Rainbow Lodge

We got married here in September 2024 and had all of our events on site to maximize the time with our guests. This venue, while expensive, will provide a unique experience where guests can connect easily all weekend long. Emily is very organized, a clear & direct communicator, and made sure that our event was a success. The staff are amazing and provided a lot of help during the weekend with serving, bartending, and moving tabes & chairs.

Another stellar event at the Rainbow Lodge! This year's Oktoberfest featured a fantastic meal, the finest fall weather, and outstanding Americana/Roots music from the Golden Cadillacs—truly some of the best in our region. We love soaking up the beautiful atmosphere Thank you, Spencer and Emily for the care you put into creating these magical moments.

This is a beautiful lodge. Built with a lot of stone and wood. My room had a view of the river! The only drawback was there are no electric outlets in the bathrooms. It was a great place for a wedding!

Spent the weekend here for a friend's wedding. The lodge itself is nice and there are nice grounds to walk around the lodge. The managers have a number of strict rules regarding the kitchen and bar but they are not totally unreasonable. The interior has a great rustic feel and lots of old pictures from the late 1800's - 1900's which I enjoyed. The room we were assigned to was comfortable.

Amazing place, teaching you about the history of the era of crossing the sierras! Loved our stay there!

We chose the Rainbow Lodge for a large family gathering and so happy with the accommodations, the facilities and the overall property. I don’t know of another venue for gatherings with this much character, history and warmth and so close to Hiking, Skiing, Donner Lake, Lake Tahoe, Truckee, Reno.

Great event venue. There are so many areas to hang out at the lodge and it feels like camp with your party. Since the lodge is 150 years old, there are some oddities but overall a great time and venue.

The location is absolutely stunning, and the snow is just amazing, if you're looking for peace and quiet with a country setting this is the place to be, the food and service were just so comforting that I just didn't want to leave, i really felt at home, and so did my children who wanted to stay just as much as we did, my thanks to all the staff who really made us fell so welcome, your the best, can't wait to visit again, thank you you so much hope to see you soon☺

The Rainbow Lodge was our dream wedding venue and it didn't disappoint. All of the work the Shapton's have put into the grounds and maintaining the lodge made for a spectacular backdrop for our wedding weekend. There were plenty of amenities and inclusions that shortened our rentals list and kept our wedding day running smoothly. The Rainbow Lodge team was highly professional and organized while also incredibly friendly and fun. Emily was prompt, detail-oriented, and helpful as we navigated all of our wedding planning logistics. The team has their operations dialed and it gave us great piece of mind to know that they'd keep the day running smoothly. On top of it all, our wedding dinner was delicious. Spencer and his culinary team were able to accommodate several dietary restrictions while keeping the meal flavor-forward. If you're looking for an intimate mountain wedding that can host all your people, the Rainbow Lodge will check all your boxes!

Just photographed a wedding here last weekend. What a beautiful venue ! The staff was very friendly and welcoming, and gave me a whole tour of the place. The food and drinks were great and I really enjoyed how beautiful and thoughtful everything was.

First of all this is not about their venue, bar or hotel. This is just a review of their sign that is off of Highway 80. While driving past this location which we do about 2 to 3 times a year we notice the flag that was above the Rainbow sign on the side of the road. The flag is so badly represented as it is so torn up and hardly our United States flag.....it is half of our flag. If you are an American and want to represent where you live, be proud and take care of your flag. This is not political. My plea is that Rainbow buys and replaces the US flag. Take a picture and post it on their website to prove they are proud to fly our flag.

I've never been to a wedding quite like the one I experienced at the Rainbow Lodge! We had the pleasure of getting to spend the entire weekend Friday-Sunday staying at the Lodge. It's got 90s summer camp vibez! Lodge cabin, warm wooden rooms, games and a river right outside. The lodge has a lot of great areas to relax- a big bar area, large seating rooms, a "mess hall" for meals. There are about 30 rooms on site. They vary in size and amenities. Some share outdoor bathrooms, while others have one inside. We stayed on-site in one of the rooms on the third floor that had its own bathroom inside. The rooms are very rustic. The bed was definitely a little old and squishy and the shower was like an outdoor hose, but it did it's job and honestly, the ability to stay on site during a wedding weekend is such a treat! Everything was so central to just hop back to your room between events, which is such a rarity on a wedding weekend. The grounds themselves are gorgeous. We got to enjoy a welcome event that was spaced both outside and inside on the first night. The bride and groom decorated the space with camp themed vibes and it was the perfect environment. On wedding day, the ceremony was held with a beautiful view of the trees and river as a backdrop- truly incredible! The space was flipped for the reception but dancing moved upstairs to the deck. There are a lot of stairs at this venue, so it is not ADA friendly if that is a concern. We truly had such a wonderful time and the wedding was so much more special being able to spend so much time with the bride and groom on site throughout the entire weekend.

