Deerhurst Resort

Here is my two booking review, different buildings + different seasons Summer- Bayshore Rooms We booked a couple of nights here because we were dropping my son off at camp nearby and we though we'd make a weekend of it. Last minute decision and booked the cheapest (but still not cheap) room. The Bayshore rooms + building are gross, quite honestly. Like a 1990s motel vibe. Old carpeting, stains, wear on the furniture, old bathroom. The pool was just as bad. Carpeting in the change room (yes, a cloth floor in pool changeroom), a diaper was left out on the bench the whole day (because there seem to be no staff anywhere, at any time), tiny, scratchy/old towels provided, and extremely dated. Winter- Lakeside Lodge Again, we found ourselves in Huntsville, for a dog sledding activity, so we decided to give the resort another chance and upgraded to the most recently renovated rooms in the Lakeside Lodge. Best way to describe it is that while it was upgraded, it felt like a cheap condo. I thought the change in room would make us feel more at home but it still felt off. Activities- this is where they really fell short. They had this full calendar of events (which was the reason we decided to give it another chance), but it felt like they just taken whatever stuff they had lying around and made their calendar based on that. Example - they had "movie nights". It was an unmanned projector in a conference room, with conference seats in rows. No schedule anywhere. No staff anywhere. You'd just show up and see what was running and hope it was somewhere near the begining of the movie. Then you'd sit uncomfortably on an old upholstered chair in a conference room. Zero thought to the experience. They promoted a campfire with smores and the only one I came across was one in a roundabout in the parking lot, with the fire at the very edge (so only a handful of people could have stood around it in a half moon shape). It's wild that with the grounds as large as they are, they couldn't position a campfire, where children would stand by, away from the moving cars. Even ignoring the children/safety aspect, who wants to be at a campfire in a parking lot? Perhaps there were other locations- but I didn't see them and there was no clear signage nor staff to share these details with you. What I think really made it feel jarring was the lack of staff or feeling of welcome. You just kinda wandered the resort and didn't feel like there was anyone around to help you. No music playing, no thought around experience. To be clear, in the places where there were staff (front desk, skate rentals, etc), everyone was very nice. It's just that with a resort of this size, it was very obviously understaffed.

Deerhurst did not live up to the expectations I had or reputation it has. Amenities are far from our building, room was never cleaned over a 3 night stay, property wasn't adequately snow cleared and left icy walking conditions. Activities are only available if weather permits.

We stayed in the 009, terrace unit, bottom floor, 2 bedroom at Lakeside Lodge. Great views of Penn Lake, walk out to the trails is unreal could hear the ice cracking in the morning. Stayed last summer also and the outdoor pool is right there for the kids! So easy and clean. Very memorable for so many reasons. Shuttle takes you to main building and back, like your own driver. You get what you pay for and you can't go wrong with Lakeside at Deerhurst.

This resort is undergoing deterioration on all levels. After 20 years of patronizing this resort we will never go back. Everything about this resort has deteriorated including the (lack of) customer service. The only restaurant other than main diningroom is meant to service a packed resort post breakfast with a ridiculous charge for kids 5+ of $22.95 for a fixed menu! The condo we stayed in was falling apart and dirty with discarded swimsuit and sock behind diningroom hutch along with 'garbage', dirty counters, broken fixtures; the shuttle service was non-existent with only one mini-van running and 4 more sitting snow covered in the parking lot. Food is subpar at best. Service at front desk and cleaning serivice is abysmal. NO advertised activities were available despite an over-abundance of snow since November!...No cross country skiing, no snowmobiling, no kick sledding; no skates for young children (smallest size is children's 13); The lobby bar/lounge doesn't open until 5 pm leaving no where to go for a quick snack or drink. Kids arcade games are broken; the pool was dirty and the hot tub filled with dirty foam. The pool towels are 30 years old, gray and threadbare and the size of dishtowels! All in all this place has declined drastically and not worth the exhorbitant prices charged for food and accommodations. Go elsewhere!

Location and services offered and activities

Communication was not good regarding the shuttle and getting a pickup when I was at hidden valley. I called, texted and no reply. My husband had to come out and pick me up after I had been waiting an hour and a half trying to get through

First experience in a Canadian resort. No blowdryers in pool change rooms, no family change rooms. Had to walk out in -19 with wet hair! Insanity

facilities and location

under staffs and it would be great if staffs may carry more smile. since this is our first time staying in deerhurts, we are expecting more advise or suggestions in dining advise.