Lakeside Inn & Suites by OYO Mathis I 37

The room was a lovely surprise, clean and seemingly newly furnished. The location worked perfectly for what we needed, too. We had a wonderful stay and would highly recommend it.

I've stayed here from time to time since 2012 and have recommended it to visitors. But today I called about getting one of the little cabins for my senior parents-in-law and had a couple of questions. The person answered, “Lakeeside in and suites when is your check in/check out.” I started, “I have questions about the room fi....” and he cut me off with, “Call back when you have your check in/check out,” then hung up. That was unexpected and unacceptable. Please fire the white guy who took bookings today. That's all.

My main concern was the door. It didn't shut properly, and you could literally see outside through it. Being right off the highway, that made me nervous. Still, the room was quiet and I got a good night's sleep, so yes, I can recommend staying here if you need somewhere for a couple of days. I was camping by the lake when the nights got too cold, and with my big dog I couldn't find another place to stay. This motel worked fine for a night out of the cold. It isn't fancy: there's a bed and bathroom, a refrigerator, and adequate AC or heat, but no coffee maker in the room. The room was clean, the bed comfortable enough, and there were no bugs at all. I checked carefully for roaches, spiders, and bed bugs. The pipes are old, so the water comes out rusty at first. I don't blame the owners for that. I'd suggest they get proper zip-up bed bug covers for the beds, though. One guest could bring them in with their belongings and start an infestation, so protecting the investment makes sense. The owner was pleasant and tried to help when I had an issue with the TV or heat. He came right to the room to fix it. The rooms could use a little more comfort, even a plug-in would help, and they need some TLC and care. The setup is cute, but from the way it looks, people might not realize it's open for business. Give it a chance. Despite the bad reviews I'd read, I had a pleasant stay.

For the price, this was a very comfortable stay and great value. I only had two small complaints: the ice machine was out of service and in such bad shape that replacing it might cost less than repairing it, and the restaurant takes phone orders only. It would've been nice to walk over for dinner. On the plus side, there's a great bar-B-Que across the highway. My wife and I spent about $40 for lunch, including a $17 ribeye, and it was one of the best I've ever had.