Very nice and relaxing boutique hotel and spa. Beautiful views of the lake. We saw several deer roaming the grounds. A great place to get away from the stress of life. The on-site manager. Sarah and the general manager Josh were very friendly and knowledgeable about the area. The included breakfast was light, tasty and healthy. There are yoga, meditation, a jacuzzi and massage available. We enjoyed our time there. read more

Myself and part of the film crew were lodged here in October 2015. We were welcomed in while still under renovation. Doors did not lock and not all furniture was unpacked so we had to put it together ourselves. While the view and the birds were spectacular, our hosts were not. We would leave work and things would be moved around when we came back, which was invasive and perplexing since there was no maid service in the four weeks we stayed. On several occasions after working the grave shift in the early morning there would be knocks on our doors and occasionally fire alarms would be set off. One day after days of our doors never locking (both the hallway and sliding glass doors) they decided to do maintenance to finally have the doors properly lock, and lock them when they were done. Well because none of the doors to our rooms locked many of us stopped carrying the keys, and upon arriving to locked doors it was hard to get in contact to be let into our rooms. As much as we appreciated being lodged in this clean facility, we could have done away with the hostility and confiscation of personal property from our rooms. read more

I would do them a disservice if I left anything less than 5 stars!! Privately owned lodge by the sweetest couple that truly makes you feel at home! I wouldn't want to stay anywhere else. Immaculately clean, peaceful, gorgeous views and all the essentials you need. Kitchenette, coffee, fridge washer dryer, and extras in case you forgot something! Everything is labeled and clear instructions are listed during your stay. We will absolutely be back :-) thank you Joanne for being an amazing soul and offering this beautiful lodge with your hospitality! read more

Lake Cuyamaca Lodge - Afternoon View from the Porch. Stunning!! - Hotels Near Me - Julian, California

Charming, comfortable, friendly & inviting stay at the Ruel's Lodge. Joann accommodated our visit even when she had no other guests (intentional) booked for the evening! As for the actual rooms, you will not find a cleaner room in all of Southern CA. Not a blemish on the walls, floorboards were immaculate, showers same. Sheets were quality, high thread count, with large fluffy comfy pillows. We stayed in room 6 which had a lake view, there is a standing, oscillating fan, a ceiling fan and a sliding glass door so we were able to sleep with door open and fresh air. My husband and I slept soundly. Back patio has rocking chairs! And the view... In the morning Joann & her husband gave us a tour of the property. Absolutely incredible all they have done. The workmanship they have both invested is seen in each detail of the home. Sad to report the house is for sale. One can only hope new owners will have a desire to keep the lodge. But I say do not wait! If you have been wanting to try this place out, now is the time. Experience the Ruel's hospitality, you will not be disappointed. As for meals, while it does have a b&b feel, you will need to go offsite for food. I recommend the many, wonderful restaurants in Julian. The drive is relaxing and the food is quality. And of course get the pie. You can bring back a slice and eat it in the common room while watching the hummingbirds and the lake. read more

Lake Cuyamaca Lodge - View of the lodge from Lake restaurant - Hotels Near Me - Julian, California

Stayed here over Memorial Day weekend. Pros: joann the owner is very sweet and accommodating, The views from the balcony is gorgeous, and such a convenient spot to just walk to the lake Cons: -there is no traditional check in area and it was confusing when we got there what to do. You have to call the owner who will meet you and show you around and to your room etc. -the walls are thin, you can hear other guests in their room. -There is NO WI-if. I had sprint so I had no cell service during my stay. Luckily my husband switched to Verizon before our stay. -There is no food allowed in your rooms. This was very inconvenient, and while there is a common area with a microwave, tv, fridge, I felt like I was staying at someone's house bc I couldn't take food into my room. -the communal area has a coffee maker water etc but it's very basic and it's serve yourself. If you like your coffee in the morning this won't suffice bc you have to figure out where everything is. It was more of a hassle for me so I went without my coffee in the morning. Other notes if you've never stayed at this lodge or lake cayumaca. 1. hand soap for your room and toiletries do not come stocked in your room. If you forget yours there's some in the communal area that is free to take that other guests have left behind. There's also a hair dryer guests can use but you have to put it back in the communal area when you're done. 2. Not all rooms have a lake view. Some face the asphalt parking in the back. Not much of a view. 3. Not all rooms have a tv, the cheaper rooms oak room and hawk room is a pretty small room with no tv or closet but it does have its own bathroom. 4. The cuyamaca lake cafe closes at 8:00pm so prepare ahead for dinner or you'll go to bed hungry 5. Julian, a small cute town is 10 min away. They too close all their restaurants and stores around 8:00pm or even earlier. The Italian restaurant closes at 8:30pm. So plan ahead for dinner. In my opinion, the views from the lodge was amazing and the owners were great. But I probably won't stay here again. But if take into consideration everything I've said and plan ahead and know what to expect from this lodge and are ok with it. This place is a good option. read more

