Fairy Bay Lakehouse

A quick note for anyone staying here: shoes aren’t allowed inside, so bring slippers. We were in a spacious, cozy corner room on the third floor, and the view was stunning. It was a lovely, comfortable place to unwind, and we’d happily return.

Amit checked in with us to see that we had what we needed, and he was a wonderful host. We spent three glorious nights in a beautiful suite, with Fairy Lake visible from both the large living room and bedroom. The kitchen was meticulously stocked, and the fireplace made the spacious living area especially nice. We hiked at Arrowhead Park, about 15 minutes away, while Huntsville is roughly 10 minutes away. A great northern getaway. We’ll be back!

The family’s favorite part was kayaking on the lake and relaxing in hammocks on the quiet private beach. Our clean corner room had a lake-facing window, comfortable beds, and enough space for four adults, with nice decor. Downstairs, the shared kitchen and dining room were roomy and convenient. Amit, the manager, was responsive and easy to communicate with, and willing to accommodate us. We all hope to stay longer next time.

The main issue was how poorly maintained the place felt, and it wasn’t worth the price. Our bathroom was dirty on arrival, with white splatters on the walls, a large ceiling hole where a light should have been, signs of a leak, a towel stuffed into the opening, a soggy floor by the shower, and a strong musty smell. The artwork and baseboards looked as if they hadn’t been dusted in months. There were missing floorboards on the stairs, damaged closet doors with missing knobs and paint, garbage in the desk drawers, and no recycling bins. We were given one key fob for the room. Shoes must be removed, and they offer house slippers, which seems like an easy way to get warts or athlete’s foot. When I raised the bathroom problems, Amit, the only staff member we saw or dealt with by email, came promptly, offered water and towels, and looked at the issues. Asked directly whether he knew about the ceiling hole, he muttered something about it maybe needing maintenance. He’d been kind at check-in and offered to help with my bags. There were some good points. We’d booked in April but couldn’t come because of the ice storm. Although the reservation was non-refundable, they kindly let us apply the credit to this stay, Sept 5-7. The place was easy to find, though parking was limited and I had to stop in the driveway to unload; there’s extra parking next door. The beds were clean and comfortable with lots of pillows. There was coffee, water, snacks, a fridge, and a microwave in the room. If you dislike dim hotel rooms, this one has eight switches and 15 lights.