Topaz Lodge

We wanted to go to the hot springs forever so we finally decided to go. We Dealt with the traffic the day after Christmas going up to Lake Tahoe area. Was going 395, but then there was an avalanche so had to go 50. Was stuck in traffic for 10 hours. Left Sacramento area at 12:30 pm ended up seeing Topaz lounge around 1:45 am and decided to stay the night. We’re going to stay two nights but decided to check out. We had breakfast which was soooooooooo yummy. We went to Travertine hot springs was beautiful specially since it had just snowed for a week. On our way back we decided to stay another night at Topaz Lodge. Had dinner again food was EXCELLENT. We then played a little went back to our room decided you no what we had so much fun earlier. We sat at the bar playing slots listening to music and drinking with great company. Had breakfast in the morning again. Like the other two previous times we ate there the food was AWESOME. Topaz Lodge is a hidden gem. If you get the chance to stay there highly recommend it. The staff are very accommodating. The food is great. Didn’t win a big jackpot but hubby won a little and we had a blast with our besties. We’re even planning on heading up there this coming weekend. Go to a different hot spring and then enjoy our time with great company. If ur ever heading that way I would add that stop to ur list. First picture is from the back window of the room and first pic is from right outside the front door of the room.

Affordable Rooms in a pricey location that has few options on a week-end. Our room was Frayed around the edges. Small Basic bathroom good enough for us, but maybe not for you. Our Room: No microwave, No coffee maker, a refrigerator was brought to the room upon request. We stayed 2 nights ---- for the fall Aspens. Aging economy accommodations in a scenic area; not for everyone.

Unknown little hideaway with very nice accomodations (all with lake view) and a great little casino. Staff could not be more hospitable. Cafe with average diner food. But, if you want your food to-go, it's $1.50 per plate! Their website has not been updated to show that their steakhouse closed so only food option on site is the cafe. However, Gardnerville is a mere 15 minute drive with plenty of options.About a 2-hour drive from Jackson so I will definitely be back.

Avoid the Steakhouse. It's noisy. The service is not what you'd expect in a true Steak House environment. A much more enjoyable time and better service can be had in the upstairs coffee shop.

Topaz always has some good food if you're hungry. The views of the lake are beautiful. It's a homey atmosphere.

Warm clean accommodations. Great restaurant in casino awesome food . The front desk staff were friendly and helpful and quick. Big comfortable bed , room with a view of the lake. Made my weekend.

Topaz Lodge provides the essentials for a comfortable overnight stay. While the accommodations are simple, they meet the basic needs for a good night’s rest. What sets this lodge apart is its convenience — having both a gas station and a restaurant on-site is a major advantage for travelers passing through. The restaurant serves surprisingly good food, making it an easy choice after a long day on the road. Overall, Topaz Lodge is a practical and well-situated stop, offering both comfort and convenience. I would rate it 4 out of 5 stars for location, amenities, and ease of travel.

My wife and I were on vacation heading from San Tan Valley, Az to Oregon to visit our daughters. We were pulling our 5th wheel and started having truck issues. We had to pull over on the side of 395. We were not sure what we would do but I looked up and at the top of the hill saw a sign for Topaz lake RV resort. We were able to get the few hundred yards and pulled in. We needed a spot to stay while our truck was being repaired and didn’t know how long it would take. Rodney greeted me and I told him our situation. They were able to accommodate us for a week, even with a busy weekend coming up. They were incredibly helpful and we can’t thank them enough for their hospitality. Thank you!

After driving in foul weather up Hwy 395 in December, we were looking forward to getting a room, food and some sleep late on a Sunday evening. It was cold and below freezing after nightfall. It's been a few years since we last stayed here, and i was wondering if anything had changed. We pulled in after 9 pm and got our room. This time, we wanted a ground floor room so as not to have to deal with slippery stairs when unloading the car. Yay, we got in, warmed up a bit, then still had time to get food from the restaurant, because they were still open. Getting hot sandwiches for dinner was MUCH appreciated! The server was kind and patient even though we had come in towards the end of her shift. The food and warmth cheered us up after a long day of post-holiday travel. The employees here are nice. It...feels different from the usual corporate indifference I get at bigger chain establishments

Waited to be seated. Asked if we could have the table with the lake view & the hostess replied, "you can see the lake from here." Spoiled my appetite. We left. The menu wasn't all that great & the prices would be ok if service was better.

