Chetola Resort at Blowing Rock (Lodge)

Nice setting, but a major disappointment given the $500 per night (at least, with fees) price tag. We were told we'd have to endure a leaking refrigerator throughout our five-day stay--and it was not just a little leak, but one that spread along one side of a bed for the entire time. The only remedy offered was extra towels to change to keep the water sopped up. Room phones didn't work, so no calling the front desk, housekeeping, or the restaurant for room service that is supposedly available to guests. We were also "welcomed" with an unwashed glass by our ice bucket, complete with greasy finger marks, and we waited four hours for a replacement. Housekeeping seemed to show up each day right after we returned to the room and put the "Do not disturb" sign outside. You'd think after missing cleaning one day, they'd be on the lookout for the "Please clean" sign in coming days. Not so. Restaurant is meh, although the wait staff is super.

The fact that they charge a resort fee is laughable. We were unable to get reservations in the restaurant, or the spa. The advertised bonfire on weekends never happened. The pool room is at least 95 degrees and the pool is FILTHY! The water is slimy with a green cloudy tint. The hot tub is worse. The water is the same green slime, but there are things floating in the hot-tub. We chose to eat dinner at the bar. Unfortunately the restaurant was short staffed although no one told us. We heard the staff complaining. We ordered drinks and salads. My wine never comes. Turns out one of the two bartenders left right when we ordered. People are lining up at the bar to order because they are sitting outside and no one is waiting on them. The bartender is swamped! Asking for help. Not getting any. We got 11 dollar salads with 12 dollar add on for “grilled chicken” that was straight out of the refrigerator, freezing cold. No water/drinks, no waitress, just an overworked bartender trying her best to assure us she hadn’t forgotten us, but tending to the 10 people lined up to order. When she was finally able to check on us, we ordered dessert. HUGE MISTAKE! It took 45 minutes to get that. Finally a manager shows up in time to give us our bill. I was charged 15 for the wine and had to wait longer to have that removed. Only the bartender apologized for the evening. When booking we paid 40.00 for two breakfasts in the restaurant. Advertised as a breakfast menu. When we arrived, it was a buffet and not very appetizing. In addition to the fact that they only had a 90 sanitation grade we opted to go somewhere else for breakfast. I will say the room was clean, however, the air conditioner didn’t work very well. The grounds are beautiful.I have reached out to them to discuss, offering my number for a call but just received a boiler plate apology email. I wish I had seen more honest reviews before booking. Buyer beware. This place is expensive and does not live up to the hype.

While my personal room was fine, I found the overall experience disappointing. The building desperately needs renovation. Paint, roof repairs, broken air conditioning. The attitude of the staff was mediocre and didn’t seem to want to please. Only lighting fire pits on weekends, struggling to provide morning coffee, a pathetic gift shop. Not a destination resort.

Rather disappointing stay compared to former visits there. Stark cold lighting was sparse and I couldn’t read in bed. The Bob Timberlake decor had been replaced by wood plank walls, large moose wallpaper on wall, no headboard, etc. The safe was not working and staff should’ve been aware of that because the door would not close to it. We left the room one morning at 10 AM to go down to get breakfast and we already had a note on our door that said that we had missed their cleaning service and to call the front desk for towels if we want them. I complain to the front desk And they said they would have someone clean our room, but when we returned at the end of the day it was still not done. Then I called and asked for towels and we had to call again an hour later to ask for them again. Not worth the $1100 two night stay. I could have gotten the same room for $280 at the last minute.

Great place to stay in Blowing Rock, away from the main hwy, very peaceful. We stayed in a spacious suite with a nice balcony view. Very comfortable. We would stay there again when vacationing in that area. The restaurant was mediocre, but great options minutes away in the beautiful downtown.

The room was very tight for a wheelchair. The pool stairs to far apart to enter. Overall, a Disaster except Friendly Staff.