Stayed here for a wedding weekend. Overall had a good experience. It's a great location to have your wedding party/guests stay without needing a shuttle to get to and from wedding. They also have a kitchen/bar so we didn't have to leave all weekend. Only thing was our sink drain did not drain well and our shower only trickled out water so it was hard to take a good shower.

I can't say enough good about the Rainbow Lodge and it's new life as an event center. We attended Oktoberfest last night and we're treated to an exceptional gourmet meal, great music, and a fun crowd in a beautiful scenic location. Kudos to Spencer and Emily for their work creating, designing and preparing exceptional locally sourced menus and bringing on a great band, Dead Winter Carpenters. Can't wait to see what's next!

I am still absolutely glowing from my wedding weekend at the Rainbow Lodge this past weekend!!! First, there's so much I can say about how wonderful Yvonne and Rolf, the caretakers of the lodge are. They are incredibly professional, clear with communication, and knowledgeable about how to make your weekend the best it can be - and they were such a calming presence over my wedding weekend. My entire family sings their praises, and is actually in this moment trying to adopt them into ours because they were so wonderful!! The lodge itself is wonderful, and bespoke with the most special details and radiates all the history of it's time in Soda Springs. My guests were so excited to stay there and enjoy all the amenities the lodge had to offer. As the lodge is 150 years old, there's history around every corner and unique touches all over the place! Guests enjoyed the sitting rooms, took a polar plunge in the river, took hikes all over Soda Springs and escaped to Truckee for dinner! The lawn for the ceremony was absolutely magical - it barely needed decoration and I cannot wait to see my pictures! As a bride who didn't have a wedding coordinator - with Yvonne, Rolf, and the Lodge in my back pocket everything was flawless! A few tips for those thinking about the lodge: - Be communicative - Yvonne and Rolf are so responsive, and can easily answer questions you might have about the area, lodge details, catering, etc - Let your guests know there are stairs (age, elevation, ability all might impact where you place folks) - Let your guests know that the lodge is 150 years old - probably best to leave the gadgets at home and enjoy the lodge for the weekend! - The lodge is fully stocked with activities and games for all ages - but we also supplemented with additional items for the kids area and game room, and I probably could have brought less! - Make sure to have a head count for meals - we were at the lodge from Thurs-Sun, and no one wanted to leave so Yvonne and Rolf helped us navigate the best way to set up our food options (my sister is an amazing chef/coordinator!) Finally, I second what the previous reviewer said regarding the negative reviews. There's a sign clearly labeling the lodge as a private event venue. We actually had a passerby try to crash our party and after they refused to acknowledge the groom, Yvonne was incredibly professional in letting them know we were responsible for the weekend. If I could give the lodge 10 stars I would - they made my wedding dreams come true and I cannot thank Yvonne and Rolf enough!!

This is a lodge and tavern ... so expect friendly service and good food! Leave your Bay Area attitudes in the snow or at the door, this place is historic. There is happy hour so pull off the HWY AND GO IN for a drink or watch the game or even play corn-hole. This is a place to enjoy the river in a relaxed TAHOE PLACE. My family was pleased with the burgers. My husband and I had the pork chop with blueberries and the Chicken Cordon Blue,the sautéed veggies and Augraton potatoes. WE will be back.

My husband and I recently got married at the Rainbow Lodge. It was the first (and only) venue we visited, and we could not be happier with our decision. All of our guests enjoyed what the Lodge and the surroundings had to offer. It really is a special place at a beautiful location. The Site Managers, Emily and Spencer, were an absolute dream to work with! They were very accomodating to all our requests - before, during, and after our weekend.

The Rainbow Lodge has been one of my affordable overnight choices when up in the North Lake Tahoe area for skiing. It's not Resort fancy, but it's not the Clair Tappan Lodge either. It's also old Europe charming, comfortable, and funky cool. I also like the rustic bar, breakfast in the morning, the wilderness setting (and right off I-80), and the haunting legacy of this Lodge. It's just the place that my elderly Parents would also stay. The rooms are also a bit small and not all of them come with a private shower (which would keep Gayle away). They once distinguished that by offering a choice of an A, B, or C room. Today's Historical Footnote: The original section of the lodge was built in the last 1800s and originally used a stage stop. Extensions were later made in the 1920s and you can see for yourself the progress of the lodge by looking at the pine logs in the ceilings. The two different shapes of the logs show where the extension was made. Also, step into the bar area and notice the bricked in window that used to be the exterior of the lodge. After the extension, the lodge became a popular stop for local residents who enjoyed a little gambling. Then this place transitioned to being a popular fishing spot (for Rainbow Trout along the Yuba River). The Chef here would then cook it up for you. And today as before, you can rent gear and ski around the Rainbow Lodge area in the Winter.