This update is for the coffee shop restaurant only. They have remodeled this restaurant after a kitchen fire. It's open and really nice. However their menu has changed bid out it more on par with a Dennys now. Their bargain meals are not available. Breakfast came in at $26 for two. It's still a great stop on 395 If you find this review helpful please vote!

Dirty smelly Old, needs updates and new beds Rude owners Breakfast ... disgusting Overpriced, minimal , dank laundry washer , just nasty

We got takeout from Topaz Lodge since we were staying at Topaz Best Western, and this was the only option that was available. We got the food from the coffee shop in the lodge. I had ordered the BLT wrap without the bacon. I didn't see any other meat listed on the menu description, but as an after thought, I said no meat! My companion said he heard me say it. I forgot what he ordered. I just remembered him saying that his soda tasted a little weird. When we got back to our room and I opened the container, my wrap was filled with chicken. Needless to say, dinner was ruined! I should have just said to make the wrap with avocado, lettuce and tomato only. I had vegan ranch in the cooler. Another live and learn moment! Also, while waiting for our food, we stood near the cafe, which is also right by the casino. People are smoking in the casino, and the smoke wafted in our direction. I am super sensitive to cigarette smoke. I don't think there would be an occasion to return, but don't think I would.

Giving 5. Cafe has great burgers and usual fare. The French fries are awesome. Also view from the dining room is gorgeous. Steakhouse is excellent !!

The last time I stayed here was over 20 years ago and the place has not changed a bit. It's still a nice little dive stop in the middle of nowhere but now also a charge stop going to or from Tahoe. If you're staying the night, be up early enough to catch the sunrise over the lake. I did feel the need to knock them down a star on the rating because they claim to be making efforts to conserve water, and that's commendable, but it seems their efforts aren't enough when our room still had an ancient five gallon flush toilet in it.

Stayed here after a random decision to drive over the pass. Booked online and let them know we would be arriving late, around 10:00pm. The lady who checked us in mentioned our comment of arriving late (so props to them for actually reading the customer requests and info)! We received two $3 off coupons for breakfast in their cafe and a "fun book" with a free drink from the bar as well as 15% off a gift purchased at the gift shop. There are a couple buildings, we stayed in room 52, a king room across from the large lawn and play structure. There was ample parking just about everywhere, so no worries there. The room is slightly dated, but was very clean. The bed was comfy, but only came with two pillows. The television was also very fuzzy with most channels (understandable when you're kind of in the middle of nowhere). The shower head was crazy and sprayed water everywhere but directly onto you. The casino is small, but can entertain you for a while. They were enforcing masks to be worn, but it looked like most people would pull them down and nothing was said. It's not a bad spot, especially if you just need a hot shower and place to rest your head.

We had a large group from Reno NV come in for Valentine's Day. The management was absolutely amazing with what they did for us. The General Manager came in and spoke with us asking if there was anything we needed. Alfonzo put a great menu together for us. Lilly was our outstanding server. She never missed a beat. Served our meal with professionalism and amazing speed. She was also very fun. The management was kind enough to let us bring our own wine and champagne for a very small corkage fee. Good thing, because we had a lot of both. There was a beautiful view of the lake from every room, from our private dining room, in the bar that night, and even in the the coffee shop the next morning. To put up with our large group with such ease and finesse was quite an undertaking. Beautiful place, wonderful service and great communication. An amazing memory for all of us.

I really hate to do this because I am a business owner as well and I don't usually leave bad reviews, however I have to share our experience. My husband booked this hotel and I had never been here. When we got to our room, it felt like I walked into 1980. When we pulled the bedspread back it was riddled with yellow stains, the blanket underneath was full of long black hairs. Someone trimmed their facial hair and that hair was still on the bathroom counter. We were charged $175 a night for this disaster of a room. This location is amazing and we had a beautiful view of the lake and the cafe downstairs was really good food. They need to update their rooms, bedding and make sure all rooms are clean. I would love to come back here and support this establishment, but they have to work on their rooms first. I am ok with old, but it needs to be clean.

