Ninepipes Lodge

Oscar, the family's dog, was a lovely welcome for us and our furry friend. The lodge is cozy, and the clean, well-kept rooms had a French press and electric kettle for morning coffee. They even left a pet bag with poop bags, a collapsible bowl, and a Ninepipes treat. I also loved the complimentary breakfast, especially the fresh-squeezed orange juice and range of hot dishes. The restaurant was great, and the outdoor saltwater spa had a relaxing mountain view. The bathroom soaps and eucalyptus spray were nice touches, too. The Great Gray nextdoor has great drinks and gifts. Can't wait to come back!

The rooms were clean, quiet, and comfortable, and the breakfast buffet was delicious. Staff were helpful and welcoming to my whole family, including our dog. They even brought us a water bowl and a treat. I'd absolutely stay again.

The staff member at the front desk refused to let us use the pool unless we booked online, and wouldn't call a manager or make an exception. We arrived around 6:30 with swimwear and towels after calling to confirm the spa hours. It closed at 8, and we only wanted to soak for about 45 minutes before dinner. The pool was nearly empty, with just two other adults there, and it was raining. There seemed no reason they couldn't take payment at the desk. We were disappointed after driving more than 45 minutes specifically for the saltwater pool, which is advertised on the highway and social media. We planned to buy dinner and drinks for three as well, so we would have spent over $200. The soak alone was $90 for three, while Quinn’s Hot Springs, a nicer resort with more pools and actual healing water hot springs, charges $20 per person. The front desk woman was extremely rude to my wife and her friend. I understand online booking if it's busy and reservations are full, but that wasn't the case. This ruined the visit we had been looking forward to. Customer service needs major improvement. It feels like another place that caters to out-of-staters and won't let locals just pay at the desk the old-fashioned way. Don't expect to drop in, because they won't allow it. I'd rather drive 1.5 hours to Quinn’s hot springs or Symes than give Ninepipes my business.

We had the whole pool to ourselves after dinner, which suited us just fine, and it was clean. We were there on a quiet Monday for our anniversary and stayed in a Mountain view suite with a lovely view of the pond and Mission Mountains. Dinner was a flavorful, perfectly cooked ribeye. The place was spotless and felt like great value compared with most. Breakfast was included, and we appreciated that the food was freshly cooked rather than made with reconstituted eggs. The biscuits were tender and flaky. We'll be back, it's only about an hour away. Highly recommend!