Hersey Farm Resort

The resort grounds, restaurant, and property are gorgeous, and you’re right beside Sight and Sound. We loved the complimentary Sunday brunch, and the kids had fun feeding the goats, turkeys, alpacas, and other animals. The pool isn’t heated, though, and was freezing when we visited in mid-May. The room in the main hotel was more like Super 8 quality, which was a shame. Five stars for the resort, grounds, and restaurant, but two for the room.

Our group had a fun, restful appreciation dinner in the Overlook Lounge, and I’m grateful to Audrey and the Café 23 team for helping us pull it off. I was able to reserve the space and arrive early, and Audrey warmly welcomed and directed people as they came in. We ordered hot and cold hors d'oeurves from the catering menu, including assorted wraps, fresh seasonal vegetables, buffalo chicken dip, and a yogurt parfait bar. The Dutch Twist came with spring rolls, garlic parm meatballs, soft pretzel rods, PA dutch sweets, fresh cut celery sticks, fresh squeezed lemonade, iced black tea, and water with lemon. They also made a special Cobb Salad for one guest. Everyone had lovely things to say about the food and atmosphere. Thanks to all who helped make the evening so enjoyable.

We loved browsing the on-site shops, where there were some nice things at affordable prices, and the zucchini bread was delicious. My sister and I had a wonderful stay in a quaint, cozy, comfortable, clean farmhouse room. It was a short walk to the Sight and Sound Theater, and the restaurant served fresh, delicious food with awesome service. The young woman at check-in was so welcoming and set a lovely tone for our visit. Thank you, Michelle, the hostess, and Dawn, Shannon, and Deanna. You ladies rock! We’d definitely come back when visiting the area.

Our stay ended on a really disappointing note. The night after breakfast, we went to dinner expecting my sister’s birthday BOGO offer to be honored, since our breakfast server had said it would apply when her birthday fell on a Monday, a day the restaurant closes in winter. The manager was dismissive and rude. She kept saying they were “very strict with the policy” and asking if we wanted her to call the person who had told us otherwise. We calmly explained why we’d chosen to eat there, but felt she treated us as if we were just after free food. At about $42 per person, dinner for four would have come to nearly $200 with tip, and after that conversation we didn’t feel comfortable paying. We left after our drinks had arrived. The manager’s attitude ruined what should have been a nice evening. When we came back for breakfast the next morning, several restaurant staff stared at us and made us uncomfortable. There were problems before that too. We’d called to say we’d arrive late, only to learn that day that our original room had no hot water. The replacement wasn’t ready for four people, with just two towels. My mom had bought the birthday package and asked in advance to swap the chocolate whoopie pie for a different flavor because my little sister doesn’t like chocolate. That wasn’t done, and the basket was missing its promised chocolate covered strawberries. The first morning’s included breakfast was great, and our breakfast server was kind when explaining the birthday meal policy. My mom brought my sister and me for our birthdays on March 2 and March 14, and the restaurant experience was the biggest letdown. To be fair, our morning server, hotel and front desk staff, and the shop workers were very friendly. Still, based on how the manager handled things, we wouldn’t recommend the restaurant.