We've never stayed at the Lodges; but have often stopped at the Casino for a good meal or a short gambling stop. Up until our last visit, we have had excellent experiences. We passed thru 6/27/22 about 11AM. After breakfast, ABOUT noon, I walked over to the main floor restroom. As I turned the corner to go in, there was a safety cone with a sign attached. As I stopped to read the sign a voice from the adjacent supply room yells out "HEY!!, DON'T YOU KNOW HOW TO READ?, IT'S CLOSED!!". I informed the female employee that I did know how to read and that's what I was doing when she yelled. I also told her I didn't appreciate her questioning my ability to read. She continued blabbering and yelling; and as I was walking away, finally yelling, "Don't get short with me!!". Wow! I couldn't believe what I found myself involved in. I was extremely disappointed. How many other guests did she yell at and insult that day?? We really enjoy breakfast at the coffee shop; but are plenty of places to spend our hard-earned money. I think we'll stay away for awhile.

Topaz Lake Lodge by Best Western was OK. Clean, quiet room but nothing special. Our room was on 3rd floor and possibly the farthest room from the lobby. Husband has handicap, I asked for room closer to 1st floor, nothing available. It was for one night and it was clean and safe.

It appears safe but the pool isn't working and it's 15 miles south or the services In Gardnerville. I asked for directions to the pool and the the check in lady said that I didn't need them because the pool was closed. When I mentioned that is one of the reasons I booked this over the other locations in Gardnerville she stated I could just jump in the lake if I wanted to swim but with an attitude and was short with me. She didn't mention any directions to the lake or what the hotel has to offer. She is the front check in person and the club card person so I guess she is used to being not nice. I just wish someone would have left a real review like this so I could have stayed somewhere else. I used to sell furniture and the cheap rebuilt bunk mattresses were better quality than what I'm laying on. Im laying here feeling the springs so I'm having trouble sleeping and that is why I am writing this review. If you are looking to stay at the lake in a run down hotel stay here, this place has potential and the views and the property are nice. I value a bed over most things, my son thought the bed was bouncy yet comfortable so it is what it is. I actually thought Carson Valley was a bit run down last time I stayed there and actually thought this was going to be nicer, I was wrong. I went to visit family, I'm sleeping here and I'm so thankful this is just for 1 night!

So disappointed this use to be our favorite place to visit when in town we normally stay at the best western but decided to stay at the lodge this round. The room was nice outside of the fact the bedding was in desperate need of washing it was VERY musty. We normally have a good experience and come every night just to eat and gamble but this visit was so disappointing. First night the food service was horrible both mine and my husband's food was cold. Second night wasn't better but to top it off the dealer at the card table was not only talking about nothing but politics I was shocked and some racist comments he made .

I would rate this place a 0 if I could. The customer service is the shittiest in the entire country. Anytime. I went to ask for anything, the lady was extremely rude and kept cursing on what I want now. I had a package delivered at the hotel (I forgot something at the previous hotel, so that hotel were so nice to deliver it to my hotel). But this topaz lodge would not even check their mailbox to see if they received my package. In short they stole my stuff and kept it for themselves. The room were not clean either and ppl were smoking all around when clearly it was non smoking rooms. Just shitty. I would not recommend to anyone.

I stayed at the lodge once and visited three times. The room was large and had a view towards the lake. It was clean and decent. I ate at the lodge twice. Once at the steak house which as decent and once at the a down stairs cafe which was poor. But that was a few years ago. From the web site it looks like they have redone the restaurants. The best part about this place is the view of the lake from the bar. And that you are at the bottom of Monitor Pass, which I love to zip up in the Mini Cooper. Here is a video of Monitor Pass: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xe1_BQClBHw

I stayed here with my parents in a room with two queen beds. It's pretty spacious and has a great view of the lake. The room was very clean and came with a safe, thermostat for AC and heat, coffee pot, ironing board, wall mounted flat screen TV, and shampoo/soap/makeup remover pads in the bathroom. The beds were nice and firm, but the pillows were a bit on the flat side. There was no trace of cigarette smoke (as a non-smoking room should be). The only real problem was the parking. There is a lack of handicap parking near the ramps to the rooms, which we needed. There is a mini mart right next door if you need any toiletries or snacks. Overall, the room was just right for our single night stay and gave us a restful night of sleep.

