Grand Lake Lodge
 

Has anyone stayed at Grand Lake Lodge recently? There are no reviews for it on tripadvisor, not that I trust that site anyway. We have one night in Grand Lake in June, and I am debating whether to stay here.

It might be for sale, and closed.

I think it is for sale, but it is open.

I have read some good comments about it on this forum, but there are only a couple of pictures of the place on its website, which makes me a little nervous.

It is a grand old lodge, and has had an awesome restaurant over the years. We have gone there for dinners in the summer since the late 70s. The front porch and the restaurant have awesome lake views. The fireplace in the lodge is fun to sit around.

The cabins always looked pretty rustic, but we never stayed there.

Thanks for your reply!

We LOVED it. The little cabins needed work when we were here and this has been a few years ago.
The lodge and porch are beautiful and the views from the restaurant are breathtaking.

Ther restaurant used to be run by a very well known chef in the summers. There was a regatta there which drew very distinguisahed palettes while there. The food was incredible,
But, the views and nearby lake and hiking and horse trails wont have changed.

Several years back it was voted as a top 10 affordable family vacation in one of the popular magazines.

It remains one of my favorite family vacations with my children!
I hope it is still open.

I believe Grand Lake Lodge was bought in December 2010. It is due to reopen mid-June and apparently the new owners have done some remodeling.

Good news! Thanks, historytraveler. We will return for our annual summertime meal on the porch.

We'll be staying there one night in a couple of weeks. I'll report back.:)

Love lunch on the porch, gazing at the awesome views (even with all the dead trees and giant piles of cut pines on the western side).

Thanks everyone for the information! I think we will definitely try it for a meal, still debating whether to stay there.

We just returned from Grand Lake and thought I would provide an update. We did not stay there but walked around the grounds and talked to the manager. The lodge has been closed for three years and just reopened this summer. It is in a spectacular setting overlooking the lake, almost in RMNP. They are in the process of redoing all the cabins. Currently, there is at least one remodeled cabin in each category. We were sorry we didn't stay there, given the lovely views and the feel of a national park lodge.

Thanks for reporting back. Was the restaurant open yet at Grand Lake Lodge?

The restaurant was open, but we ended up not eating there. We had eaten a lot earlier in the day and decided to have a light dinner. Maybe on our next visit!

thanks for the update, Digbydog.

Thank you. We might go there this coming weekend, in fact, to enjoy dinner on the front porch. Yay! Happy 4th, y'all!

Just had lunch on the porch today; splendid weather, view, kids enjoying the pool below, trimmed aspens (for the view), menu a couple bucks pricier, but what the heck!

Thanks, Sylvia. We might go over there tomorrow, or on the 4th if we feel like braving the crowds.

Having dinner there tonight. Yay! Will report back tomorrow.

I cant wait to hear!!!

Do you know if they have refurbished the cabins?

We had a lovely dinner, just like old times. The place looks exactly the same, except they opened up the gift shop area more to the great room. I don't know what they are doing to the cabins, and forgot to ask. A resort company from the Dakotas has purchased it. We asked about year-round operation, but is a $2 million job to winterize the lodge building alone.

We had dinner resies, and opted to wait about 20 minutes to get a porch table, which was well worth it. We got drinks from the bar and enjoyed them on the front porch. I took a photo from there and e-mailed to our kids, who ate there many times with us, and who are far, far away this July 4th.

It was a beautiful evening, and we opened our dining table-side window all the way to catch the breeze and the fresh scented air. Gorgeous.

We both chose the 6 oz fillet mignon, topped with lump crab, and a sauce with roasted red peppers and capers. Accompanied by roasted new potato quarters, and fresh grilled asparagus. This was preceded by a dinner salad. It was $28, which was a good value. The meat was delicious, especially.

Service was a bit slow, as they did not seem to be staffed properly. We were in no hurry, so did not care Waitress and bus people were very nice.

They have some kinks to work out it seems. Like the bread oven broke during our meal, and it took awhile to get seconds ofmtheir very good bread.

All in all, it is a classic American experience. Perfect for the Fourth of July!

Peace Out--You are making me sad that we didn't eat there! They told us that the cabins were being outfitted with showers and tile. In the past, they only had claw foot tubs. I can't remember now whether there were other updates. They were waiting on a photographer to get pictures of the newly redone cabins.

Thanks for the info - such fond memories of staying there w our childen. Loved loved it.

Us, too, annesherrod.

I will say that I looked at the Lodge with objective eyes, trying to think critically. Although DH and I have been going there for special visits, since before we could afford to eat there! In college, we had a friend who worked there one summer and we were able to crash on his employee cabin floor. A long time ago. . .

Anyway, it is hard for me to be objective. I would describe it to someone who has no idea of it, as above a Y facility, but still very simple and hardy.

I would understand if someone was surprised at its vintage simplicity, if all I write is a gushing review of the restaurant. Make sense?

historytraveler, how was Grand Lake Lodge?