Meadowbrook Inn

The location made things easy with the kids, since everything in downtown Blowing Rock was a short walk away. Our room was spacious and clean, the beds were comfortable, and the staff were friendly and welcoming. We had a great stay at Meadowbrook Inn and would come back.

The location was about the only positive. Our Meadowbrook Inn room wasn’t clean and needed maintenance, and it wasn’t ready when we arrived to check in. We’d bought a bottle of wine for the room, but it wasn’t there, so I had to retrieve it from the front desk. There was popcorn in the couch cushions, the towels were fraying at the seams, and we considered leaving early because we had a small child with us. We tried to get breakfast in the lobby on Saturday at 8:30, but there was hardly anything left, even though breakfast was supposed to run from 7:30 to 10.

The pool water was cloudy and seemed to lack the chemicals you’d expect in a public pool. I know it was private, but it’s only private for whoever is staying in that space, and couples rotate through over the days and weeks. I’ll let readers draw their own conclusions. The suite was also dirty, with traces of previous guests on the floor and around the room. The sheets were itchy, and room service missed things you’d expect at a high-priced stay. The front desk staff were friendly and apologetic, but seemed unable to influence the problems. It gave the impression of complacency from management or ownership. We paid a price comparable to five-star accommodations for what felt like a Motel 6 with a private pool. The room was very dated and badly in need of maintenance and care, as if it might have been lovely in the 1980s. We’d planned a special Valentine’s Day weekend and left feeling cheated and grossed out. Friends in the other suite had nearly the same experience. We all made the best of it, but none of us expected a low-budget stay at an exclusive resort price. Meadowbrook needs to update or at least refresh the rooms, clean them to match its customer statements, and live up to the brand’s legacy. If this is the best it can offer for guest service and a premium location, it’s headed for failure.

We spent most of our Blowing Rock Winterfest weekend inside Meadowbrook Inn because an ice storm cancelled the event and closed many shops and restaurants. Thankfully, breakfast was included in our rate, so we weren’t as worried about finding food. The warm room, streaming TV, coffee, snacks, pool, and gym gave us plenty to do. We’d been unsure about booking because of the mixed reviews, but the welcome at check-in quickly put me at ease. The staff explained things clearly and answered our questions. Our room in the main building looked recently renovated, with updated furniture, plugs, and lighting, and I felt it was clean throughout. The common areas mix antique and modern touches for a mountain feel. There are ice and vending machines, too. The outdoor path to the gazebo was cute, and the lounge overlooks it, especially pretty with snow in the mornings. The conference and ballroom are in the basement beside the Breakfast Lounge, where there’s a lovely, huge fireplace. Coffee and tea were always available in the lobby. Breakfast was good, with sausage, eggs, pancakes, biscuits and gravy, grits, bagels and bread, cereal, yogurt, milk, juice, coffee, and tea. I expected less after reading the reviews. The gym is small and overlooks the pool, so it gets humid. Its equipment is dated but still gives you options for a full-body workout, and the cardio machines worked well with TVs nearby. I only wish there were free weights. We swam briefly, and the water was manageable, not freezing like some reviews said. Downtown is less than a block away, so it’s an easy, quick walk. I had such a good visit that I’ll definitely return and recommend Meadowbrook Inn. People shouldn’t expect a five-star experience from a three-star mountain hotel, but I had a better time here than at most Hiltons I’ve stayed at.