever with no apology for such delay. Then gave us a room right by the elevator when the hotel was maybe 25% capacity. Had to go back down and ask fir a quieter room. Assume girl same lengthy process. Not sure if she was either new or just incompetent. Third: they add $50.00 per day to your bill for "incidentals" which you get back if you don't use them (bikes, tennis, room service,etccc). Just a stickler on my part Fourth: Their bar/restaurant was closed the evening we arrived (Tues). No mention of that when making our reservations Fifth: it was chilly out yet none of their gas fireplaces inside were lit not out on their very nice veranda were the fire pits tanks full. Sixth: the room: not bad but poorly lit. Could hardly read a book Staff was nice enough. Grounds nicely decorated for the fall Pre Xmas. Location great. Golf excellent. Don't eat your breakfast at the Birdwood Golf Course it's microwaved junk. Try The villa or Tip top Take time to visit Thomas Jefferson's Monteciello just a short 10 minute ride away. Wonderful. The gentleman who reinacts TJ is fantastic and well worth sitting and listening to fir 30 minutes. Downtown is either undergoing gentrification or a redo. Most shoos and places are either closed or not very interesting. Outskirts are where the action is for restaurants and bars and such. Some very nice vineyards surround Cville.

Mark B.

Yelp

Nice resort for sports and leisure. Arriving at Boar's Head Resort just outside of the 250 ring of Charlottesville was no trouble. Well marked entrance and directions to check in were clearly marked. Ahhhhh, arrived to a newly renovated resort. Check in was a snap and they were very informative. The rooms are fun, spread around the resort in separate buildings with each carrying a theme of its own. I drew the porch room, with a clean modern look blended with barn door bathroom entrance. Next to the Mill Room for dinner

Mark B.

Yelp

I was very unimpressed with boars head. 30 some years ago, while I was a student, it had a reputation as being of incredible quality. The hotel room was nothing special and the Thanksgiving dinner was also mediocre at best. I rather doubt that I will return.

Diana B.

Yelp

Do not go to the Wander Lights show until they tell you over the phone that they have someone assigned to the light tunnel to avoid a backup of pedestrians on the path. Last night, five thoughtless young women spent 25 minutes in the tunnel taking videos of themselves over and over and the attendant 30 feet away, sitting in a chair, did nothing while the crowd, including disabled in wheelchairs and those standing with canes (self included) stood helplessly trapped behind on the narrow path. Several people did ask the attendant to get out of his chair and do something and he just shrugged his shoulders and laughed. When the women were finally done the entire crowd cheered but their selfish behavior ruined what could have been a lovely evening. Boars Head needs a responsible party to stand at the tunnel to move the crowd along. It would be helpful if someone was assigned there to take photos for people - also to move the crowd along. Boars Head already assigns parties to 30 minute slots. It needs to step up and assign someone to be responsible at the tunnel to avoid this mess - which continued all night.

Tricia T.

Yelp

This is really a review about Boars Head Sports Club which is a great facility and also usable by patrons of the hotel. Not only is the facility fantastic, it is immaculate and the people that work there are most helpful! Samantha Strong is an outstanding asset to Boars Head as she heads up membership and now club operations. You couldn't find a more welcoming team that have worked incredibly hard to keep things rolling during Covid-19! Tennis, pickleball, fitness, squash, swimming and golf amenities.

Rachel K.

Yelp

Stayed one night here, and ended up with mixed reviews on everything. The hotel room itself was very nice - even down to the bathroom fixtures and comfortable beds. All of the hallways leading to the room, however, gave the feeling of an 80s era hotel that had us worried about what we would find once we got to our room. The included "afternoon tea" was advertised as including pastries and other snacks - instead, it was just a selection of tea bags and brewed coffee. Breakfast is not included in room rate, but we did order room service, which was quite good. Stayed November 2012

Alisha W.

Yelp

Thanks for the lovely hospitality. The room was lovely (and the front desk got me in well before checkout so I could hop on a zoom call). Room service was speedy and dinner in the lobby restaurant was very good with live music. The spa was beautiful (alas they were booked so I couldn't get a massage) but took a steam at the sports club. Thank you Boar's Head.

Rachel H.