the service always sucks. The ladies at reservation specially named Laura Delba is specially rude. The steak restaurant food on the lower level: I ordered several times, never tastes good. The upper cafe always misses something when I order or takes as much as one hour to get ready. They dont pick up their phone when I order so you have walk there to order and something misses you have to walk again and that makes 2-3 trips just to make on order. Number of times, I have noticed they put an extra day charge on my credit card, very sneaky, at first I was surprised, then it becomes evident that they have been chalking up extra days on my stored credit card without any authorization, when I called them the same rude bitches at reservation will angrily cut off or make some excuses to cause extra burden, I decided to bail out of this place despite staying several times at the place. Gas station nearby appears very convenient along the food mart but the convenience becomes disadvantages when there are always some truckers stop by every day during evening and hordes of drivers without mask or some stray people will enter and exit the food mart without mask, even store employees does not demand mask and occsationally don't wear themselves so this is a huge risk during Covid-19 and I stopped visiting the store and instead resorted to travel 20miles north for another bigger Chevron station where masks are enforced much better.

This is a place where everything wrong is right. The casino smells of smoking (though well ventilated), the hotel room decoration is dated (mountain cabin motif from '70s or '80s era), but it's well maintained. The cafe is really great. Awesome steak and eggs. No it's not 30 day dry aged prime. But a great breakfast. Awesome hashbrowns. Awesome pancakes. I regret not getting the name of our server but she was hilarious. 30 year veteran of the job and you could tell. She was absolutely a highlight of an awesome 395 trip. If you appreciate the history of vintage Vegas before the corporations moved in, when Elvis or Sinatra could be staying in your very hotel - this is a great place. Don't come here to expect a Ritz experience - experience it for what it is - which is pretty awesome. PS - I believe the person who checked me in said all rooms have a lake view. Topaz Lake is gorgeous.

We tried to eat at this restaurant. The hostess gave us a buzzer and told us to wait. People were lined up so she said it would be 20 minutes. When I looked inside the restaurant, there were 4 unbussed tables visible from the door. We waited 10 minutes but nobody bussed the tables. So we left.

No Internet. There was no cell phone coverage. Had to rely on VoIP. But the Internet was so weak as to be nonexistent. The hotel website says there is free Wi-Fi. But there wasn't even enough signal to make Wi-Fi calls. Why say you have free Wi-Fi when it is so weak as to be useless?

Came with my sister-in-law and niece and had a really good time. If you want to have a microwave or fridge you need to let them know. Everything was clean, inside and out.

We enjoyed staying at the Topaz Lodge. Although it was a little out of the way we appreciated the cleanliness and view of Topaz lake from our room. Based on the layout of the lodge, it appears that all rooms have some view of the lake. Breakfast was good but a little slow to be served.

My husband and I were evacuated for a week from our home in Tahoe due to the Caldor Fire, and we ended up staying at Topaz Lodge. We had a campsite because we had loaded our trailer with belongings we didn't want to burn up, and we rented a hotel room also because our trailer was so packed. The employees were all so friendly and understanding! Big shout-out to Danny at the convenience store/gas station! She was so helpful, always had a smile on her face, and she made me laugh during what was an otherwise very stressful time! They offered us evacuee rates, which I found very reasonable. The day before we were allowed to return home, the general manager came around and personally handed out free prime rib dinner certificates to evacuees! The restaurant there has amazing food, too! Have to admit the hotel itself needs some updating, but looks like they are working on that. Thank you to all the employees that were so kind. You really helped us through a difficult time!!