Who loves fondue? We love fondue! So, when we saw the probability of fondue assert itself while fighting Hwy 80E traffic, there was not a whole lot to negotiate- we immediately pulled off the highway, parked and marched in to the 1920's stone and timber ski resort. Ooo la la. After a short wait, we were soon dining extravagantly on wild mushroom strudel and the classic Emmenthaler and Kir fondue. I had a chocolate mousse martini. By the time we were finished, it was kinda late to hit the road to look for a campground, so we stayed in one of the super charming rooms with a full bath. There was coffee down the hall in the morning and a lovely breakfast in the restaurant. The Swiss style architecture is bold and strong and loaded with lots of fussy frilly interior treatments. The lobby has books and board games and lots of comfy chairs to relax in. There is nearby hiking and fishing during the summer and ski trails o'plenty in the winter.

We just spent the weekend at Rainbow Lodge to celebrate our daughter (& new son-in-law's) wedding with 35 close friends and family. The lodge and the grounds are beautiful, & we all loved our time there. The property managers, Rolf and Yvonne, were so helpful and generous to all of us, ensuring we were comfortable and needs were met. This is a very special event venue. We highly recommend it! P.s. I'm so surprised by the negative reviews based on a passer-by being denied the use of the restroom. The front of the lodge is clearly marked as an event venue, not a public building. Did those people who wanted a restroom think they're entitled to one anywhere they want?

When you think of rainbow you think of happiness, sunshine and butterflies. Well that's completely opposite of what i experienced. I called and asked if they were open (due to COVID-19) i was curious. The lady who answered the phone wasn't just rude.. she belittle me and made me feel so stupid. If you're running a business i would think they would be polite and helpful, especially to a future paying customer. It's common curtesy.

We arrived at the Lodge the afternoon before our friend's wedding. Never been to this part of California and was pleasantly surprised by the surrounding raw beauty as well as the old rustic charm at the Lodge. Had a reasonable dinner at the Lodge's restaurant though very few options for vegetarians/vegans. And, do you really want to be there when wild boar is served next to you? Enjoyed having drinks in the old-time bar even though there was a deer or moose head sticking out of the wall. It ain't San Francisco, baby...and you have to go with the flow. But we were having fun and even contemplating having a family Christmas there some time in the future. The bed was reasonably comfortable and the room didn't get too chilly as we feared. But....no hot water in the morning for a shower. I tried later in the afternoon, before the wedding, and still no hot water. The front desk acted surprised when I mentioned this but later I heard other complaints from guests about the showers. I was not happy with a stinging sponge bath and without washing my hair. It wasn't until the next day, after literally running the tub water for 20 minutes, that I got something reasonable enough to take a shower in. So, I kind of felt like I was camping. And the room price was far too much to pay for camping. I think the place is old and they don't want to make the necessary repairs.

We called in for drinks on Super Bowl Sunday, and were thrilled to see that the newly rechristened Rainbow Tavern & Lodge was open for happy hour with a buffet. The new owners have done an excellent job in freshening and brightening up the interior, and the bar was sparkling, warm and cheery. The beer and wine selections were inclusive and interesting, the service was very friendly, and the happy hour pricing was a steal. Ignore all the negative pre-2014 reviews, and come and try it - you won't be disappointed.

What a neat historic venue in a picturesque pine tree covered mountain setting! We were able to stay at the Rainbow Lodge for 3 nights with my 3 children. They had a kids play room with books, games, and video games which made it very fun and accommodating for the kids. The rustic interior of the lodge was just what you'd expect in this type of setting! It was nice to sit around and enjoy the fireplace at night with friends and family. The outdoors were just as lovely. The lawn area was perfect for a wedding and overlooked the Yuba River. We were able to swim in the river, take a hike or go fishing in nearby areas. Lastly, the managers of the property (Yvonne and Rolf) were the best and really took care of the private party! They kept checking on us to see if we needed anything or how they could make our stay more comfortable. They were so sweet and blended into our party as if they were family. I cannot thank them enough for being so wonderful!

Closed again as a Restaurant. New owners pretty much just do weddings, and occasionally open for appetizers on the weekends. Hopefully come winter, we will see the inside of the Bar again!!

I visited for my first time ever, having heard great things about the new owners and management, and I'm happy to say they did not disappoint!!! It's charming and historic, and the rooms were immaculate and very cozy. The restaurant is now open, and the food was awesome! I had the Sierra Salad, and absolutely loved it! My fiancé had the bacon burger w/steak cut fries and it was awesome. The wine list was great, and the full bar is a huge added bonus. We loved the river views and the beautiful dining room, but the personnel really were the icing on the cake. The owners and g.m. were so accommodating and super friendly, and the chef came out and talked with us, and we were so impressed. I love this place!!!!!!!!!!

