C R.
Yelp
I was torn how to rate this place. Let me preface this narrative by saying the lodge is very beautiful and the surrounding country is probably the most amazing place I have ever been (and I have traveled extensively). I guess when you stay for 3 days and 2 nights at a place, and you spend about $1,300 on just lodging and food.....you're expectations are high. I have stayed at the Ritz at Half Moon Bay and Manhattan for cheaper than that (to put it in perspective). So, after all that, here is what I have to say:
First impression, our driver that took us from the parking lot to the lodge was fantastic! He's a young kid of Australia and could not have made a better first impression. Got there, checked in, and had dinner. Dinner both nights was AMAZING! Breakfast the first morning was amazing as well (that included the service). That is pretty much, where the great service and nice experiences ended.
This VERY expensive lodge is mostly ran by YOUNG "seasonal" workers who have the type of attitude you'd expect when walking in to a Gucci store. They are nice, but just nice enough....I.E. they aren't going to be super helpful, they aren't going to really greet you with a smile and make you feel like they really want to help you. They appear to be border-line annoyed but forced to be be semi-nice to you. It's weird, and makes the experience crap. You pay that much money for that type of service? 100% unacceptable. You will pay Ritz Carlton prices, but you will get Super 8 Motel service.....and I kid you not.
That's not the best part, the last morning we are there we decide to have breakfast one last time since the food there is so good. My wife went and got a table before the 11am cut-off time while I rode to get our car. After the waitress hovered over her and then stated, "the kitchen closes you have to order by 11am" she ended up having to tell her what we wanted, even though I wasn't back yet. Mind you, I returned at 11:10am. The waitress was pissed that we sat late, and you could tell. Never refilled my coffee or my wife's drink, never checked on us after we got our food, and we had to hunt her down just to pay! And our breakfast cost us over $50!!!! Ridiculous!!!
Also, the second evening we had dinner, which cost us over $250 with tip, we sat for almost 15 minutes before a waitress even greeted us.
For these prices the service is below sub-par. The young kids that work at the lodge actually live on the grounds (you'll see their housing at the end of the parking lot). I would say the average worker there was college age, late teens-early 20s.
And, in May, it is hot in this part of the Rockies.....don't kid yourself....it is HOT! And there is no A/C in these cabins or the main lodge. So when you go to dinner don't wear long sleeves, you will sweat. You think I'm kidding but I'm not. Even the people that work there commented on how hot it was in the main lodge. Nothing like a $250 dinner enjoyed while you sweat. At night we had to keep the door open to our patio and have every window open to catch a breeze so we didn't burn up.
So, scenery, hiking, food....amazing. No A/C, no internet, no phone service, no TV, horrible customer service, or service in general. Oh, and if you want a "view of the lake," which they will try and up charge you $25 a night for, keep in mind you will be viewing the lake through an obstructed view (layer of tree's), it's not a clear view of the lake like you would expect. There are a few rooms that have unobstructed views, but that is few and far between. I'd estimate it to be maybe a handful of the rooms.