Severn Lodge

The main reason we keep returning is the lakefront setting. The views are gorgeous, the grounds are peaceful and beautiful, and the kids have plenty to do. They can swim in the pool, use canoes and kayaks, or play at the inflatable water park, all within a parent’s line of sight so it’s easy to sit and watch them. Since new management, the food has gone from memorable to average. The kids’ buffet has shrunk to just two or three choices, and the food quality has slipped. The lunch buffet chicken parmesan was basically boiled chicken with cheese on top, and spaghetti noodles with barely any tomato sauce. I had to ask for sauce on the side. The kitchen also can’t keep up with basic demand. We waited 15 minutes for several buffet items to be replenished. Dining room management needs to improve. Service was sub par too. There wasn’t a welcoming feel, and the wait staff were slow, seemed untrained, and didn’t give a customer-friendly impression.

The scenery was beautiful, but our stay was a major disappointment. We booked the couples fall retreat, which was supposed to include champagne and chocolates, but neither arrived. Our room had no soap, shampoo, or bottled water, and there was no notice about whether the tap water was safe to drink. We ended up thirsty all weekend. Food was honestly the best part, and it was mediocre at best. We’ve had many good stays at couples resort and other places in this niche, but this one cost more and offered far less value. The service had no standards. Nobody even asked how our stay was when we left, maybe they didn’t want to know. This might be an acceptable level of service for Santas village, but not in this market. Wouldn’t recommend it and won’t return.

The kids club was great. The staff were super friendly and focused on keeping the kids safe, and there were always fun things for them to do. Dave, the entertainment manager, was amazing at making sure everyone had fun. The food was tasty, with good choices for both adults and kids. We had a great time at Severn Lodge in Ontario and will be back next year.

We’ve been repeat guests since 2017, but this was our last visit. So much of what we loved about Severn has changed that I can barely describe it. The quiet days are gone. You can’t relax, swim, or paddle without loud music. Happy hour at the small pool had the volume cranked up so high we could hear it in the middle of the lake. Poolside games are fine, but the whole resort didn’t need to be blasted with sound. There was also evening entertainment outside the pool area, either loud music or awful karaoke until 9:30-10pm. Between that, the recreation manager wandered around with a bullhorn trying to drum up interest in activities like a fair barker. Water sport day on the docks used to be the best part of the week. The kids gathered, everyone cheered them on, and a banana boat ride or water skiing was included for guests up to 18, sometimes everyone. It brought people together and was great fun. This year there was an extra fee, mentioned a week before arrival only if you read the fine print. Nobody gathered at the dock once it stopped being a group activity, and all the fun was gone. Other motorized water sports also cost extra. Between their fumes and noise, there was no escape, and paddling meant getting knocked about by the motorboat wake. We always liked the food, and I’ll give the new chef credit for some interesting dishes. But chicken and fish were overcooked and dried out. The vegetarian options and desserts were fantastic. Breakfast was bad, with no variety, food running out, and questionable quality. Lunch was worse, consistently low quality. I don’t mind lining up at a buffet, but they also stopped using tablecloths and dressing the dinner wait staff formally. The staff tried hard, but most couldn’t speak English well, understand questions, or explain the food. Kids who didn’t like the buffet choices, some of which were revolting, like grilled peanut butter sandwiches for supper, weren’t allowed to order from the menu without an extra charge. The games room was trashed, literally. There were only four games left and two worked. The ping pong and foozeball tables were destroyed. Maintenance told us they had no plans to fix them. One night a window was broken, leaving glass everywhere, bookshelves overturned, and furniture tossed around. The room was closed after that, so the activity was gone. Our room had no television reception at all during the visit. We were told it was being repaired or upgraded, but it never worked. At checkout, nobody asked whether we wanted the same room or week for next summer, and no priority was offered to guests for next year. Probably for the best, since we won’t be back.