Topaz Lodge RV Park - Didn't know much about this place before I came, but I depended on their promise of Wi-Fi. Most rv spaces have zero reception Wi-Fi. If you walk to a spot that does, the usual result is a solid Wi-Fi connection but internet so slow, it is unusable. My backup plan was to use ATT but of course they do not have coverage. When you ask at the general store, the lies they come up to excuse the lack of internet is astounding. "It is the mountains" it is not. "The park is full", it is not. Etc etc. If you travel a few hundred feet to another establishment, the Wi-Fi is strong and the internet is excellent. Topaz Lodge RV Park simply has installed a crummy Wi-Fi system and bought inadequate internet plan. Of course when the guest Wi-Fi is 1 bar, the management Wi-Fi is 5 bars... The RV spots are level  and well outfitted. and the spot I had has dense trees blocking the afternoon sun. The cable TV is excellent, but the handout they give you with the list of channels is totally wrong. The general store: that's where you check in. If you expect to be able to buy any basic groceries, forget it,  Basically, chips and drinks.  Don't believe anything the workers at the general sore tell you.   Topaz Lodge RV Park - Didn't know much about this place before I came, but I depended on their promise of Wi-Fi. Most rv spaces have zero reception of Wi-Fi. If you walk to a spot that does, the usual result is a solid Wi-Fi connection but internet so slow, it is unusable. My backup plan was to use ATT but of course they do not have coverage. When you ask at the general store, the lies they come up to excuse the lack of internet is astounding. "It is the mountains" it is not. "The park is full", it is not. Etc etc. If you travel a few hundred feet to another establishment, the Wi-Fi is strong and the internet is excellent. Topaz Lodge RV Park simply has installed a crummy Wi-Fi system and bought inadequate internet plan. Of course when the guest Wi-Fi is 1 bar, the management Wi-Fi is 5 bars... The RV spots are level  and well outfitted. and the spot I had has dense trees blocking the afternoon sun. The cable TV is excellent, but the handout they give you with the list of channels is totally wrong. The general store: that's where you check in. If you expect to be able to buy any basic groceries, forget it,  Basically, chips and drinks.  Don't believe anything the workers at the general sore tell you.  They must get so tired of making excuses for the failings of the place, they come up with the most believable lies they that find stops guests questions.

First off hotel is ok stayed there when I relocated, I've lived near the lodge for 2 years this review is meant for the diner. Service the only reliable thing is drinks and refills the other self entitled waitress's aren't worth the tax you have to pay. Food out of 9 or so times going there to eat on maybe 2 occasions there was something minimal wrong with the food usually it's over cooked, old, or just not made well. After a few years given its location I will drive the extra 40 minutes to go dine. Enjoying my experience is important. I'm done with the lodge good luck be warned, turkey club was always a hit with my wife if you must go.

This place was great. Got evacuated from Yosemite where I live and work. Stopped in and got a room. Room was clean and comfortable. Bed was comfortable. Really good nights sleep. The food was awsome as well. Will be back.

My wife and I have been coming here for over 15 years, so we know Topaz Lodge very well. If you're looking to experience the wonderful beauty and isolation of the Eastern Sierra, without the discomforts of camping out, then Topaz Lodge is the place to come. The accommodations are not fancy, but we have never been disappointed with the cleanliness of the rooms or the friendliness of the staff. Best of all, the price is always right, especially if you book ahead. Over the years, we've seen the Lodge rooms upgraded with all new furnishings and televisions and the addition of wireless internet (by the way, wireless connectivity had greatly improved on our last visit this past August). The casino is smaller than most, but everyone's very friendly and we usually come out even or a little ahead. if you're gambling, the drinks flow very freely, even for the slots players. The coffee shop serves good, basic food, while the Steak House offers a little more upscale offerings. There's live music most weekend nights, and the clientele is typically a mix of locals, Lodge visitors, and lakeside campers. Topaz Lodge is a great launching point for a lot of outdoor activities - especially fishing (on Topaz Lake, January to March-April), and along the West Walker River (June to August), recreational boating on Topaz Lake, and biking and hiking in the Monitor Pass area and Carson River Valley. Carson City is not too far away, and if you must, South Tahoe is about an hour away. What keeps drawing us back, though, is the incredible beauty of this area...it can't be beat!

Spent one night passing through to Oregon. Room had a stank to it like a bacteria pit from ill cleaning crews not doing their job like they should be doing. Carpet dirty, 1 bed looked to have clean sheets and other skipped, thrown together and had spooge stains on sheets. Room needed repairs here and there. The thermostat was coming apart and hanging off wall. No lights on lower level as you go down stairs and is a safety hazard! Good coffee shop and food good. Overall, I'd drive into Carson City next time for a better place hopefully?