My boyfriend and I stayed the weekend here and it was lovely! The view is breathtaking and there are gorgeous horses right out the window. The place is kept very clean and neat, and the room was a spacious amount for us. It is close near the heart of Julian, which is convenient and is very close by hiking trails if you enjoy hiking. I would recommend anyone looking for a getaway to stay here. Very tranquil and romantic. read more

Lake Cuyamaca Lodge - View from the room. - Hotels Near Me - Julian, California

Great place to stay for a weekend. Clean, beautiful view, and comfortable beds. You hear all the conversations going on in the halls in the morning, but I didn't mind because it got me up and enjoying the beautiful morning views. It's a little hard to find at night as there aren't many signs up. Otherwise it's a nice get away. read more

The customer service when we had a issue with a reservation... WOW. The cabins and the experience we had was fine and dandy, we would've continued to recommend this place to all, but now, PLEASE CHECK YOUR BANK INFO AFTERWARDS. Their organization as a business is lacking, the manager verbatim told me "her hands were tied" yet is left to run the place? The boss Busch paddock wasn't much better, did NOT explain why the charge was made and was blunt. PATTI AND BUSCH , guys, the entirely weird part of it all? I was told that Busch said that they weren't able to contact me about the reservation, yet I verbally confirmed we weren't going to make it.... read more

This spectacular spot is the best on the Lake - built lovingly with the highest level of planning and care by its owner, this resembles a large, rambling luxury home that has a deck outside of most guest rooms FACING THE WATER. We walked down the hill to the edge of Lake Cuyamaca at dusk, then dawn after sipping coffee with the hummingbirds. read more

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We decided on a last minute trip to Julian and called around. We found a few places but decided on Lake Cuyamaca Lodge. Talked on the phone to JoAnn who is the owner and she set us up. When we got to the lodge, there were deer near the back parking area just hanging around. When they noticed us, they strolled off one-by-one. The Lodge is a great place with an excellent view of the lake. When there are no clouds, this is the best place to view the stars from the balcony. We were going to stay one night but decided to stay an extra day because it was so peaceful and also wanted to go fishing across the street. Rented a boat at the lake on the second day and caught trout. This made the perfect weekend for me and my wife. Love this place and would recommend the lodge to everyone. read more

The lodge is a great place to stay for a little R&R. The owner is very nice and accommodating. The view of the lake is beautiful and the rooms are very clean and well put together. read more

Amazing place great for a getaway. The lodge felt welcoming and Joann made us feel at home. Our room had an amazing view of the lake. Very clean rooms and clean common areas. It was just the thing we were looking for. We enjoyed our quiet and relaxing getaway. Definitely going back!! read more

Lake Cuyamaca Lodge - Hotels Near Me - Julian, California

My husband and I went to lake cuyamaca lodge over Memorial Day weekend. The rooms are very spacious and the bathroom was clean. The owner Joanne is super sweet and very accommodating. This location is right across the street from the lake, so it's super convenient for fishing or hiking. Keep note, this is not a bed and breakfast but you get the feel of one. There is a common area that has water, coffee and ice. I believe there is a microwave too. Will come back and stay again with Lake cuyamaca lodge. read more

Lake Cuyamaca Lodge - Hotels Near Me - Julian, California

Finding a place to stay in Julian wasn't easy but after we called Joann (the owner), she made us feel right at home! Once we got there, she swiftly helped us and showed us around her beautiful property. After seeing the room as well, you can immediately tell how much care Joann and her husband hold for this place. The beds were very comfortable (we slept like babies) and everything was super clean and well furnished. The view was impeccable, especially at dawn! The fog over the lake and the many animals were breathtaking. You can't find a view and experience like this anywhere on Main Street. we'll definitely be back soon! read more

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The lake view from the room is SPECTACULAR! The lady who runs the place is Super Nice & Helpful! Priced adequately! Rooms aware spacious! Beds are COMFORTABLE! Overall a GREAT STAY! read more

Joanne gave us a warm welcome when we arrived Saturday afternoon. We also met her husband who was very nice as well. She gave us a tour of the lodge which was very nice and very clean. The rooms are a good size. The bed was comfortable and so were the pillows. Our room had a view of beautiful Lake Cuyamaca. The lodge is located about ten minutes from town. We would definitely stay here again in a heartbeat. Highly recommended. read more

