THE JACK WARNER at NorthRiver

I told the owner, and I’ll say it here too: I’d reroute my trip just to stay at the Jack Warner again. The forest around the property is beautiful, and I loved the period details, especially the shutters that make the room dark for people who need that. Our room was spotless, the bed was comfortable, breakfast was ample, and the layout felt so welcoming. The surrounds were amazing, and the staff were spectacular. We absolutely loved it. Highly recommend, it’s one of a kind.

The art collection in the library is marvelous! The front desk was super friendly, the beds very comfortable, and there’s swimming and tennis next door at the Clubhouse. A beautiful, clean, quiet hotel, so much better than the usual mainstream places. It’s well worth the 10 min drive from the Interstate. We’ll definitely stop over whenever we travel. Perfect.

The beds were comfortable, and the staff were friendly, but there didn’t seem to be any plan for looking after guests. I’d heard rave reviews from friends, so the stay was a disappointment. It could be lovely, but it needs attention and an update. We booked because I was attending a wedding at the club next door and thought the inn would be convenient. Breakfast was continental. There was no shampoo or conditioner on arrival, and after talking with other guests, it sounded like nobody had been provided shampoo. The tub drained poorly. The front desk tried plunging it and using drano, but it still didn’t drain well. We stayed three nights and the room was never cleaned. On our last night I had to ask at the desk for clean towels. There was no bottled water, the hairdryer was old with a very sticky handle, and the air conditioner was loud. There’s no restaurant on site, though after I asked, front desk staff called the yacht club so we could pick up a meal. Getting into Tuscaloosa takes a 20 minute commute.

We came up from Biloxi on a whim and were thoroughly impressed. The place is gorgeous, with nice rooms, a beautiful deck, and a pretty little waterfall behind the hotel. It’s right by the lake, and there’s access to the country club too, though we never made it there.