Anchor Inn Resort

We care most about a place being comfortable and clean, and this one delivered on both. The staff were friendly and helpful, and the food, especially the pizza, was phenomenal on a night when it was open. It was our first stay, but we’ll be back. The property is older, so it may not suit anyone who needs everything new or updated. It worked well for us as dog parents. Some blankets, towels, or sheets are provided, though we were glad we’d brought extra.

There are covered spots to sit and visit, plus gas fire pits, which makes this a great place for group events. It’s got a cute, cozy old-school charm, with plenty of room choices in the rooms and cabins. The staff were great and the pizza was good. We didn’t have to drive anywhere for food on a couple of nights. It could suit a family reunion, office party, singles group, or even a swingers retreat. It’s pet-friendly, even with white blankets, which is kind of crazy. The bathrooms and toilets are tiny. I didn’t see every cabin.

The bathroom was bad enough that I skipped showering. It was so small I could barely fit, even though I’m very petite, and the shower was dirty, moldy, and had hair from a previous guest. The toilet and sink looked clean and new, but that didn’t make up for the rest. The cabin looked adorable from outside and seemed kid-friendly, with a lot of potential. Inside, though, it was dirty. There were spiders and dust everywhere, crumbs in the bed when we pulled back the sheets, and more crumbs and dirt on the couch bed, table, and floors. The table was sticky, and the room felt stuffy and smelled bad. It was also loud. We could hear cars outside and people talking in the next cabin late into the night. This place could use some bleach.

I ended up driving to the beach every day. The advertised short walk goes through another property that didn’t seem welcoming, then crosses a muddy back area and hill. Walking along the main road to Beach Ave was the best route I found. The croquet course was unusable too, with debris, bumps, and holes. I watched another couple give up on it. The TV’s bass and treble settings were locked very low, so movies were hard to hear and understand. I get wanting to reduce noise, but there must be a better way. The room was freezing and the wall heater made it hard to sleep. I kept waking up to adjust it, going from too hot to shivering as the room cooled. The bathroom was awkward even for someone small like me. I kept hitting the shower walls, the paint was peeling where people had clearly bumped them, and the tiny toilet was uncomfortable for an adult man and took some awkward maneuvering to use. It was filthy and run-down. Dirt and grime covered the floors, and a spot I wiped with a paper towel came away black. Under the bed were socks, dust, hair, and candy, with food crumbs around the room and thick dust on the bathroom vent. The bed’s protective cover looked extremely worn, and only the outer sheet seemed fresh. The wood floor and paneling were poorly installed, with visible gaps into the bathroom, and there was no insulation or soundproofing. The spiders made sense in the cold weather. The decor felt random and more Instagram cute than practical. It seemed like someone with no carpentry skills had put the room together. I saw very little staff, even when I initially couldn’t get into my room. There were phone numbers and telephones everywhere, and I eventually figured it out. None of the fire pits were lit while I was there, and there were no instructions about when or how they’d be used. I didn’t get to use my s’mores kit, and heard other guests complain about the same thing. I visit Lincoln City regularly and chose this motel because of the glowing reviews. It has some charm, but it felt worn out and I didn’t enjoy the stay. The place was bought and renovated in 2006. That doesn’t seem old enough to explain the lack of soundproofing and insulation, poor bathrooms, and bad carpentry. If you keep your shoes on until bedtime, this room might work for you. Otherwise, I’d look elsewhere.