Alan T.
Yelp
Corporate buyout last year. Diamondrock, who owns "exclusive" properties. Rates for everything through the roof. Cannot get dinner reservation by phone anymore, online only. Cannot reach anyone by phone, actually. I guessed the single digit number to bypass the reservation system, which is dial 1. Got a very curt woman who somewhat angrily transferred me to front desk. May be the corporate way to bypass the automated reservation system, if I had to guess.
Even went to front desk tonight to make reservation next week for rooms, have out of state visitor. Answer was, "no, have to do online" REALLY?
All costs at least doubled. Room lower lodge very high cost, about $400night, with no microwave, TV, or a/c. Priced the "Caboose": $900 per night. Still, even Bozeman C'mon in $200/night in summer.
Restaurant is still very good with happy servers, some long employed. Breakfast buffet no longer great.
Look up Diamondrock real estate online, give you immediate knowledge of what they are about, and why this happened.
Sale price apparently $33,000,000. In their defense, lots of $$ to recoup.
And, can't be too hard on them, looking at review probably am. Still same nice atmosphere and long-standing staff. Staff staying around for many years says a lot about management running organization. Been in Montana all my life, and historically, Chico always had difficulty keeping in the black, from reputation. Changed owners frequently because of this.
And Montana has changed. Moved back here 1991 From LA. I'm native, Out of state influx just starting then. Back here early 90s at Chico, Meg Ryan playing piano in lobby, and husband Dennis Quaid bartending, trying to be incognito, dressed as cowboy. Suspected it was an omen. Prices for real estate so cheap, irresistible to outsiders. Influx continues to this day, but takes more capital to accomplish. Prices are up now. Natives cannot afford to buy a house anywhere in this area. So, only big, well capitalized corporations may be able to buy into still relatively inexpensive market to wealthy outsiders.
If I had to focus on main issue, it's not being able to get a human being on the phone anymore. And, can't make a reservation at front desk in person?? Must go online??No. That's just wrong.
Seems old school, but was just nice thing about old Chico. And being around 100 years old, it is old.
Also priced Sage Lodge close by. $1400/night.
So, keep upgrading rating. Stick with Chico. It's the real thing but relatively, not overpriced, I think. But they really have to bring back personal touch. Not allowing front desk staff to make any reservations at all is just wrong. So 3 stars for that, otherwise 5. Just one thing to fix.