Oakwood Resort

Our room had a gorgeous view of Lake Wawasee, and the place is immaculate. The rooms are beautiful and unlike standard hotel rooms. There wasn't a desk, though, so I had to use my laptop and eat on the bed. The restaurant was amazing, with the option to dine indoors or out on the lake patio. I regret not taking pictures of the exterior. You can Google images, though. It's gorgeous.

The restaurant was awful. We ordered the Philly Steak and Cheese, which came out like beef stew on a roll. The cole slaw was pink, and we couldn't even bring ourselves to look at it, let alone eat it. The room was 78 degrees last night. When we called the front desk, all we got was “sorry,” and nobody offered to move us. Our room was next to the gym, and someone was working out at 6:30 a.m. At checkout they offered a $50.00 gift card to the resort. What a joke. Do they think we'd come back? The resort needs major updating, and there are nicer places to stay. I suggest spending your money somewhere else.

Our wedding day at Oakwood was beautiful, with excellent food and smooth day-of logistics. Getting there was another story. We had to keep advocating for ourselves, checking the charges and package details, and chasing basic information. Weddings are a major investment, and without our vigilance, I don't trust that we'd have been charged correctly. Accommodations were a big reason we chose Oakwood because all our guests were traveling. We booked nearly a year ahead and were told rooms could be added later, with availability not a concern in the off-season. We waited to finalize our block while confirming the guest list. Just weeks after signing, another wedding booked the remaining rooms. We didn't expect rooms to be held forever, but the information we'd received was inaccurate, and we weren't warned, leaving most guests without a place to stay. We and another guest had also booked vacation homes through Oakwood, but those were canceled two months before the wedding because, we were told, the homes were needed for a long-term tenant and an employee. At first, our only options were for guests to stay elsewhere, to reschedule, or to cancel the contract. After days of back-and-forth, Oakwood managed to offer a handful of extra rooms. We appreciated that outcome, but the lack of accountability and proactive help made an already stressful situation harder. There was also a large wedding with multiple events scheduled for the same weekend, overlapping ours on the Grand Lawn while theirs were on the Lakeside Patio. We had to repeatedly ask what their schedule was, since Oakwood didn't seem clear on which events were happening or where. We changed our ceremony time to avoid a conflict, which was inconvenient for both parties. Payment was frustrating too. There were several errors in the food and beverage contract. Oakwood changed its bar menu mid-year, then repeatedly quoted prices that didn't match our original agreement. We had to double-check and push for the correct pricing. Whether it was miscommunication or broader coordination trouble, it's hard to trust a venue that struggles with its own logistics. If you book Oakwood, keep a close eye on every step.

We've used this resort for our year-end wrap-up for the past two years and love it. The facilities, location, and staff are absolutely perfect. Highly recommend.