The Grand Mountain Top Retreat

I almost never write reviews, but wanted to let others know what we found. Ants were all over the bathroom, especially in the tub, and later we found dead ones on the bottoms of our socks, so they seemed to be everywhere. There were black spots on the ceiling just outside the bathroom, and a washcloth my daughter picked up from the counter had a brown stain. The toilet kept clogging, and the plunger provided was broken. In the other room we rented, the air conditioner made a noise all night like tennis shoes tumbling in a dryer, and the coffee maker didn't work. We reported the problems at the office the next day and were told the hotel manager would contact us. Five days later, there's been no word. I gave them time to call and make it right. If the manager reaches out now, I'll update the review, but I don't expect it. At $220 per room, this was nowhere near worth the price, and I feel sick about what I spent.

For $300 a night, this place was dirty, old, full of ants, and not worth the money. You have to check in two miles away, and if anything goes wrong in the room, there's no landline or cell service to reach anyone. You have to drive back. Our toilet hadn't been cleaned. There were visible diarrhea marks in the photos, and I can't believe housekeeping missed them. It felt deliberate. The cutlery was dirty too, and even after asking, housekeeping didn't clean it when they came the next day. The bedding was old, with holes and marks. At the Cedar lodge restaurant, there was no soap or sanitizer in the women's or men's bathrooms, the kitchen, or the lobby. Absolutely disgusting. Spend your money somewhere else.

The lodge has a lovely mountain view out front, and the room itself was clean and neatly arranged, with a kitchen and bathroom and good cooking equipment. We booked a double bedroom for two nights. It was on the first floor, but we still had to climb stairs. There weren't many places to eat on site, though we could get takeout or dine elsewhere before heading back. Our stay was satisfactory.

The scenery around the lodge is spectacular, and the park entrance is a beautiful, easy 20-minute drive away. Check-in and checkout were simple, and the Cedar Lodge staff were friendly and helpful. The rooms were clean, with excellent WiFi and a good range of kitchen appliances, including a coffee maker, stovetop, toaster, and utensils. The lodge itself was definitely satisfactory. I'd recommend it.