The lodge itself is old world with modern comfort. It's located in the beautiful Sierra's with greenery, nature and hiking trails everywhere. I can only imagine its beauty in snow season. A river runs right by the hotel and we were able to gaze out the window and take it all in. They also have a stunning lawn with a gazebo. It would be perfect for a wedding or vow renewal. The lodge itself has so much personality and rustic charm!!! The rooms are beautifully rustic but warm and cosy. Ahhhh the beds are super comfortable!!! The bathrooms are pristine with a cool retro vibe. What sets this bed and breakfast apart from others is the stellar customer service! It's a family run place and and it's obvious they are a team. From the first moment we arrived we were given a warm welcome by the owner. He showed us around and made us feel like family.The owners daughters were our servers. They were so cute and professional. They provided us with the best friendly service!!! The restaurant's menu was simple but AMAZING offering steaks, burgers, pasta, salads and sandwiches. All around excellent. They have a beautiful bar with nice beers on draft my husband enjoyed. I enjoyed the local wines and there was a full bar of all sorts of other options. The bartender was super friendly and the manager was helping with anything and everything! I can't wait to go back in snow season! It's our new go to place for Tahoe!!

The Rainbow Lodge is under new Ownership (May2016) and Managers Liz and Randy since October last year. They are working hard to bring the visions of what the Lodge and Tavern were from the past before the Royal Gorge ownership, bankruptcy and the most recent owners who bless their efforts tried to repair and bring back the heritage and history of the Rainbow Lodge. The lodge is now a venue or group event facility for Reunions, Birthdays, Corporate outings, and of course Weddings. The Bar and Tavern has been struggling to be open most weekends even through snow falls, flooding and rain in between events Friday, Saturday and Sunday starting at 4:01 serving drinks, beer on tap and limited dinners and appetizers during non-event weekends. Sometimes even earlier when the need arises. Chef Mark is hoping to offer in the near future Sunday Brunch and an expanded dinner menu in the Yuba Dinning room. Reviews prior to last October are outdated and miss leading so visit the Rainbow Lodge and create your own Yelp review. Check the website to gather the most up to date info at "Therainbowlodge.com" and come and visit to create your own memorable events now and plan to make ones into the future.

We were staying nearby and didn't know where to eat. A quick check on Yelp told us about the great Fondue back in 2006. Thus, we got excited for Fondue and drove down. Well, they no longer serve Fondue and our sever had never heard of them serving it. Since Fondue was off the menu, we decided to order a Wild Boar Stew for $12. It was pretty tasty and filling and I'd order it again on a cold night. My son had Chicken Tenders with Fries and he was happy. It was a Friday night on a holiday weekend and there weren't that many people in the restaurant. My only complaint would be that it probably took at least 45 minutes for the main courses to come out. Fortunately, I got lucky and split a pretty good Caesar salad with someone as an appetizer. Otherwise, I would have been real hungry having to wait so long. The inside of the building is nicely decorated as an old style lodge. They have a nice lawn area immediately to the west. Though they are next to the river, we didn't see a view of the river from the inside. Though you see the river as you are driving to it. The bar area looked pretty inviting; it seemed to be filled with locals. Thanks to always being in a rush to drive to/from Tahoe, I probably won't have a lot of chances to stop here and enjoy a meal. But, if I was ever staying nearby again, I'd go back.

Well over a hundred years old and has seen several iterations including gambling hall, speakeasy, trout farm and Highway 40 roadside stop. This ain't no Disney re-creation... it's the real deal and she wears her time well! I've been stopping here since I was just a kid and the 2 lane road out front was THE road to Reno and beyond. But last weekend was the first time I've spent the night... wow... waited tooooo long for that one. The NEW OWNERS are giving the grand ol' dame the love she needs & desires and making her guests welcome with smiles, good food reasonably priced, new beds and bedding and the same great setting.

