Out of all the places near Yellowstone, this is certainly one of the worst. Spoiler Alert: I did not fully enjoy my experience at Hayloft Hollow. In fact, after multiple unsatisfactory calls to Property manager name, we ended up cutting our vacation short by two days just to get out of here. This review is based on my experience in May 2022.
Things I wish I knew before deciding to stay at Hayloft Hollow. When they say remote, they really mean remote. Picture bumpy dirt roads with giant potholes for 10 minutes. Yea, that type of remote. Despite being a bit off the beaten path, there are still houses all around. Property Overall Feeling: Everything is as described in the pictures, although we still felt very misled. The place appears very dirty and sad in person. When we first walked in, there was a pungent odor (which we were informed was from prior tenants). This odor dissipated over the next 2-3 days, but who wants to spend their vacation waiting for a property to air out? The outdoor fireplace was half covered in snow, rendering it unusable. Even if we wanted to shovel the snow (we didn't), the chairs were also dirty in the shed. The backyard table and grill are in need of a deep cleaning. Cooking Surfaces/Materials: All the staples were included. Most plates and dishes looked like they had been lightly wiped with a damp towel. A former renter melted something plastic in the oven top rack, which we only noticed as it melted into our dinner.Service: Unfortunately for Kabino Property Manager this appeared to be the perfect storm for things to go wrong. Our initial reaction to the property was disappointment due to the cleanliness and smell. While they did try to get cleaners to revisit the property, no such cleaner arrived in the 3 days we were there. The guidance we received was to "air out" the property from the prior tenants, and to "look under the sink for cleaning materials". Property manager said “my husband can clean since you’re pregnant”.
To help ensure my reviews are not based on any specific overreaction (positive or negative), I usually wait a week before reviewing properties. I've stayed in remote cabins before, and was expecting to have to rough it. A week later, I can now reflect with certainty that this was the worst place I've stayed in for the past five years.