Yelp

This "luxury resort" is one of the worst hotels I have ever stayed at. I have traveled to many countries all over the world and have never experienced this kind of treatment and hotel conditions from a hotel calling themselves luxury. I booked my weekday gateway over a month ago, when I arrived at the Boars Head Inn around 3:30pm I was told by the front desk that my room wasn't quite ready yet. After waiting around 20 mins, I approached a manager and asked what the status of my room was. She proceeded to go to the front desk and check my room status. She looked at me alarmed and began to tell me that the room I had booked was given away to a large party!!!!! What kind of hotel establish gives a booked and paid for room away??!!! I had booked a nice suite type room for a mental getaway, and I was told by the Boars Head Inn manager that they gave my suite away to another party. After finding out this information I was escorted to my "new room". As I was walking with the manager and another employee I was told that my hotel room was not in the main building but in another building that was NOT handicap accessible due to NO elevator. I am 60 years old and was told I had to walk up 3 flights of stairs with my luggage!!!!! As I entered my room I saw nothing but a bed, desk, and chair..... I was told by the manager that they gave me a room with a balcony. But upon inspection the furniture on the balcony was broken and I was unable to use that "feature" of the room. The room was small and semi-cleaned. The staff was incredibly rude and DISCRIMINATED against me as a single women traveling alone. The restaurant in the hotel has a limited NON INCLUSIVE menu with outrages prices. When I arrived at the restaurant I was rudely told they didn't have a table for me. After waiting several minutes the hostess came up to me and said they had cleared a table for me. We proceeded to the table and I was shocked at the fact that it was a tiny uncomfortable table stuck in a corner directly in front of the entrance to the restaurant. In my frustrated state I told the rude hostess that I would sit at the bar. The manager I had spoke with earlier in the day at check in told me that because the menu was so NON INCLUSIVE that she would personally have the chef cook me a meal. As I was sitting at the bar waiting for my food and trying to read a book the bar began to fill with incredibly loud, aggressive people who were making me feel incredibly uncomfortable. Due to me being a solo women traveler on this trip I was highly uncomfortable in this type of setting. So I decided to take my meal to my room. Let's just say I would have been better off starving. The food was awful, I spent over $60 on a horrible meal and had to throw it out because it was so horrible and overcooked with mushy vegetables. I ended up going to the local Burger King to eat another meal because I was starving. The pool was small and had no area to layout and relax. If you are considering a stay at this hotel, do as much research as possible. I booked this stay thinking it was going to be wonderful because of my stay over 20 years ago. I WAS SADLY MISTAKEN. I came to this hotel for a much needed mental health getaway and ended up feeling worse upon my departure. I have more to report on my horrible experiences during my stay at the Boars Head Resort and I will continue to post my experiences on multiple platforms in order to warn those who may be considering a stay at THE MOST HORRIBLE HOTEL I've stayed. Using my horrific experience to encourage others to stay away and spend their money elsewhere.

Wood W.

Yelp

Came to the Boar's Head on the spur of the moment recently upon leaving a certain expensive spa in West Virginia early due to a poor experience. Loved it! We will return again and again. Our room was in the Hunt Club building and cost about $150 for the night. Comfortable firm king bed with comfy terry cloth robes. OK, the door to the shower allowed some water out from under it, but given everything else (and a bathmat that soaked up the water) what do I care? Loved the brick patio out our second floor french doors. My wife and I enjoyed out morning coffee on the rocking chairs. Coffee came with our full breakfast at a bargain rate of $13 each via prompt room service. Her poached egg was over-cooked and the staff had a replacement to us in 10 minutes. Combine the strong value of the Boar's Head Inn's great newly refurbished rooms with the fantastic meal at the Old Mill Room (reviewed under that listing) and we will definitely be long-term return customers. Especially with the reasonable distance from Northern Virginia and the good values of the spa services ($130 for a 80 minute massage).

Daniel J.

Yelp

I loved this hotel. It's not quite the Ritz-Carlton in a major metropolitan area, but it was definitely the nicest place we stayed while driving down Tobacco Road on a college scouting tour. Our room was large and exceptionally clean. The bed linens were perfect, and the beds were the most comfortable we had in five different hotels, both major and small. When we arrived, there were chocolates on our pillows, which is a small and ostensibly cheesy touch, but I liked it, and it showed to me that management really cared about the initial perceptions of their guests. Bath toiletries by Gilchrist & Soames were the best quality we experienced at any of our hotels on this trip. Check-in was an especially pleasant experience. The young woman who greeted us was especially friendly and well spoken. She showed us the best places to eat late night on the Charlottesville Mall. We purchased the bed-and-breakfast package and got to eat breakfast in the Oak Room. It was a great breakfast in an elegant setting with a terrific view on an especially, bright beautiful morning. It was a wonderful experience. Our room was somewhat remote from the front desk and dining room, but we had a beautiful morning view of the pond, trees, hills and geese. There is something about the light in the Blue Ridge Mountains that is so invigorating. This was the most memorable part of our trip for me. If my kid decides to attend UVa, I would be VERY happy to stay here in the future in order to visit.

