The TrailHead

The location is the motel’s biggest strength. Downtown South Lake Tahoe is close, and it’s family and pet friendly. The staff were very friendly and helpful. There are larger rooms and family rooms with bunks, plus heating, AC, a TV, internet, a coffee maker, a mini fridge, and a microwave. The room looked like the photos, and for a short family trip or pit stop with pets, it was just OK. In my opinion, you get what you pay for, though it really needs renovation. I might come back unless the conditions get worse or the prices go up. I stayed in an upstairs family room over a holiday weekend. I knew prices had gone up for that time of year and other places did the same, but I still felt I paid too much for the quality. This family-owned motel was basic from the outside and could use some care. The stairs were lopsided and coming apart. The deck outside the upper rooms slanted toward the railing, with dips and broken or burnt tabletops. It didn’t feel safe. Inside, the dog urine smell was pungent enough that I considered the room dirty. I'm used to animals and understand it was a pet-friendly family room, but other guests might find that appalling. The shower temperature kept changing, and getting a warm shower took constant fiddling. The coffee maker was broken and sprayed hot coffee over the counter. The room seemed not to have had a deep clean or maintenance in a long time. The king bed's headboard was pulling out of the drywall because the screws had been placed improperly. Simple work like fixing the deck, replacing the outdoor tables, and deep-cleaning the carpets periodically would do wonders.