Ponderosa at Thanksgiving

Guest: Nick (cinicinnati)
Date of Stay: 11/23/11 Review Submitted: 11/27/11

Our party stayed at the Ponderosa Lodge for Thanksgiving and had a great time. The Lodge was very well equipped and spacious for the 10 adults and 13 children in our party. We self catered breakfasts and 2 evening meals and our hosts (Jorene & Ken) catered our Thanksgiving feast. The kitchen and dining room was perfect for our party of 23 and it was delightful to have a delicious homemade meal served to us after returning from a day of hiking. The wood fires made the lodge very cozy and perfect to sit in front of in the evening and relax. The lodge is private and peaceful offering plenty of opportunities to spot wildlife and is only a short drive from Canyon Rim, Babcock State Park and Hawks Nest State Park. Jorene and Ken were great hosts and nothing was too much trouble.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with young children.

Wonderful vacation

Guest: Patty (Bluffton, South Carolina)
Date of Stay: 09/30/11 Review Submitted: 10/10/11

We spent this past Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday nights at the wonderful Ponderosa Lodge in Lookout, West Virginia. The property was very clean and well maintained. You can tell the owners take a lot of pride in their lodge. We love all the animals both inside and outside the lodge. It is truly a beautiful place to visit and to relax in the peaceful surroundings. We would advise anyone looking for a wonderful vacation to give this place a try. You will not be sorry you do. Jorene and Ken are wonderful hosts and check back with you often to make sure all is OK with you and your party.

Recommended for:Sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children.

Terrific Lodge and Farm, Great Lodgekeepers!

Guest: Fred (Beach City OH 44608)
Date of Stay: 07/28/11 Review Submitted: 09/01/11

Every summer for the past 7 years, our family reunion has been spent as a long weekend (Thurs. thru Sun.) at Ponderosa Lodge Bed and Breakfast near Lookout WV. We just had to tell you what an excellent experience we have had each time! The Lodgekeepers, Ken and Jorene, have done so much to make our weekends superb for us (we usually number around 25 people.) Not only have they provided breakfasts that were both delicious and nutricious, but for a very modest fee have let us use their kitchen for our other meals, and have been helpful in our food prep, too. The grandchildren have enjoyed and learned so much from the farm, and each summer are eager to see what animals are there and have Ken explain about their care -- and to tour their ogranic garden, too. When we arrive each time, Ken and Jorene have given us good and accurate information about nearby activities they knew would interest us -- because they have taken time to get to know us well. In short, they have a great facility, and have been exceptional hosts. We highly recommend Ponderosa Lodge to anyone wanting an enjoyable, comfortable and affordable weekend in the West Virginia mountains!

Recommended for:Sightseeing, adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children.

Perfect family reunion!

Guest: SandiH. (White House, TN)
Date of Stay: 07/15/11 Review Submitted: 08/23/11

We rented this lodge the end of July for a family reunion. There were 7 families from 7 different states getting together so we needed a spacious place and found this lodge to be ideal for a group gathering. The lodge was very clean,owners are as gracious as them come and beautifully decorated. I was worried about a couple of the bedrooms not having A/C and was reassured by Ken that being as deep in the mountain as they are, it would stay cool. he was absolutely correct! Never even turned on the a/c in our room! Beautiful breeze,fresh mountain air was definitely not lacking as we hung out on the huge front porch day or night time. Plenty of seating for all of us outside or inside. House was extremely clean and breakfast....ahhhh...well let's just say the blueberry coffee cake is worth the trip! It was great to be in a place were we did not have to worry about the kids having fun and being safe. Guidelines were known of where we could roam and the game room was a hit! We were worried about making too much noise,because we love to laugh and can get kind of loud but was constantly reassured we were fine and asked if everything was ok for us. Some people went hiking and paddleboating in a near by park and really enjoyed it as well. Oh,before I finish,Ken and Jorene recommended a local pizza place called Pies and Pints...excellent place! The waiter never wrote down the order,never got an order wrong and the pizzas were all delish!

Recommended for:Sightseeing, adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children.

Almost Heaven!

Guest: Ohio/ Michigan family group (Ohio/ Michigan)
Date of Stay: 09/19/10 Review Submitted: 07/18/11

This is a heartfelt thank you on behalf of my family members, from Ohio and Michigan. who stayed here after my husband's sudden passing on 9/19/10. Not only was the lodge fantastic, but the caring and kindness shown will never be forgotten. Ken and Jorene have, by far, the best accomodations for large groups in Fayette County, WV. The setting is very beautiful and the organic food, that is grown and served here, truly amazing. I highly recommend the Ponderosa Lodge to both my family members and dear friends groups. A true farm experience while staying at such a wonderful place....close to so many outdoor adventures! Thank you again!

Recommended for:People with disabilities, sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway, pet owners, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children.

Fantastic!

Guest: SJ (Jersey City, NJ)
Date of Stay: 03/05/11 Review Submitted: 07/12/11

I can't say enough nice things about this place and our mountain vacation. It's perfect for a trip where you want to get away from it all, slow down, take deeper breaths, enjoy the outdoors, and enjoy quality time with your family or friends. We've driven down from DC to stay there three times. The drive down is beautiful, with some stunning mountain views. At the Lodge, the owners couldn't be nicer or more accommodating, and everything about the place showed their hard work and love for what they do. There is so much to do in the area -- rafting, horseback riding, hiking, etc for the active. And strolling around the property to see the wonderful gardens and farm animals, lazing in a hammock, or playing board games and ping pong with friends for those of us who wanted a more relaxed vacation. It's a great place for kids too -- they'll love exploring the property, feeding the animals, and maybe picking a veggie or two to go with dinner. And as a foodie, I was thrilled with the delicious meals that were often made with the Lodge's own organic veggies and fruits! The owners' homemade breads and other baked goods were divine. Overall, our days there felt longer, slower, simpler, and happier. I highly recommend Ponderosa Lodge to groups who want a vacation to help them slow down, reconnect, and remember to appreciate the little things a little more.

