Big Meadows Lodge

The trout at dinner was good, and the blueberry pancakes in the morning were decent. The lodge itself is simple, but it has what you need in the mountains. The bedding wasn't especially warm, though the heater worked well. Nothing to complain about, and we had a good stay. If you're in the park for a couple days, Skyland lodge is only a few more minutes' drive and has similar food with a slightly different menu.

We ended up leaving in the middle of the night, something I've never done at a hotel before. The room at Big Meadows Lodge was that disappointing. It cost over $400 for one night, yet felt badly maintained and badly outdated. The person who checked us in was very nice, but after that the visit went downhill. The building looked abandoned, the door handle was loose while we struggled with the key, and the room smelled as if it had been shut up for years. The toilet wouldn't flush, the shower tile was cracked, the furniture looked like it belonged in a museum, and there were huge gaps around the patio door. At a reasonable price I might have let some of that go, but over $400 a night is unacceptable. Dinner was only okay, and two entrees plus a basket of stale bread came to $70 for two people. Unless you can be sure of getting a remodeled room, stay away from Big Meadows Lodge.

Breakfast in the main dining room was decent, and they did have Starbucks coffee. The lodge is historic and rustic, as was our room in the lower two-story building. The heater was noisy and the bed uncomfortable. At the front desk, the staff weren't friendly and seemed put off when we asked questions. There was a tasting room downstairs in the basement, with a very limited menu available in an adjacent room.

After hiking and eating in the dining room, we spent the evening in the Great Room by the big fireplace. A nightcap and a game there made for a warm, peaceful end to the day, and it was a nice space to share with other guests. We had a great two nights at Big Meadows. The staff were friendly, our room was quiet and adequate, and I'd recommend staying.