A.j. C.

Yelp

Beautifully decorated and charming but small rooms. Quaint and quiet and excellent customer service. Beautiful landscaping and very safe

Nevan B.

Yelp

Came in for the weekend to get out of our own house after so many months in quarantine. So much natural beauty all around and fabulous southern hospitality. Geraldine is the one who goes the extra mile and tries to make you feel like you are truly on vacation. It's all about the people and she is a Boar's Head gem! Thank you to the resort management and to Geraldine for being so snappy with customer service.

Cynthia L.

Yelp

Lush manicured greens, large ponds, and restored cottage looks. I was pleasantly surprised at how nice Boar's Head Hotel was. Large estate. How large you say? They have golf carts to get around. Our friends room (that we temporarily crashed for several hours) had a large king-size bed with ample space all around, with a little nook between the bathroom and bedroom. I liked the room decor (soft green and white) and the barn-style closing bathroom door. The bed had ample pillows and was not too lumpy. We couldn't hear anyone when we were there, but to be fair, we were also on the corner top floor. I can see the hotel has made an attempt to keep their high ceiling (with fire sprinklers kind of running a little everywhere). Room service (ordered green tea) was polite, but a tad slow. They're known for their peanut soup (which, for anyone who's had SE Asian food, is like a runny version of sate), but definitely worth a go. Would stay again.

Pete M.

Yelp

Came to CVille for a family Thanksgiving. Boats Head is a beautiful place and restaurant. Adele and Becky Natalia will take your visit to the next level. We had dopey requests and they met all of them. With out questions asked. It was Thanksgiving and most every other place is surly at BEST. What a great holiday. Thank you.

Carol A.

Yelp

So sad. I dropped off a $50+ gift bag for a guest who was coming into town from Arizona for our engagement party. The front desk lost the gift bag so our friends never received their "Welcome to Virginia " treats.

Kristen I.

Yelp

(Sorry, couldnt find the boar's head pavillion so this review is under the hotel.) Our family's Thanksgiving tradition: let someone else do the cooking! This year, we made the reservation for the pavillion... because the old mill room was already all booked. Food was alright, good old buffet style layout, but the service was sub-par. We had to ask for our coffee to be refilled every single time, and coffee was only lukewarm when they poured. They wouldn't take the dishes out on time so it ended up piling on the table. I don't think we'll ever come back for pavillion... I have to say, the dessert was excellent though! :)

Han V.

Yelp

Went here during restaurant week with my girlfriends and had a poor experience with their food and service. The cream sauce for my pasta was broken and I had to send it back. The waitress was unapologetic when I made my complaint and had a flat demeanor the whole time she was serving us. As for dessert, the poached pear with blue cheese was overstuffed with cheese and tasted disgusting [and I am a fan of blue cheese]. The combination of the soft pear with the pungent cheese did not go well and my friends and I had to send that back as well and get the chocolate cake instead. Our group of 6 left very disappointed with the meal. I have been told that their brunch buffet was decent so I would possibly come back to try that but dinner is out of the question. Food: 1 Value: 1 Service: 1 Overall: 1

Lauren P.

Yelp

Visited here over the holidays and had a very very nice stay. These people must spend a fortune on decorations! Every inch of the place was decked out for Christmas looking very lovely and festive! They also had super cute s'mores roasting! We were in town to visit Monticello, but there are a bunch of amenities here and you could easily spend days just hanging out at the resort! I knocked off a star because the pillows totally sucked in this place and the bathrooms were a little small. But otherwise it was a great trip!

Duffy F.

Yelp

Wonderful place! Very nice staff and good service all around! If you are a food or drink lover then you'll be very pleased with there selections, i myself loved the Boars Head Lager! Very good and goes well with anything you get to eat!

Holly D.

Yelp

Do not stay at this hotel if you are allergic to mold. Found numerous places within the room and hallway that had mold. Contacted the hotel manager who would not return my phone call. Management did not seem to care. Ended up at the doctors office because of my asthma was triggered.

Kasia G.

Yelp

The service was better than the food. Douglas, the waiter at the restaurant at the Boar's Head Inn is wonderful! He was attentive & surpassed my needs. I ordered the lamb loin & it was okay. I had not had lamb in 6 months & it is one of my favorite foods. But I was not in awe with my meal. I would not recommend the lamb loin but the service was great. For dessert I ordered the snicker's creme brûlée, which was very good. I'm not a snickers fan but definitely a creme brûlée fan so I wanted to try something different. It was good & came with cookies. While enjoying my creme brûlée, Douglas also brought an assortment of dark & milk chocolate as well as more cookies. Great service! Just not so great lamb loin!

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