The Rainbow Lodge can be a wonderful place to stay so long as you know what to expect before going in. We were under the impression it was a Bed and Breakfast. It's not. If you go in with a BnB mindset then you'll be disappointed much as we were. The lodge is quiet, quaint and cozy. The atmosphere was very rustic swiss and the food is good. But let's back up a bit to give you the full experience. I pulled directions from the website "Just take the Soda Springs/Norden exit off I-80 and follow the signs to Summit Station. We're just 3/4's of a mile off the highway." this is wrong. Going back to the website now I see an addendum to that "Staying at Rainbow Lodge? Take the Rainbow Road exit (7 miles West of Soda Springs)" It's a usability issue with the website, I saw directions and I took them and didn't think they I'd have to read further. Once we realized we took the wrong exit we called the lodge (more than one number listed on the website doesn't work, luckily I wrote down four!) the front desk was unhelpful. They told me the correct exit and when I asked if I turn right or left they said to just "follow it down to the lodge". Taking a left at the exit was much needed information in order to "follow it down". Once we arrived we found that the staff simply couldn't be bothered. They were not rude but more apathetic to having guests. We signed in they gave me a key and said "second floor". Most BnBs I've stayed at walk you to your room. So we head upstairs and get lost on the second floor. Finally we found some signs that pointed the way to our room but it was difficult to see the room numbers because all the doors were wide open (the room numbers were on the doors) and the rooms were dark. We literally had to step in to every room to read the room number. And it's not like there was any order to it. Dinner was great, though this was the first time I had a Rib Eye that I didn't like. I didn't read the menu carefully enough to know it was covered in what appeared to be Arby's Secret Sauce. Might as well had smothered it in ketchup. But maybe people like that kind of thing on their Rib Eye. Headed back to the room we realized there was no TV. No problem, I just wish I had known that. It was never mentioned when I made my reservations. The rooms were clean but in the bathroom I discovered a half drank hot coco on the window sill. And the "queen size" bed was really a full. When I spoke to the staff about it they apologized about the coco but didn't offer to have someone get it out of the room. They front desk person also said he doesn't know what the bed sizes really are, just that it was listed as a queen. The room was a bit chilly but we adjusted the thermostat and it heated up quickly which was very nice. We woke to a surprise early in the morning when we found that our headboard shared a wall with a common restroom & shower. Anytime the water ran it sounded like Niagra Falls. It might have been pretty had we not been scared of drowning. Finally, the next morning we went to breakfast and were given a "continental breakfast" menu. That's right, this "BnB" offers the same type of continental breakfast as most hotels do now days. Luckily they also had a full breakfast menu which they give guests $5 off. While our dinner waitress was on top of her job, the breakfast waitress simply wasn't up to serving her guests. We ordered toast and she didn't have it made. When she brought it out (after we reminded her) she noted it came without butter but didn't offer to bring us any. Again, if you know what you're getting Rainbow Lodge can be very nice , comfortable and cozy. If you expect BnB treatment, you won't get it.

I am wavering between 3 and 4 stars. Given the new management and we came just as they reopened, I am giving it a 4. I like the owners and the property a lot. I stayed here the weekend of March 2, 2014. The lodge has just reopened under new ownership. So reviews prior to January or so 2014 wouldn't apply anymore in terms of management.Hopefully they can get a fresh start. The good: the location is really easy to get to from San Francisco if you want to access ski areas in Donner and Truckee area, especially Sugar Bowl and Northstar is reasonably close. Royal Gorge is super close and it's possible they'll figure out how to connect it with the ski trails there. The owner thought a trail existed but due to their new ownership and lousy snow season, it's unclear where it is, but I'm sure they'll sort it. It's also super close to Loch Levain hike which is glorious in the summer. It was a bad day for skiing so we drove a short distance to Truckee and had a great day shopping and brunching. It's an old historic lodge with a more than 100 year history. It's cozy, rustic, and charming. The rooms were immaculate, no tv except for in lobby (which was off most of the time), which I like in a ski lodge, good bed linens (towels are a bit mediocre but this is not a luxury place), a closet for hanging wet ski clothes, and our room (#12) had a lovely view of the river. Once the restaurant opens, the dining room has views of the river and outdoor veranda for summer guests. The owner and his daughters and staff couldn't have been sweeter, and the owner was touchingly proud of the property, its history, and couldn't wait to get started in making it a haven for skiers, hikers, and diners in this area. The dining room and bar weren't open yet so can't comment, but it's a lovely setting and one I would return to. The owner's enthusiasm and concern about the guests comfort portends a great future for this charming, historic lodge. There can be improvements. Breakfast wasn't great, but then again, they don't have the dining room open so don't have fresh food flowing into the property. Most of offerings were packaged processed food. It's an old building so it's an opportunity to immerse yourself in all the squeaks and creaks of an old stagecoach stop. The squeaks can be disruptive to sleep but maybe we were unlucky with habits of people in room above us. Nonetheless, it is a wonderful cozy, immaculately clean place, and friendly place, and worth visiting as the price is very reasonable, and historical places like this are rare. The walls are covered by historical photos showing the fascinating life of this lodge near Donner Pass. I have high hopes for the new owners and look forward to returning when the restaurant is up and running.

