Crater Lake Lodge - CRATER LAKE, Oregon

Len

As a huge fan of national park lodges, I’m writing this review with sadness. Crater Lake Lodge is located in one of the most spectacular national parks in the US, and the views from the hotel are certainly unbeatable. And yet our stay last summer was extremely disappointing. First, they gave us a room where they had clearly not changed the (very dirty) sheets from the previous guest (pictures attached). Second, when we complained to the front desk, they sent someone to our room, but instead of changing the sheets (since this was clearly their oversight), they just handed us the new sheets at the room’s entrance, and they left, without even removing the dirty sheets from the bed. It was then that we decided to have a look at the rest of the room. And what we found, in terms of dirtiness, was beyond shock. On the floor, next to the bed, we found used dental floss and pills. And so dirty was the bathroom that it took an act of faith to use it (picture attached). Remoteness may be an excuse for limited connectivity or amenities, but in no way should it be an excuse for such a level of unhealthy dirtiness. It was really shocking and disgusting.

Vegas M.

You can't beat the view from this historic lodge set right on the edge of the caldera. The room was small but felt vintage. Unlike some of the other reviews, our room was clean and cozy and we had no issues. The housekeeping staff was friendly and helped us quickly get more towels when we needed them and left us a hand written welcome in the room.||Check in was ok. The staff was not rude but I would not say overly friendly. It was the only place we felt didn't live up to expectations. We asked about the gorgeous fireplaces and they said they were broken. I'm not sure how all three are broken at the same time, but I know this company just took over from the trainwreck of the previous company so we expected some hiccups. ||Dinner service was good - we both enjoyed the steak and had potatoes and added on a risotto cake that was a delicious addition to the meal. For dessert we shared a berry cobbler (good) and banana bread burbon bread pudding (great). The manager came by to ensure we were enjoying the meal and suggested we try the Crater Lake lemon shakeup drink, and it was a can't miss. We enjoyed drinks on the patio, even though it was chilly, and the stars in the night sky left us with unforgettable memories. ||Overall, we enjoyed every minute of our short time at Crater Lake. If you are looking for a high end hotel, you won't find it here, but you will find a vintage historic lodge that is showing its age a bit, but still a true delight.

Travel J.

We were fortunate to get a lakeview room at this gorgeous historic lodge. The park had a fire in a northern section and there was quite a bit of smoke over the lake one morning, but otherwise it was perfect. We enjoyed a boat tour (that hike back up is a killer!) drinks on the patio in the evening, and had a great dinner in the dining room. The pork chop was juicy and delicious and my husband had the bison beef stew, which he said was great. Our room was on the small side and showed its age in a few places but it was clean and pleasant. ||The front desk staff seemed a bit disengaged but everyone else we met along the way was friendly and seemed to love being in the park. Our waiter was Jack and he really knew the menu and treated us like VIPs.||Overall, Crater Lake is a must see destination in a unique place. You need to visit at least once to believe it.

Matt B.

The new company that took over the park needs to get it together, the lodge has definitely declined quite a bit, but the view of the lake, and the location are breathtaking. Rooms don’t have almost any amenities, but if you’re a nature buff like me, it’s worth it.

Edward M.

This is a lodge built in 1915, I didn’t expect designer accommodations. I did expect things to be in working order with typical lodging toiletries and such.|This was the case. I was away from my room all day enjoying the spectacular scenery, except when I had a dinner (I made a reservation three months in advance) and breakfast without a reservation, although I added my name to a list of people waiting to be seated. I visited Crater Lake NP in October, the dining room was not at full capacity during my stay when I had a meal. Where the lodge has no air conditioning, the cooler October temps and less humid air allowed for comfortable sleeping. I also enjoyed the lodge’s stone and wood character, something I seldom see. The lodge is adjacent to the lake, I joined several other guests sitting in rocking chairs taking in the view of the lake.||So, I have no complaints, my mission to see an extraordinary natural feature is a quest accomplished. I will always have a soft spot for Crater Lake National Park.

Lisa P.

Update: Upon heading out for sunrise…. 6:30am…. A couple was waiting to check out and no one was at the front seat. They said they were waiting 15 min already! That’s a definite negative .

Our stay was exactly as expected. You can’t beat the location. I’m not a camper so this was it! It is historic and has a historic feel from the moment you walk through the doors . With that said don’t expect to walk through your room door and be wowed with modern amenities . I was expecting exactly what I got … yes there was some wallpaper peeling but honestly it did not make a bit of difference to my stay. Beds were comfortable. Shower pressure great! Room clean except I was slightly taken back by the shower liner being hard water stained and showing signs of mold. (Update from my daughter: dead bugs in the window sills). Right off the lobby, they have a nice set up showing the historic timeline of the hotel , the location is fabulous, the atmosphere and ambiance great and the porch overlooking the lake just seals the deal. Some might say it is expensive but I think it is a fair price. You definitely need to make dinner reservations ! A MUST. Not because the meals our exceptional but more so it’s the only game in town except for quick counter service down the road . I will say the wait service was friendly , attentive and good.

Fred N.

First, we stayed in a loft suite (room 325) for three days. The loft (reached by stairs) contained a king-size bed and the bottom floor had a queen-size bed. The room was generous in size and suited our needs very well. The room decorations were period-correct. We had no issue with our beds which were sturdy and clean. The view of the lake from our loft room window was magnificent (see attached photos). This view alone justified the cost. The room has no mini fridge or microwave (hence the title Food Desert) and should be addressed by the new management. Your dining options are minimal and very expensive. They are the Lodge restaurant and the Gift Store/Snack bar located near the Lodge. The next dining spot is 7 miles away (Annies) and the next restaurant after that (outside of National Park) is 19 miles away. Crater Lake National Park has a new concessionaire this year. The company is ExplorUS and they took over from Aramark. Overall, I thought this company did very well considering the first-year problems they had to deal with. Management needs to give their clients more food options! Go, you won't be disappointed.

Peter

Overall a cool historic building that’s a good day stop. The lobby and restaurant are nice and have been kept well. I wouldn’t recommend staying a night though. Right off the start the front desk girl, Camron, was pretty rude and unfriendly, I get hospitality is a difficult job, hopefully it was just a bad day for her. Thankfully all the other front desk staff, as well as the dining staff, were great.

I’ve stayed at the Timberland Lodge and the Mount Washington Hotel both of which are very old, historic lodges and they were spotless inside. The rooms in this place were crazy. Mold and mildew all over the bathroom and tub and massive black dirt stains all over the walls, peeling wall paper and you can hear the fans choking just looking at them. Thankfully we only stayed one night. I heard people complaining about the conditions of their room and the staff gave a quick response so you get what you get there.

I would recommend grabbing a bite to eat at the restaurant and hanging out in the lobby but I wouldn’t recommend actually staying there.