Mountain Lake Lodge

Well, here we go. I've been coming to Mountain Lake for 20 years and my wife since she was a child, over 40 years. We have stayed in almost all cabins and the lodge as well over the years. This review is actually painful to write as this place has a special place in our hearts. We got engaged here. Let's start with the prices. Ridiculous. There is no other way to put it. Just ridiculous. The property has seen much better days. While the claimed "renovations" are underway, it's the details on the smaller things that stand out. Broken showers in the cabin we stayed in, toilets that run all night, connecting doors that close but not really. Entrance doors to the lobby that are rusted and rotted on the bottom. The ballards that are in front of the lobby all pushed over and out of place. In a shadow box in the lobby they have a beautiful poster with the history of the lodge, however it is cut incorrectly, so the poster in the shadow box is crooked. It looks like a child hung it. If this place wasn't historic and $1,000 a night you might say, well it is what is is. However at the prices they charge, all these details should be looked after. I tried to book my wife a massage at the "spa" but was told by the spa manager there was no staff and it could not happen. While the staff, by and large was terrific, it really feels like the crew is a bunch of folks who love Mountain Lake, really do their best to look after the guests but are clearly not at the standard that such an expensive property requires. It's 5 star pricing with 2 star skill set. Back in the day this place was an experience that you actually could boast about to friends and family. Now it has become a place that leaves you feeling like to surrendered your time and money to a place that wants you to believe it's what it used to be but is really just a shadow of what it was.

I booked the room as a surprise for our 25th anniversary and Mountain Lake Lodge did not disappoint, great hotel great cottages and a lot of fun exploring the grounds of such an iconic film locale. Thank you for all you do

Why anyone would give this place above a 3, is mind boggling. No A/C, No TV, no elevator, the parking lot is a mile from the hotel, and an overwhelming smell of mildew on top of a long treacherous drive up a mountain. This place might be the worst “hotel” I have ever experienced. If you loved Dirty Dancing, do yourself a favor and just go up for the day. If you are looking for a camping trip experience from the 50’s, and you want your 12000 steps a day, this is the place for you. The best part of our family experience here was, I am finally not the parent who picked the worst hotel and location. (I was the reigning champ with a stay in the world’s worst Airbnb, with no working bathroom and a large mouse family in the heart of Dublin on Saint Pat’s with two toddlers in tow). Thanks Kellerman’s mountain lodge!

It was really great to be able to see where dirty dancing was made. Loved to see all of the little locations on what part of the film it was from.

My spouse and I spent New Year's Eve at Mountain Lake, a place I have visited since childhood. While the cost felt high--$900 for one night for two couples sharing a room--we believed the experience would be worth it. Prior to our stay, I called to confirm event details and was told the dress code would be coat and tie for men and evening attire for women. We were also told there would be appetizers at the event. Unfortunately, neither of these representations was accurate. A portion of the $900 included a $100 dinner credit. Based on the information provided about heavy hors d'oeuvres at the event, we chose to skip dinner reservations and instead enjoyed light snacks in our room before the evening festivities. When we arrived at the "party," there was no food whatsoever, and the attire was extremely casual--jeans, tennis shoes, and everyday clothing. We were clearly overdressed and uncomfortable. There was only one bartender for more than 200 attendees, resulting in waits of over 20 minutes for a single drink. Due to the crowd, we decided to walk to the hotel bar for food and a beverage around 9:30 p.m. We were told very rudely by the sole bartender that the kitchen was closed, though she could make us a drink. With no other reasonable options, we returned to our room by 10:30 p.m. because the event was nothing like what had been advertised. The following morning, we attended the included breakfast. The hotel was sold out, yet only three waitstaff were working. We waited over 30 minutes for a table, and once seated, found the buffet completely empty. Guests were standing around waiting for food to be replenished. Before writing this review, I contacted the manager on duty the next day to share my disappointment and ask whether there were broader operational issues at the hotel. I also expressed concern that we were only given a $25 dinner credit instead of the guaranteed $100, despite being told beforehand that heavy hors d'oeuvres would be provided at the event. At no point were we informed that the $100 credit would only apply if we made dinner reservations. Ultimately, given the breakfast experience, we were relieved we hadn't eaten dinner on-site. The manager did credit us the remaining $75, which I appreciated and felt was fair. However, the reason I am writing this review is that the manager took my information and assured me the general manager would contact me within two days to address our concerns. I was told they understood the situation and would offer a discounted weekend stay to make things right, especially since we have been long-time guests. Three weeks later, I have not heard from anyone. This lack of follow-up is yet another disappointment, though unfortunately not a surprise given the experience as a whole. If you are looking to attend a holiday event and want to spend your money wisely, I strongly recommend looking elsewhere.

All Dirty Dancing fans need to go! Staff is the Best I’ve seen anywhere.

