The Lodge at Detroit Lake

The rooms are clean, which is the only thing this place has going for it. The photos are old and misleading. There are so many plastic tables out front that you have to turn sideways to get through, and I had to stand on the side of the bed to climb into it. The air conditioner was very loud and mounted high on the wall, practically over the bed, so turning it on and off was a pain. In the middle of the night it kept cycling on and off, probably because its condenser pan was full and hadn't been maintained. When it ran, it may have been blowing moldy stuff into the room. The ceiling fan was quiet, so it helped move the air but didn't cover the sound of rodents scratching in the walls. It was exhausting, though it did wake us up to the problem. At 7:30, a truck delivered gravel to the parking lot a few hundred feet away, with loud beeping and scraping. We couldn't have left for a while if we'd wanted to, because the truck had us blocked in. No, no, no. Stay in Sisters.

The lodge didn't look anything like the pictures, and that was a big disappointment. We booked last August for three nights. After checking in and carrying our bags to the room, we looked around and found no pots, pans, or cooking utensils, even though a kitchen had been advertised. We went to the store where the owner was and asked about the setup. She said there wasn't a kitchen, but we could borrow hers. We decided to leave, but she charged us anyway because we'd brought our bags into the room. I won't recommend The Lodge at Detroit.

Even after the fire that devastated most of the town, the four rooms they have are really nice. The beds were comfortable and the pillows just right. The rooms were clean, too, and the staff were exceptionally friendly. They worked hard to keep guests happy and tried to entertain the kids as much as they could. We'll definitely stay again.

The attached Teriyaki restaurant was a nice surprise, with good food at a fair price. There aren't many dining choices around, though there aren't many lodging choices either. Unless you're camping or using an Airbnb, this is literally the only place in town. It's pleasant and comfortable for what it is: the hosts are sweet, the rooms are clean, and there's plenty of hot water. We were in room 1, which had a cozy queen bed and kitchenette. The oven was antique, though we didn't use it, and the bathroom was small and looked just as old. Think country-style motel, not Holiday Inn. If you just need somewhere clean and comfortable and aren't hung up on appearances, it's serviceable. Look at the pictures and lower your expectations by a notch.