Oak Knoll Lodge

My family had been looking forward for months to a reunion at Oak Knoll Lodge. My mom, aunts, uncles, grandpa, and his brother had shared hundreds of happy memories from the campground where they grew up, including stories about the owners, the pool, and the friendly community. Seeing the place in such disarray was heartbreaking. The way the beautiful land, its cabins, and the people who care for it have been treated is ridiculous. Our assigned cabin hadn't been cleaned at all. The couch had stains of every color, and brown liquid spills were left on the tables. My cousin's pullout couch had rat poop, rats had chewed holes in my second cousins' blankets, and my aunt had only spoons, no other utensils. My grandparents' cabin smelled like burning plastic. To make it worse, nobody told us before arrival that the pool would be closed for “maintenance.” I was told people from another country had bought the property, but I don't think they've been anywhere near it since. Nobody lives on site or looks after the cabins. My family tried contacting the owners, but they wouldn't have a proper conversation with anyone. They wouldn't acknowledge the problems or offer sympathy or any kind of discount. We were also told when booking that the third night would be free, but they didn't honor that. What upsets me most is how badly this let my family down after they had been anticipating the trip for so long. The lodge ruined it for them. With management showing such carelessness, I would never recommend staying there. I know none of my family will return.

David, the manager, directed me to Oak Knoll Lodge, and it felt like a death trap in a beautiful valley. When I raised safety concerns, he brushed them off or gave what sounded like rehearsed excuses. I strongly advise against booking here or at nearby Golden Bear Cottages, which has the same management team. I found none of the integrity or respect I'd expect from an American business.

The place could be cute with a little care, but our stay felt unsanitary and neglected throughout. The office was empty when we arrived, so we had to call a number and travel elsewhere to check in. Once in our cabins, we found mouse droppings all over the rooms and in the cookware cabinets. The bathtub was so filthy my kids didn't want to bathe, one couch was covered in something gross, and there was a dried, crusty drink spill on the nightstand. Some beds had no bedding, and nobody was there to get us any. The promised pool was closed, as was the locked lodge with the ping pong table, shuffleboard, and horseshoes. Mouse droppings in many sofa beds ruled out using those extra beds too. We bought lots of groceries, then found the fridge was broken the next day. The freezer worked, so most of our food had to be thrown away. The cupboards had one plate and 35 spoons anyway. 😆 We found a screw on the floor in one room, and one of the children had it in their mouth. In another room, an electrical outlet had a plastic bag in place of its face plate. The Wi-Fi was so bad that I had to drive to Starbucks to get work done while on vacation.

I felt pushed around the whole time because the manager, David, and the so-called General Manager, Ken Patel, kept giving conflicting answers about fees and policies. They came across as evasive and dishonest. This place is owned by the same entity as Golden Bear Cottages. I’d book somewhere else, where you can expect respect and clear information.