We recently stayed at Mountain Lake Lodge. We arrived on December 29 for 2 nights. The property is quite impressive. We had been looking for places that actually do some serious Christmas decorating. Many towns in southwest Virginia think that they are decorated with some Christmas flags and some lighted electric pole decorations. The lodge had a number of fir trees that were probably upwards of 70 feet fully decorated. The website notes that they decorate with 250,000 Christmas lights and it seems quite likely that was the case. There were various decorated displays on the property. The property inside was very decorated. We stayed in a Junior Suite. There were certainly positive things about the suite. The bath towels were of a larger size. The bed spread was quite decorative. The bathroom had a Jacuzzi with shower. There was a propane gas fireplace. The shower curtain should have been slightly longer. One had to be careful to avoid getting water on the floor. We noticed that paint on the door frame had chip/damage issues. There was a bench at the end of the bed. It could be pushed back and forth with very little pressure with one finger. That raises the question of the housekeeping. Did the housekeeper simply vacuum around and under it? Gently touching it with a vacuum would have resulted in the bench wobbling. We found a dead fly on one windowsill and some dead gnats on a different windowsill. The fireplace hearth area had broken and discolored tiles. The caulking between the tiles and fireplace stone was in very poor condition. We had dinner two nights, and breakfast one morning. The servers bring a glass container of water to each table after guests are seated. The water is filtered spring water and tastes much nicer than bottled or tap water. The first night the dinner was green paprika chicken with succotash. The dish was impressive in appearance. The Lima beans, crunchy, were not fully cooked. The chicken was moist, tender, and flavorful. The Mountain Lake Lodge website shows a breakfast menu. I had hoped to order from the menu. It was instead a buffet breakfast. I sampled various items. There were numerous choices, however the quality was what one might find in an inexpensive hotel/motel. It was truly unimpressive and very disappointing. We were told that they had a breakfast buffet because there were “well over a hundred guests in the Lodge.” We did not, and this is only an observation, see a large number of people. Our second night dinner was disappointing. My wife ordered a hamburger medium and received a burger well done. The fries were under cooked. I ordered snapper which was done with Chile oil. I eat jalapeno peppers. The flavor of the fish was completely drowned by the spicy oil. Snapper is considered to be a mild, sweetly flavored fish. The bar is well stocked with various brands. It is comfortable but we noticed various imperfections. There was a chalk line where a chair rail had been placed. A small bubble level would have accomplished the task. We saw various paint splatters and other issues that perhaps many guests would not notice. It is perhaps likely that staff has become accustomed to various imperfections. People become accustomed to broken things for various reasons including familiarity. We recently stayed in a different hotel and met the manager of housekeeping. She was carrying a small computer pad and a legal pad. She inspected every room and wrote work orders on all imperfections. She was very aware that various small imperfections become familiar to staff. She understood that additional imperfections can easily be added to several small not readily noticed imperfections. It all becomes familiar and eventually results in a “tired looking” property. The staff is generally very proud of Mountain Lake Lodge. They are very focused on accommodating guests and insuring that guests have a very positive experience at their establishment. We found that the staff members were very friendly and very polite. We certainly do not have any negative comments in regard to the employees. We were told that there is planned renovation of the property. They will be using “local skilled people” who “feel a special connection” to the Lodge. We hope that this story results in superb craftsmanship. The movie Dirty Dancing was filmed primarily at two locations; one of those locations being Mountain Lake Lodge. The Lodge does have Dirty Dancing themed events and they have a shop in which there are various themed items available for purchase. That shop was very attractive and superbly maintained.

We had a great time vacationing at Mountain Lake Lodge. This is the second time we have visited and will definitely be back. Plenty of hiking/walking trails and the food was awesome

Wonderful Christmas Eve Dinner at Mountain Lake Lodge Our group of four had an outstanding Christmas Eve dinner at Mountain Lake Lodge. The staff throughout the lodge and at Harvest restaurant were exceptional—warm, attentive, and professional. We enjoyed fresh mixed green salads, delicious homemade soups, perfectly grilled red snapper over risotto, and beautifully prepared 21‑day aged steaks with mashed potatoes and asparagus. Pre‑dinner cocktails, Virginia wines, and custom espresso made the evening even better. The atmosphere was truly magical, highlighted by the working 1930s fireplace that added a nostalgic Christmas charm. A memorable and highly recommended holiday dining experience.

We got the Kellermans Film package and I’m so glad we did! I really enjoyed the private movie screening in a cozy cabin, it set the mood for the trip. I loved the nostalgia and the atmosphere. We visited the first of December and it snowed, so it was a winter wonderland. There are no televisions in the rooms so be aware you’ll need to fill your time with other activities. However, the WiFi signal is strong and you can stream on movie devices. The staff was very friendly and knowledgeable and lovely to chat with. We look forward to visiting again in the warmer months to explore the hiking trails!