Bottom line up front: I would not return to Elk Springs Resort, nor recommend it to my friends.
First, the good. The restaurant staff and food were excellent.
Now for the not so good:
1. We stayed in the lodge. Immediately we were confronted with numerous signs prohibiting wear of studded wading boots and warning of a $500 fee if damage were detected to the floor which was freshly refinished in a manner totally inconsistent with a fishing and hunting lodge. The floor looked more like it belonged in a ballroom or a mansion. The warnings necessitated several trips up and down a long flight of stairs to stage our wading boots on the outside porch to dress and undress from our waders. The signs were threatening and scolding in tone. They did not make us feel welcome.
2. We stayed in the "Sea Suite" which had only a flimsy lock on the door and an inoperable ADT-type alarm system. There was a (long time) broken, non-usable soap dispenser in the shower, and a large assortment of dead insects on the bathroom window sill. There were no screens on the balcony door or bathroom window, so we could not leave them open to enjoy the cool evening air.
3. We were the only guests in the lodge and that gave rise to a security concern. Other than the flimsy door lock. There was no phone in the room to call for help, and the lodge doors were unsecured at night. All in all, we had a feeling that we were isolated and on our own, even though we were on "resort" property.
4. There were, again, t"non-welcoming" signs on a footbridge to cross the Elk river, leading to a cabin area. The signage warned that the river area and bridge itself were off limits to other than those residing in the cabins. The fishing opportunities on that side of the river were much better. The first day, we went with a resort guide to cross over to that fishing area (apparently you can use this resort area if you have a resort guide). On our return for lunch, one of the "cabin" guests complained to the resort management that we had encroached on his privacy. It seems unfair and ridiculous to prohibit paying guests from access to a particular portion of the resort property.
5. This prohibition resulted in large part from our decision to depart a day early. My wife had injured her knee the day before, while crossing a rocky and difficult stretch of the river. I was told that we could not use this bridge on our own to cross the river the next day, and instead had to find a place to cross by wading the river, which would have been difficult for my wife.
6. When I inquired of the guides for a good place to fish the next day, they were non-specific. There was no strip map of places to fish, off property, or how to get to them. It was a do it yourself kit. As a paying guest, I expected more.
7. The fishing itself was disappointing It was relatively late in the season (early July), and there was an abundance of trout. However, even with an experienced guide, we were unable to determine which flies to use and what techniques were most effective. The catch for an all-day outing was three trout, and three "pre-net releases." The trout were seriously "fished out."
8. All in all, except for the restaurant, our experience did not match our expectations. I will not recommend this experience to my friends. read more
