Skyland

We even came across an oil painter from the area whose work was being shown. Anyone interested can reach out to me to support this local artist. The stay itself was clean and well cared for, with beautiful views and a comfortable setup. It was a fun, memorable change of pace, peaceful and close to nature, and a great way to get away from the city. We had a really good time at Skyline Shenandoah and would recommend it for a relaxing getaway.

The Friday dinner and Saturday breakfast at Pollock Dining Room were both wonderful, with good food and a spectacular view. We also ate breakfast there once more, and had dinner in the Taproom on Saturday, which was a stressful mess. They seemed understaffed for the crowd, and although the staff were great, they couldn't keep up. I was surprised not to see a manager helping the servers or bartender. We just wanted to get out of there. We spent two nights at Skyland, something I'd wanted to do for years, and in general had a very nice stay. We booked a "Premium" room in Raven's Nest, one of eight buildings with premium rooms. It was clean but quite rustic. Ours was on the first floor, opening onto a patio that didn't feel private. I wish I'd asked about a balcony. A second-floor room would have had a better view, so if that matters to you, ask for one. There may be stairs to manage with your suitcases, but I would have thought it worthwhile. We loved having breakfast and then heading straight out to one of the many trails near the lodge. Next time I'd bring some backup food for the room, so we weren't stuck relying on the dining rooms, and I'd eat before the rush, ideally before 6:30pm. If you have a choice, I'd wait for Pollock Dining Room rather than eat in the Taproom. Otherwise, enjoy those beautiful mountains.

The room's cleanliness was a real disappointment, even though the beds were comfortable, the bedding clean, and the bedroom and bathroom floors looked newer and clean. There was mold and peeling paint over the shower, plus mold around the grab bar and tub caulking. The bathroom baseboards were filthy, with dead bugs squashed on them, and dead bugs were also trapped in the light fixture. The light flickered, making sure you noticed them. The towel rack was hung low over a greasy, dirty heating grate, so we didn't want towels touching it and had to use the shower curtain bar. The hook behind the door was missing. In the bedroom, dead bugs were on the window sills, with dirt and cobwebs on the wood-paneled walls and more cobwebs on the ceiling fan. The screen was so dusty and dirty that we didn't want to open the window in case it blew inside. There was no screen on the porch door, and the entry door chain was broken. The front desk staff and maid were helpful, and the dining room food and wait staff were good. Shenandoah is a lovely park, and staying inside it was nice, but I wouldn't stay at Skyland again. We had a preferred room with two queen beds.

The room door didn't fit quite right, so our only complaint is that the room felt a little drafty. The view was great, and it was ideally located for horseback riding at the stables in the morning. After checking out and driving seven hours away, we realized we'd left something behind. The front desk found it and shipped it back to our house.