This place is such a gem. The food is rich, European style and the setting is old world ski lodge. Tons of stone and old timbers. The bartender is excellent...always good for a story and knows his drinks, wines, beers. Whether I've sat in the bar having soup (the French Onion is sooo yummy), the formal dining room for steak, or next to the fire in the winter with a hot drink, Rainbow Lodge always delivers. The only regret I have...not having been married here. Even though I loved our wedding at Ice Lakes Lodge...this would have been so cozy.

After a day of sledding we were hungry and in need of a good meal. Contacting a relative, the mentioned the Lodge. We called and explained that we had a party of 8. They said they were open for lunch. We arrived to see a very old fashioned lodge; very pretty. The front desk simply couldn't be bothered at first. When they notice us, they rudely pointed out that we didn't have resevations. We asked, "when we called, shouldn't you have mentioned this?" At this point the Hostess arrived and calmed down my wife and took us to the back room, where there was PLENTY of room. The food was moderately good. Not worth the cost. They only survive, I guess, because they are the only game around. The

On a recent trip to Tahoe I was telling my husband about eating at place when I was a kid (1958). I knew it was before Donner so when we got home, I found a place-mat I've been saving for almost 60 years. I was so excited to realize the Rainbow is still there and we will definitely stop by on our next trip to Tahoe. I thought I'd share a picture of the old place-mat. (If I can figure out how to add one.)

Found this place on a whim and LOVED it. We went on a spontaneous trip to the snow and after Nyack, almost gave up finding any snow worth stopping for but once we found "winter" we found the Rainbow Lodge. We decided to spend the night in room 24 and wow, what a nice experience. No tv, small bathroom and tiny room was just enough to have a gooooood night's sleep after playing in the snow. The foyer is warm and inviting, the new owners very friendly and the lodge homey and comfortable. The fireplace was burning bright next to comfy couches and chairs. One TV graced the room with a bookshelf full of novels and games. A continental breakfast was served in a cozy room off the back of the foyer. In talking with the owners, they are excited that we found them and didn't believe mapquest that says they are closed. They are doing their best to bring this place back to its former glory and based on the historical pictures on the walls, they are getting close. The restaurant and tavern is due to open up again in the summer. If you are looking for a nice restful, stress free, unplugged weekend, be sure to check out Rainbow Lodge B&B.

First time stopping at the Lodge. We were just passing through but had to stop and look inside. So cute. Old world charm. We wished we got there sooner for brunch. Sunday's the restaurant closes at 3pm. Just walking around the hotel you can just feel the history there. If the walls could talk. We will defiantly be back earlier enough to have brunch.

Note: this review is for the "bed & breakfast" part not for the food - that should be under "rainbow lodge restaurant", a different page and a different review. (I ate here several times on this trip - http://www.yelp.com/biz/rainbow-lodge-restaurant-soda-springs for details) It advertises itself as a B&B, but it's not - it's a former hunting inn turned into a relatively cheap place to stay by Soda Springs / Royal Gorge. It's owned by the same people who own Royal Gorge. The plus: it's funkiness has charm. The negative: While cheap, it's not sufficiently cheap given how absolutely tiny the rooms are and that the cheaper ones have a private shower but not a private toilet. Be very careful when making reservations, their Web site isn't all that clear about which type of rooms have what. If other places are booked, or you you love the location, it's not a bad choice, but definitely not a great one.

I am overjoyed to read in the Sacramento Bee about the new owners of the Historic Rainbow Lodge. My family visited this lodge in years gone by, I had dates at this lodge, I was proposed to at this lodge, spent my wedding night at this lodge, and returned every year for our anniversary until a few years ago when my heart was broken for the sad condition it had fallen into. I sincerely hope that the new owners from Rocklin, CA. I live now in Lincoln, CA. I had an occasion to talk briefly with one of the former owners and found that there was no love or appreciation for this lodge. The new co-owner of the lodge, Craig Mitchell stated, Initially our focus is to get the lodge and restaurant and bar open and return it to its former glory." God bless you for that. There was never any marketing of the lodge, which we could never understand. It was a loss when the young people from all over the world would come and work at the lodge. I remember one anniversary, a few years back, when we were the only guests, it was a blizzard and all the power went out. The young staff members and care taker all sat around the fireplace with us to keep warm and we had a wonderful evening of friendship. Our anniversary was marked on the kitchen calendar and each year when we came up to celebrate the staff new exactly what we were going to order at our meal. We once thought about offering to pay for the "threadbare" carpet as the lodge began to go downhill in 2005, and also replace the bedspread and bedding in the "honeymoon suite." (It was proudly replaced the year before our honeymoon but remained the same bedding for 10 years) Sadly we just stopped going to the lodge. So congratulations to the new owners. We pray that you can restore this "grand lady." When you do we will return for celebrate our 14th wedding anniversary. Patricia and Jim Branham

