Hidden Lake Winery

The mouse in the trashcan woke my husband in the middle of the night, and after that we had trouble getting back to sleep. If that hadn't happened, I would have given three stars. We booked a cabin for Valentine's Day and found it nice, though some cosmetic work was missing, including working light fixtures. The tub was clean when we checked it after reading reviews. The winery felt eerily empty around 6pm, with us the only couple there on Valentine's night. The server was very kind and explained the specials and wine. We liked the wine and thought the food was decent, though a bit expensive for its quality. We still enjoyed the surroundings and ambiance. I've since read about recent issues with the winery. It has a lot of potential if the criticism is taken seriously and real changes are made.

The winery responded by email on Tuesday and issued a quick refund, but our time and gas were still wasted. I cried all the way home. The wine is good, but the cabins are old and not worth what they charge. I'd suggest taking a tour before booking one. This beautiful property needs fresh direction. It was hard to write this, since I'd visited the winery about five years ago and had long wanted to stay in one of its ten cabins, which look romantic on the website. I booked about a month ahead because we'd been unable to get away. We both took time off work and arranged a safe place for our children before making the nearly two-hour drive. When we arrived, the cabin was dirty, dusty, and poorly maintained. The toilet hadn't been cleaned, and there was pubic hair on it. A wall air freshener was completely dried out, which seemed hazardous. I called and texted the emergency number many times, as did my husband, but nobody answered. We emailed asking if someone could come clean so we could salvage the trip, but we never spoke with anyone. Since we arrived on a Monday, I heard nothing until their email reply the next day.

We had a lovely weekend getaway, not far from Scott AFB, enjoying the winery's wine flight and the lush, beautiful scenery. We stayed in Cabin #1 and found the bed comfortable and cushy. The overhead light had a short and kept flickering. A stray mama cat followed us all the way back to the cabin and spent time with us. It's such a beautiful time of year to visit and enjoy nature, a hidden gem.

They have rental cabins, a varied food menu, and both draft and bottled beer. The wine is made in house. It's absolutely gorgeous and a little out of the way, which adds to the experience.