Recommended for:People with disabilities, sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway, pet owners, age 55+, families with teenagers, romantic getaway, families with young children.

Relaxation at its best

Guest: meggievt (Alexandria, VA)
Date of Stay: 04/06/07 Review Submitted: 07/11/11

My husband and I have stayed at the Poderosa Lodge twice in the last few years! Ken and Jorene are always the most gracious hosts and certainly make sure that we have a great time. There is something for everyone - whether it be relaxing on the property, hiking at one of the nearby parks, or rafting down the Gauley River. We have an awesome time everytime we visit!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with teenagers, romantic getaway, families with young children.

The Ponderosa Lodge Farm

Guest: Patty (Bluffton, South Carolina)
Date of Stay: 07/07/11 Review Submitted: 07/09/11

We have enjoyed our wonderful stay at the Ponderosa Lodge near Lookout, West Virginia. The lodge is very clean and comfortable. The hosts are very friendly and nice. Wonderful farm stay with lots of things to see and enjoy. All the places around are very beautiful. This will not be out last time to stay at the very lovely lodge. We will definitely stay again and plan on a graduation party for our nephew next year. Thanks for everything you did for us while we were there. We love all the little cute shops around the lodge in the towns close by. The State Parks around are awesome.

Recommended for:People with disabilities, sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with teenagers, romantic getaway, families with young children.

Family Get Away

Guest: BJ (Groveport, Ohio)
Date of Stay: 10/29/10 Review Submitted: 07/08/11

The Ponderosa Lodge is the perfect getaway for anyone looking to escape their familiar routine. Whether it's a romantic escape for two .. a girls getaway .. family reunion .. or back to nature retreat ~~ whatever you're looking for I guarantee you'll find it here. I've stayed here many times and always look forward to returning with my family. They must have fairy's that clean when we're sleeping, it's always clean and immaculate! The homemade meals and special snacks are amazing! K & J are wonderful hosts making us feel welcome and pampered! They're always asking if everything is okay and going out of their way to accommodate everyone. There are so many activities to do at the lodge not to mention many close by. Whether you're trying to catch up on sleep (hammock or peaceful bedroom), a good book or movie or adventure to explore nature ~ it's all easily within reach. Whether it's winter, spring, summer or autumn, The Ponderosa Lodge will be your favorite return retreat for all of your getaway plans. It's been exciting to pull up the driveway at the beginning of our vacations and bittersweet leaving the lodge at the end of our stay .. although we know we will return again.

Recommended for:People with disabilities, sightseeing, adventure seekers, tourists without a car, girls getaway, pet owners, age 55+, families with teenagers, romantic getaway, families with young children.

Rustic

Guest: family group planner (Eastern USA)
Date of Stay: 05/27/11 Review Submitted: 07/05/11

Our family stayed here (all 10 bedrooms) & had a great time together, but we were disappointed in the cleanliness of the facility and also the outside maintenence of the property. The water pressure was very poor in the bathrooms and kitchen, which made showering very difficult. The plus side to our visit was the large front porch where we spent much of our time. Although we are animal lovers, we did not appreciate the owners' dogs joining us inside for meals & found that they were apparently "used" to being part of the guests meal time, because they were difficult to remove from under the dining room table. Part of our group enjoyed rafting on the New River Gorge and that was a good experience & Babcock State Park was also a great place to hike. Both attractions were farther than we had expected, but lots of fun. Overall, we had a great time with family but I believe this facility needs a little more work before considering it as a quality VRBO property.

Owner response:These statements are false. Six housekeepers cleaned the lodge the day before this group arrived. I double-checked their work, and I'm positive it was carefully cleaned. Regarding the outside, there were severe thunderstorms that included hail, lightning, and tornadoes the night before this group arrived. It affected the lodge. I called the family several times to discuss the damage and a possible cancellation; no one answered. Upon their arrival, I discussed the storm and damage and asked whether the family wished to cancel. The family leader stated they did not. Our water tanks pump at 50 psi. This means 5 of 10 bathrooms can run baths simultaneously before any pressure decline occurs. We informed this family of this fact. There is also a sign prominently displayed in each bathroom that informs guests of this and suggests groups coordinate shower schedules. This is generally not an issue with our groups. We never permit the dogs access to the dining room. I told the family's leader to keep the back kitchen door shut at all times because it leads to our private apartment. Additionally, I told her the dogs could gain access to the lodge if it was open. Throughout the entire weekend, my staff and I noticed the family repeatedly left it open and that the dogs gained access to the dining room. Each time, we attempted to remove the dogs, but the family told us they “loved the dogs” and wanted the dogs to stay with them. They requested that the dogs be removed only once, and we did so cheerfully and expeditiously. Regarding the statement that the park and rafting “were farther than expected,” our website provides accurate information regarding the distance of these activities. We verbally provide the same accurate information. Finally, I asked this family’s leader several times each day whether they were happy with the lodge and whether I could do anything to make their stay more comfortable or enjoyable. Each time, I was assured every thing was fine and that they were very happy with the lodge. Additionally, each room contains a prominently displayed sign which states: “We will try our very best to correct any problems you have, so please make us aware of any problems immediately so that we may correct them as soon as possible.” It was not until an hour before the family’s departure as they were paying the bill that any complaints were raised.

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