Lynn strikes again! Check the review from back in 2010 to get the background on Lynn, the manager. Fast forward to today, Christmas 2011. We were very much looking forward to a cocktail in the bar after a day of hiking in the snow, only to be disappointed by the Lodge's terrible customer service. When we arrived at the bar, the bartender (Lynn) was just finishing chastising an employee. We caught her eye to ask whether they served food in the bar, but she quickly put us in our place with a "I'll be with you in a moment" in a short tone. I bravely asked my question anyway, taking a chance that she could make a drink and talk at the same time. Rather than answer my question, she asked if we had dinner reservations, then informed us that they were full and she couldn't possibly seat us for three more hours. I reiterated my question about food in the bar, and finally learned that no, they do not serve food in the bar. I think it's safe to say that her tone up to this point was at best unwelcoming, and at worst annoyed. While we pondered what expensive drinks to order ($9 and up), a new group of folks came into the bar. Lynn suddenly switched into faux friendly extrovert overdrive, as they apparently were regular customers. The more she fawned over them, the more upset I got. It's funny, but I honestly would have given her a pass if she were equally crabby with everyone. Unfortunately, we ended up feeling like second-class citizens not worthy of the kindness she dispensed towards her 'regulars', and very shortly thereafter walked out. I would highly suggest that the Rainbow Lodge ownership take a close look at their customer service standards. The currently poor service is probably costing them a pretty penny, especially in this economy. I know we won't be back. Ever.

No huge banner hangs outside, but the public needs to know: Rainbow Lodge is under new management. We were in the area and needed a place to spend the night, and we were fortunate to find the Rainbow Lodge. The rooms were comfortable and the 2 queen size beds in our room were a bonus because the kids had a bed to themselves. We grabbed a bite at the restaurant downstairs, and the service was on point! We were actually waited on by the Owner's daughters (superwoman and super girl)... We just grabbed some burgers and fries but next time we hope to try their steaks (which we hear are pretty amazing). Great family run lodge with great, warm service. Until next time, keep up the good work Mr. Craig!

during our weekend in reno, my parents wanted to bring us to a favorite restaurant of theirs for breakfast, the engadine cafe, in the rainbow lodge bed & breakfast. this place is very charming. it reminds me of a few of the places we've visited in europe. very lodge-y and chalet-ey. the service was very friendly. would very much like to return for their accommodations and to hike the area. very beautiful scenery here.

Let me first blurt out that I personally liked this place, but it's probably not for everybody. Who might like: - anyone who likes european lodges. - or is a fan of rustic B&Bs. - enjoys the feel of an alpine winter wonderland. - looking to remove themselves from the everyday. Who won't like: - those under 30 (yes, a gross generalization) - if your hotel standard is the W - if you're not a fan of anything older than yourself. - looking for a cool hipster hangout. Yes, the rooms are small & sparse like I remember in europe. This ain't the Hilton. What you won't find in your cozy LITTLE room is: blow dryer, TV, radio, clock, phone or perhaps even a bathroom! Bring your own alarm, no wake-up service here. Amazingly they do have wi-fi in the lobby. Our in-room bathroom was quite clean, but I didn't check out the community bath. And it's been eons since I was handed an actual metal key for my room, as opposed to a plastic room card. The dining room (for dinner) is near the front desk, but you might miss the other dining room behind the bar which serves a more casual dinner menu and breakfast. Hot breakfast is free for guests on weekends. The dining room filled up by 8:00am presumably by skiers getting an early start. And it's not the typical free breakfast buffet at chain motels, it's all cooked to order. This place is perfect for the snowy weather.

Awesome place. Really friendly staff, super comfortable beds and clean. Very nice place to stay in the mountains.

We stayed at this lodge, a great weekend. the interior is nostalgic of an old lodge, pine timbers everywhere. Romantic. The property as very clean, room was comfortable (we stayed in one with full bath). great bar and wonderful dining among the pine timbers and large fire places. The food was very good. Staff was great, helpful and kind. walk outside to the river. Only a short drive to tubing and ski. lots of comfort, sprit, and relaxation. expect to relax with a wine and a game of backgammon. Will be back at the next opportunity.

On the way to Tahoe City I dined at Rainbow once in August and again recently. It is very nice, had great food and efficient and friendly staff. I dinned on the deck, read a magazine and enjoyed nature. I do not know if you can dine or enjoy a wine overlooking that eddy of the Yuba River but it would be very tranquil - that view is worth the stop. I have had the Sierra Salad and Trout. Both were fresh and filling but light. The fried calamari and onion soups were great appetizers. The dinners were very pleasant and calming. The first time I dined there the owner asked me about how I enjoyed my meal - nice touch. The wait staff was attentive, accurate and courteous. As the weather cools I'll dine inside. The inside is a comfortable lodge. I have never stayed at the lodge so cannot comment about it. But each time I drive- and stop-by it is customers. I recommend it, and trust its continuing success signals the expansion of such lodges.