I like this place...It's nice cheap and clean. Very handy to be near 24 hour options in the middle of nowhere. A/C was awesome, and that is important to me. Pool was pretty nice and had a park like setting with BBQ pits and picnic tables etc...

Checked in the night before and received two three dollar off coupons for breakfast. We thought that was pretty nice of them. The next morning when we got to the restaurant, we found out they were down a waitress and, thanks to the rain, every biker heading to NorCal from Street Vibrations was stopping to eat, so there was a very substantial line. We got our puck that would buzz to let us know when our seat was ready and, even though we watched them call others ahead of us that signed in after us, we didn't mind much or complain. Other customers standing with us commented openly on the number of empty tables waiting to be cleared of dishes while they waited to be seated. Some time later, quite a bit after nine by now, we were seated and had an enjoyable breakfast. When we went to pay our ticket, we were informed that because the coupons were only good from 6-9am, they wouldn't honor them even though it was their staffing issue that resulted in our very delayed seating. Simply stated, the entire operation is center-mass average. Nothing spectacular and nothing horrible. The view is great, but that in itself doesn't bump an average hotel/restaurant/casino into the above average or excellent category. The food and service are good. The towels in the rooms should be replaced, they've seen much better days. The hot water pipes in the third building are very noisy and the guy in the beat-up tan Chevy Monte Carlo in the parking lot bumping the bass stealing hotel Wi-Fi didn't do anything to improve my initial impression, although I did sensibly double check to make sure my car had no valuables in it.

We love the Topaz lodge. The rooms are not Fancy but they are clean and had everything we needed. The views are amazing, the casino was intimate and the staff was really exceptional. I have to mention the all you can eat Spaghetti for 3.99. It was so good that my Daughter and I at it for Lunch, Dinner and Breakfast the next morning last time we stayed the night on our way to Tahoe City. We always stop here and have never been let down.

I wish I could love this place because the area is quite charming and the view of the lake could be nice. But there were way too many cons as opposed to pros. - no control over AC unit - no refrigerator - no microwave - no lotion (wtf this is a desert come on) - no conditioner - if you're a tall man you're kind of screwed because the top of the shower might hit your head - our room key stopped working the next day for no reason and before we checked out on Sunday, huh? - super musty room smell - the free breakfast didn't have many options besides waffles, shitty bread, yogurt and apples - got back from going on a bike ride and they had only made one of the two beds in our hotel room, huh?? + comfortable beds + free food is free food, and the free drink coupon was nice I mean this wasn't the worst stay ever but then again it wasn't the best that's for sure Go lodge in Minden much better there.

Hotel has really gone down the tubes. Feel's like management has given up. Room: Dirty...floors had food left from prev. guest, window & window sill was dirty, cobwebs in corners. Amenities: (1) small bottle of Shampoo and (1) small soap bar for a two day stay (cheap) Housekeeping: I guess they could not figure out where they stopped when they went on break. Only (1) bed made, and the bathroom was never done. Only thing good was the restaurant, but them again, it's the only option at Lake Topaz.

They have a "seafood buffet" every Saturday. Don't waste your time or the money! The food is very limited. The salad bar consists of Cesar salad only and it's completely overpriced!!!!

Good old Topaz. Just across the line from California on 395 - we seem to end up here almost every visit to my roommate's parents in nearby Coleville in the Eastern Sierras. Cheap gas, a casino, a lounge with occasional decent acts, and a restaurant - this lodge is the major source of entertainment for the eastern Sierras. The restaurant has fared from excellent to poor depending on what portions you visit. The coffee house has always been OK with me but my last visit to the steak house made me sick. Views of Topaz Lake from the steakhouse or coffee shop are outstanding. Compensation for that last visit was a decent act in the lounge. It was someone who was famous' guitar player according to a person in our party. He was good and I had no problem downing a few beers to try to put my churning stomach at ease. Threw a few coins in the one-armed bandit and didn't come out too successful. Big surprise. We didn't stay at the lodge as we had free accommodations in Coleville. Gas prices are decent here - cheaper than on the CA side.

