Stratton Mountain Resort

We had a fantastic time skiing, with lovely views and runs for every level, and the hot tub, sauna, and pool were a treat. Our condos were comfortable and right by the mountain, and the town was cozy. It’s also a great location close to New Jersey. Three days with the family flew by. Can’t wait to return!

We keep coming back because we love the experience, despite the eye watering food and drink costs. Stratton has lovely trails and a beautiful mountain, with a charming, if prefabricated, village at its base. Black Bear Lodge is dated, but the location and shuttle service are excellent. The village is so quaint, but be wary of possible price gouging and deceit. At Mulligans in mid afternoon, we had three appetizers and 4 beers for $200. They shared the food prices, but not the beer or alcohol prices, and only gave us an itemized bill after we asked. At The Deli, three sandwiches cost $60. They were delicious, but there were no prices posted. Locals told me that might let these places change prices daily or as needed to cash in on crowds. That’s disappointing and disheartening if true. It’s a shame.

We stayed slopeside on obertal, which made getting to the tamarack lift very convenient. Lift tickets and gear rentals were so easy to sort out, and the whole day went smoothly. We were there late in the season after recent rain, so conditions weren’t perfect, but the trails are great and the area is really cool. We’ll definitely be back.

The fireworks were the best part of the New Year’s eve visit. I’d go just for those and have dinner somewhere else. The buffet was a mess, with the labels often wrong, and definitely wasn’t worth $70 per person. I had one soup because it was the only thing labeled vegan correctly. A staff member said he’d check with the kitchen, then never came back. The ski class was okay and the instructor seemed knowledgeable, but instructors should stick to teaching instead of commenting on people’s looks, especially women’s. Joking with us as a group was nice, but making private comments to a woman about her appearance isn’t okay. The trails are nice, but go early, since it gets packed after ~11AM.