We have stopped here twice for dinner and we love the options and food. The kids love the stone soup! The restaurant is warm and inviting and the staff helpful and friendly. They have a nice bar and a good range of craft beers. We'll stop by again!

Great place to stop off for some hot cocoa and to feel as if you have finally reached the mountains. Love this place!

Back at Rainbow last weekend and I'm loving it even more. It is the quaintest of places and really feels like you have stepped back in time. The new management is really on the ball and dedicated to making it better than ever. Many aspects have been replaced and upgraded keeping the original charm. I strongly recommend a stay or at least a drink or a meal there!

We just spent the weekend with a group of friends and had a great time. The Rainbow is one of those classic California roadside lodges built somewhere around 1894. The current owners updated the restrooms and added comfy touches like nice linens. It's a fantastic old-timey place with great service and ambiance. The food prepared for us over the weekend was fantastic and the tavern stayed open late for us to mingle. I highly recommend visiting while you can. Not many of these classic roadside lodges still open.

Completely new owners and management!!! Stayed there overnight this past weekend.  They have "soft" opened  as a mostly weekend-only B&B until their final permits come in for their completed kitchen remodel and new liquor license -- both due before the end of May 2014.  All new and very good quality mattresses and bedding. Brand new carpet everywhere with all the bedrooms and bathrooms immaculate and fresh.  Very attentive staff working hard to make this historic and beloved community center better than it ever has been. Breakfast is minimal continental until they can start cooking hot breakfasts when the kitchen opens.  The restaurant menu is over 90% tested and ready to go.  Get on their email list for their latest news on when their restaurant and bar opens.   The South Yuba River running by the lodge  is not to be missed now with the run-off season at full blast.

Hey Yelp, please remove all reviews prior to 2014 for Rainbow Lodge to give the new owners a fair shake. I'm giving the new owners 5 starts for taking it over and bringing it back to life. I've gone to Rainbow Lodge (formerly Rainbow Tavern) all my life and even worked there awhile as a teenager back in the 60s when Kenny Heimbach was the owner. My grandparents built a cabin in the area at the same time that Rainbow was built using the same architect (Raymond Jeans from UC Berkeley). Kudos and best wishes to Craig Mitchell for reviving this historic beautiful old place! I am looking forward to the reopening.

The lodge is very mellow and definitely has a European flavor. The beds were comfortable, the bathtub deep, the water hot. Our room was as hot as h..., so we had to sleep with the window open during the snowy cold nights, which was then very cold. No individual thermostats in the rooms, good to know. The restaurant was a bit of a shocker. I saw the menu earlier in the day, and saw things like burgers, boar stew etc. then sat down to dinner and I am looking at filet mignon and apricot chicken for more than twice the price. We discovered the burgers are on the PUB menu. Both the restaurant and the pub have a kid menu all meals are $5.50 for kids. There is a game and puzzle room with a big fire going, a fire in the restaurant and free coffee in the morning if you are up before breakfast. The room rate includes breakfast, not continental but real food ie. 2 eggs and potatoes, french toast, oatmeal, pancakes, muesli & yogurt. The whole place is very relaxing. The hot buttered rum is perfect after a day of skiing.

Made a 3 hour detour just to stay here on our way back to Washington state from the Bay Area. Ambiance terrific and new owners are fabulous. Brings back old memories as we have been coming here since we were teenagers! Love the new beds soooo nice and comfy. Room 14 was the BEST! Best of luck to the new owners to keep this icon around!

Myself and two co-workers spent two nights at the lodge. The staff could not have been more friendly and accommodating. We really loved the rustic feel of the whole place which gives off that great homey cabin-in-the-woods feeling. There was a little hiccup with the billing but the staff cleared up the mistake quickly. We also had two dinners at the tavern. The food was great, the bar very extensive (including great craft brews on tap!) and the staff (again) terrific. I'm not sure I understood why the check can't be split more than two ways, but that didn't detract from the great service and atmosphere (sitting on the deck was so relaxing!).

Tasty Caesar salad. Very tasty boar stew. Fondue is no longer on the menu (and that was the original draw). Beautiful setting in an authentic Alpine lodge. Service was a bit slow but the beer was cold and the company was good so.... Hope to return someday.

Not that great. I went with my husband for brunch on Sunday and it was just ok. It was VERY expensive too. $40 for the two of us and we didn't even get drinks. I had the veggie scramble, came with fruit and potatoes. My husband had the french dip and it came with potato salad. He said it was terrible. We split a bowl of french onion soup and that was the only great part of the meal. Will not be going back!