The Babbling Brook Inn

The grounds looked straight out of a fairy tale, with all the trees and plants, a lovely stream running beneath a little bridge. When I arrived, no one was in the office, but Myke was incredibly helpful and polite. He showed us to our room and told us to call if we needed anything. The cute room had a fireplace that warmed us up quickly, and the shower got so hot it felt incredibly replenishing. This inn made me want to spend every vacation here. A round of applause for The babbling Brooke and a standing ovation for Myke!

We arrived at 8pm to find the check-in counter closed, with a phone number on the door to call. They told us Expedia had overbooked and there was no room for us, so we were turned away at the door. They said they’d tried contacting us through Expedia, but who knows. Getting our refund through Expedia was a hassle because the inn wouldn’t take Expedia’s calls or answer its support email. Be careful if you book through Expedia.

I really like the grounds and how the rooms are laid out. I lived in Santa Cruz from 1982 to 2015, and this Inn used to be considered very nice. The bathroom was clean and spacious, as was the main room. I was expecting a Bed and Breakfast, but it isn’t one, so I was glad there was a Keurig coffee machine. There were several mosquitoes in the room, probably because the window had been left open and there was a small gap in the screen. The carpet had stains that looked like someone had walked mud in, and the couch had marks too. The walls could use fresh paint. I called in the morning to ask about an early check-in and left a message, but nobody called back. Self check-in was okay, though it didn’t feel very hospitable.

The Babling Brook Inn could be a gem again with the right owner, management, marketing, and renovation. It has the bones for a full restoration, but years of neglect show. I stayed here 15 years ago and had a memorable time, so I brought my wife to see whether she’d enjoy it. There was no one at the front office, and you have to call for someone to come over. The waterwheel, which was a big part of the atmosphere, has been left to rot and is broken. It used to be beautiful and charming. I’d guess there’s easily $300,000 worth of deferred maintenance. I didn’t see the inside of the rooms, but one was closed because of wood rot on the exterior.