Knotty Pine Cabin

Would we rent here again? Yes, absolutely. The cabins worked perfectly for our family reunion and celebration of life for my mom. Tahoe has been a family vacation spot since the 40s, so that was the reason for the trip. We got all three of our kids and their spouses together in one cabin, which hasn’t happened in over five years, and my baby sister and her family, my aunt, and best friend stayed in the second. It was cozy to be together, and the location was great for the lake, shopping, and food. I rented two cabins for four days. The holiday-week price was high, though not too bad compared with other days. They’re cute, private little houses, but nothing extraordinary. They seem to be the same size, so nobody gets more or less space for the money. Each appears to have a different owner, which affects the decor, supplies, and upkeep. Our first night was rough because an animal had peed on a bed and it hadn’t been replaced, so we couldn’t sleep there. The owner didn’t know, but responded quickly and bought a new mattress. It helped, though dealing with it at 11 PM was a pain. A resident in one cabin was very welcoming and helpful. When a step kept lifting and my 70-year-old aunt nearly fell, my husband ran into him and he grabbed a hammer and fixed it within minutes. Great guy. Bring blankets, since the cabins only supply sheets and nights are chilly. They can sleep up to eight comfortably, but there are only a few kitchen items, so not everyone can eat or drink at once. For the price, they aren’t very well equipped. Treat it like a hotel with a kitchen, and bring things to cook with, eat on, and drink from, along with blankets. Knowing what I know now, I’d still stay in one of the cabins again.

The cabin layout is nice, and the property is in a pleasant wooded location, but our five-night stay was very disappointing for what we paid. It was filthy and needs better cleaning, upkeep, and maintenance. I won’t return or recommend it, and I’ll leave negative reviews on Google and Booking.com. The carpets were stained and dusty, the hardwood floors were dirty and hadn’t been mopped, and there was trash including bottles, cereal, and paper under the armchair, stove, and sofa. The armchair cushion was so stained and dirty we had to remove it to sit down. The sofa upholstery was greasy and smelled, so we covered it with a blanket. Spiderwebs were everywhere upstairs and downstairs. There were no extra blankets, and the thin ones provided were dirty. I wish I’d brought clean ones for the kids. Even after the propane tank was replaced, the heater never worked properly and gave off a strong fume smell, so we couldn’t use it. We had to rely on the stove in the living area and an electric heater in the bedroom.

We stayed six nights, February 20-26, and I’ll definitely come back. Douglas was very accommodating when the weather meant we needed to extend our stay. The little cabin was lovely and had the amenities we needed: a living room futon, one bedroom, and an upstairs loft with two twin beds. There aren’t extra blankets, so bring a sleeping bag if you’ll use the futon. I keep one in my car for emergencies. I don’t understand the reviews saying the blankets were thin or it was cold inside; we had to turn off the heater because we were too hot. There’s also a nice gas fireplace for ambiance with a thermostat. A crew came by every day to clear snow. Wi-Fi is available, though it gets spotty among the trees. I was honestly surprised there was any at all. You’re on vacation in one of the most beautiful towns, so try to disconnect and enjoy the moment.

We found cabin #12 clean and well set up when we arrived, and we’d definitely stay again. I’d read some negative reviews but didn’t find them accurate for our stay. These are cabins, not the Westin. They’re like what Californians call tiny homes, or park model RVs elsewhere, with a cabin feel inside and out, a small kitchen, full bathroom, bedroom, loft beds, and a little deck. The main heater is loud, as some reviews said, so we used the gas fireplace instead. It has a thermostat and was nice and quiet. Earnie's cafe, Bert's cafe, and the Lake House restaurant are a short walk away, and the village is about a 10-minute drive. There’s a cleaning fee, so keep that in mind when booking.