Erica R.
Yelp
We have been going to The Lodge for 13 years and got married there 11.5 years ago, when it was still privately owned and at its peak. In total we have stayed 9 times in multiple different rooms/configurations (suites and Front Four properties as well as regular rooms), and our last 2 stays post-Covid have been a major letdown, with our last trip occurring last week.
Food: We ate at the newly renovated Alpine Hall for dinner and breakfast. The interior is nice but the tables are crammed together. Fine if the dining room is dead, but if it is full you will be almost shoulder to shoulder with the table next to you and hear every word of their conversation (hopefully it is entertaining). I ordered the almost $40 chicken which was truly inedible. It looked amazing, only adding to my disappointment, with fresh mushrooms and veggies and the chicken seemingly well-cooked, but the saltiness of the dish was so excessive that it burned my mouth. We also ordered the pasta which was unremarkable. For dessert we ordered two profiteroles which came out 100% frozen solid, as if someone forgot to remove the pre-made $13 pastry from the freezer until the absolute last second and they hoped it would magically thaw on the walk from the kitchen to our table. We literally had to use knives to try and cut it, and when that didn't work, we summoned our (very nice and apologetic) waitress who was equally puzzled and kindly removed the frozen blocks from our table and from our bill. Breakfast the next morning was barely edible as well ("overnight oats" that resembled tapioca pudding and was sickeningly sweet). The main takeaway is that there is absolutely zero oversight of the dishes being seasoned or going out, and there is a serious lack of care overall.
Also of note regarding food, my kids ordered snow cones from the pool bar. We watched the bartender take the shaved ice and sculpt it in his bare hands (ungloved) before dropping it in a cup and covering it with syrup. Gross.
Interior: The Lodge interior, although still lovely, is also "past peak". Some hallway carpets are dirty, the tile/stone floors in the main lobby are worn, scratched and need polishing, and the light fixtures in the hallways are askew. Small details in isolation, but together it makes The Lodge feel tired. We used to covet the bed linens and they are now your run-of-the-mill average Hyatt variety. Down comforters have been replaced with a flimsy blanket, duvet covers are replaced with a thin cover sheet, and the sheets are unremarkable. It all feels cheapened and clear that corners have been cut to save a buck.
Overall, we have witnessed a slow decline in service, details, and amenities year after year (despite guest prices increasing) which is disappointing. On the flip side, the location is unbeatable and the overall ski village feel is special and harder to find on the East coast. The premiums you will pay are for this latter aspect. Seriously lower your expectations for ALL food on property (both in the lodge and outside in the coffee shop, pantry, pool bar, etc.) and enjoy the nice views.