Clean and comfortable room, efficient front desk - great first impression after 6 hours on the road. Trouble started after we went to bed. Obnoxious neighbors talking outside our door. It was February and 15 degrees, but they stayed out there, talking away. I lay awake listening to every word of their drunken boastful conversation (heavy on the F-word and the B-word). Finally phoned the front desk, and they sent someone over. The folks went to bed, and then I could hear someone snoring. The sound was coming through the wall, clear as a bell. So - maybe I was just there on the wrong night. Maybe motels are always like this? Breakfast in the morning was plentiful, with a view of the lake.

Topaz Lake. We made a quick detour here b/c we couldn't help but notice this beautiful lake on the right of us. Although there really wasn't an easy route getting down from this side of the lake, it was fun to be in a 4WD SUV going down the rough terrain. I wouldn't recommend going down w/a reg car just in case you can't make it back up over the rough terrain. We got to experience some minor 4 wheeling just getting down there (lol). Once we were down there, we saw a couple people fishing, relaxing, and taking their boats out. The weather was perfect, but it was the backdrop that was amazing. The lake is nestled amongst mountains covered w/what's left of the snow. It was perfect for some photo ops. The lake looked very clean judging by how blue it was. Nice spot to stop after half a day of driving. We had some regulars stare at us, but it was still worth it nonetheless. It was like their "secret spot".

We stayed in one of the newer rooms, out past the filling station. It was much more spacious and quieter than those nearer the casino. What keeps it from being a five-star location? Terrible, terrible wifi reception, which is an important element for us, and no grab bars in the shower. This makes it scary getting in and out of the bathtub-shower. However, if these are not important factors for you, I would recommend it--just don't eat at the attached restaurant. It used to be great but has been gradually declining in quality to the level of horrible. (I posted a separate review for the restaurant.)

Ok, my criteria here are kinda odd. This lodge hosted the 37th California Hawking Club meet. The event involves many animals, people with manners only slightly better than the birds, prey being fed to the birds, etc. The lodge staff was beyond wonderful. They even went so far as to create lunch specials just for the CHC. My wife and I aren't gamblers, so we can't speak towards the casino quality, but the staff and locale are GREAT! We didn't try the high-end restaurant, but the coffee shop was good and the service was excellent at all hours. And the staff was unfazed when the conversations veered towards game and what happened to it. Gotta try fishing in the stocked lake sometime; it's beautiful. Try to get a room in the middle building. It seems much newer and nicer than the first or third building. Those rooms are a bit dated. And people accustomed to business hotels needn't worry if some amenities aren't in the room (an iron and ironing board for us); the staff will bring things up quickly. If you're there for falconry during the snowy season, remember that most game will cluster towards the homes and worked fields and not the pure brush areas. But there's still a little game (at least a few rabbits) in the outlying brush. (Caveat: My wife's the falconer. I just cook whatever isn't useful for the bird.) Also, there are two other Yelp listings for the same place. Search for "topaz lodge" in "gardnerville, ca", even though it's a bit south of Gardnerville.

Got stuck out here in a blizzard. So glad we landed in Topaz!! Gary at the front desk was so accommodating and compassionate. And then the manager helps us move our car to safety in said blizzard. He also drove us to our room! If you're ever in this part of Nevada, please come for a great meal and some light gambling too!!

Was a bit leery reading other site reviews, but booked here anyway because this is where we needed to be. We were on a geocaching/hiking expedition:) The place was great! Come to find out it has recently undergone a complete remodel. The rooms are large, shiny new & perfectly arranged. The Steak House was super delicious, the lake view beautiful, the staff extraordinarily friendly/helpful. I say if you are in the area, stay here/eat here.

****do not gamble at this casino**** their slot machines are so ***tight you can hear them ****squealing**** i have never been to a**** guaranteed **** never to **win** casino in this area--- they have a low cost steak breakfast in their cafe, but if you plan on gambling here- the $4.99 steak breakfast can easily end up costing you plenty if you gamble here. ****this is one casino/hotel establishment that needs to be ***investigated by the **gaming commission** they are definitely not following the laws of fare gambling established by the nevada gaming commission.---gambler ******beware*****

We just stayed night again for the 4th time in as many years. Found deal on Facebook $45 a night for great room overlooking the lake. Fun fun place....

***WARNING!*** ENTER AT OWN RISK- this should be hanging on every door at this lodge. I have stayed in the past and rooms have been decent. I just stayed this previous night, or should I say passed through and had to look for another room at 2AM. Gambled and had dinner outside of this resort, returned to go to sleep and woke up with bugs crawling on me. Bed didn't have a sheet, when we called management they came out and said "oh, it's just a flea!" Wiped it off the bed and said they could clean it but refused to get us another room since they were booked and then said it wasn't their problem to find us another place to stay. We insisted on leaving this complete dump with incredibly rude and unprofessional staff and upon leaving and arguing with front desk for refund was asked to leave or county sheriff would be called.After arguing and getting no where with the rude staff left and hit the road to find a room (with no refund). Did not get to bed until 3AM 40 miles away from this dump. Worst place I've ever stayed, disgusting and unkept rooms. Cleaning staff must be snorting something good if that's considered clean. SO NASTY- DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY!!!!

Just stayed at Topaz Lodge for 3 days for a car show. Room was clean very nice view of the lake. Nothing extra or spectacular about the room, but it was clean, very good maid service. We ate at the restaurant for several meals, each day they gave us coupons for $3.00 off Breakfast. All breakfasts were very good, chicken fried steak breakfast was very filling and cooked very well. The steak special for dinner was ok, did ask for mashed potatoes instead of fries but no substitutions on specials. Waitress was very busy with the car show participants but gave us very good attention & service. Had the all you can eat spaghetti for only $3.95 and surprised it was very good. The pasta was not over cooked, the sauce had plenty of meat and it was very tasty with lots of flavor. My buddy asked for regular toast instead of garlic toast, but no substations on specials. Saturday night we went to the Seafood Buffet Special, I really wished we would have stayed with the restaurant. Crab legs still a bit frozen, all the hot food on the steam table was very cold, the meatloaf was ice cold. Ribeye steak cooked to order was thin, yet very tasty, cooked to proper temp, would have left hungry if not for the steak. They sold hamburgers & hot dogs for lunch at the car show and they were very good and very reasonable priced. Car show was very well organized, could have used a few porta potties with a bunch of old guys but we had a very good time. Yes we will return next year, looking forward to the spaghetti special, we will skip the seafood buffet. Overall Topaz Lodge is moving in the right direction. I think it's a hidden Jewel on Hwy 395.

Clean and fairly basic rooms. We skipped the Seafood dinner and ate at the Steakhouse and had surprisingly good food. Corkage fee is small which was appreciated as we travel with our own wine.

Stayed at the RV park. Park is nice, free showers and they are not bad. Inside the casino, food is ok, bloody marys are great. Nothing pays as far as the machines go. Cool place to go if you want to get lost for a day or two.

The "free-wifi" sign is false advertisment! The internet DOES NOT work at all! I've stayed here a week so far and there "internet problem" still has not been fixed. Sometimes when I call the front desk to have it fixed the person who answers, replies that they were not even aware that there was a problem with the internet. Their "solution" to the internet problem was to have us sit in the bar to use the internet that booted you off literally every five minutes. The food btw was horribly old tasting and made my stomach hurt the whole night and next day. Never going to eat here again. Also the house keeping is even worse! All they do is pull the blanket over the beds. No vacuming, no bathrooms being wiped at all, we Asked for towells and toilet paper, the tub doesnt drain well so there is water up to your shins in the tub while you shower, the water pressure is low as well. And to top it all off my friend who is staying in another room came back to her blackberry dropped in water from house keeing and they didn't even tell her. She opened it and it was full of water. She went to the manager to tell them what happened, and they're response was, "We'll see what we can do. I would have given this place no starts, but I can't put less than one.

I love Topaz and have traveled through here many times and have always wanted to stay at the Topaz Lodge. So, I got my chance and was very disappointed. I had to share my room with ants, a dirty toilet, layers of dust, long brown hairs of a prior guest in various places through out the bathroom and bed. There was crumbs and dried up meat on the floor under the table. The table was greasy and sticky. I seriously can't believe how dirty it was, it felt like I was in an episode of the twilight zone. The coffee pot was so dirty that I went to the mini mart next door and they had great coffee. The casino served an amazing breakfast and their staff was very friendly and pleasant! Best of all the casino was CLEAN! Even the bathrooms! :) I will be back to the casino for meals but will never stay at the lodge again. Camping would be a better experience... and I hate camping.