Owners were very nice! There wasn't any noticable signs to let us know where the lodge is, beside a small sign saying lodge. The paving for the driveway was asphalt then dirt. There is a big long house but that's the lodge! Doesn't look like much, but inside looked decent. There is no specific check in area, you'd have to call the number provided on the door to speak to the owner and then they'll come out from an adjacent living area to check you in. There is a common area to eat and a community fridge to place your food because they don't want food in the rooms. I thought it was a little odd but then again who wants to clean up someone else's spilled food. There was a small mix up for our room but the owner checked us in to a room in the adjacent living area. Slightly small with 2 twin size beds. The rooms on this side shared a balcony that over looked the lake. It was a beautiful view and the moon shined brightly onto the lake! Owners were sweet and welcoming. If we were in the area again, definitely would come back. read more

We were fortunate to find out about this gem a couple of days before an ultrarunning event we were participating in at the Lake. Have to say, this is our new favorite place to stay in Julian; a very comfortable and warm refuge after a day of enjoying the trails. And, the truly wonderful owners are ready to help, when needed. There are only about 8 rooms that make the entire lodge-wing; 4 with lovely views of the Lake but all are beautiful and spacious with private baths and large closets. Think of a BnB, but without meals. It's very easy to feel at home here. You have access to the necessities like a microwave, coffeemaker/kettle, fridge and a very comfortable Common Room where we ate Board and Brew sandwiches we brought up. (Personally, I much prefer the Common Room idea over eating in my room, as I don't like my bedroom smelling like food nor do I like a messy room.) Because I am a neatfreak, I appreciated how immaculate the rooms were. Everything looks so new. And the sunrise/sunset over the Lake is pretty stunning. I just can't recommend this Lodge enough. It would be perfect for a couple's getaway, a quiet girl's weekend, a homebase for runners/hikers, or a small wedding venue (they have a large room that over looks the lake!). Joann makes sure you have everything you need and is quietly attentive--just a text away. read more

Lake Cuyamaca Lodge - A poor iPhone pic of a beautiful sunrise, taken from Lodge deck. - Hotels Near Me - Julian, California

The owners are very nice folks. Joann and Ray have done a really nice job on the rooms. All the rooms are bright and new and we enjoyed the peace and quiet. We will return and recommend it for a serene low key overnight stay. Great hiking and fishing right across the street. The view of the lake was great and there was plenty of wildlife to see. Off the beaten path read more

The lodge was beautiful. My husband and I use to camp on the lake; however this trip we stayed at the lodge as we only had one night to stay. It was a great location overlooking the lake. It was an easy walk down to the lake or the local Restaurant. We stayed in the Oak Tree Room. It was cozy but perfect for our stay. The lodge is beautiful. It was quiet and so relaxing. Thank you JoAnn for your hospitality. read more

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Very happy to have stayed here. The room was super cute and comfy. Lake side view was also great, especially at sunrise and sunset.

I Called on Saturday May 6th to see if they could put my wife, my 2 sons and I up that night because the weatherman told us it was going to snow and we wanted the kids to see it. Who ever heard of snow in May? Joanne, was extremely nice and told us she could give us a lake-view room. So I called and asked my brother and his family to come up too and Joanne found a room for them as well - last minute. We quickly packed and headed for the hills. The google maps have the wrong directions and tried to route us to turn onto Yaqui drive - BUT Joanne made sure to tell us to turn onto Engineer Road which we did. The second driveway on the right off engineer road is where you turn. It's tricky and goes from paved to dirt then back to what looks like a long house - BUT that long house is the lodge. On the outside it doesn't look nice and you will wonder if you are in the right place...don't worry, you are. When we got there Joanne was there to greet us. The room was small but just perfect with nice decor and super comfortable beds. It was super clean too. There was a space heater in our room which worked to perfection to keep us nice and toasty on a very cold night. It snowed a lot and the kids had a great time. In the common area there is a microwave, cups and glasses, coffee, tea, a refrigerator and basic needs stuff. There is also a large wood-burning stove that cranks out the heat and keeps it all toasty. Just outside the common area there is a huge deck with Hummingbird feeders and a zillion hungry friendly - almost tame & gorgeous hummingbirds - buzzing and zipping playfully by - within inches of you. That provided hours of entertainment. The lodge overall was just perfect for our needs and everything was very nice from the staff to the accommodations to the price. I would highly recommend staying there, and we will be going back. read more

Sometimes you just want to get away from the city and enjoy a beautiful quiet time at a beautiful relaxing quiet atmosphere.. I was really blessed when I booked with Lake Cuyamaca Lodge the place is extremely Immaculately clean and Joanne who runs the lodge is a one-of-a-kind person who I was so lucky and blessed to have met she runs a Class A operation extremely attentive to any need that may arise and it is definitely a hidden treasure. I usually don't post reviews but I would feel very guilty not sharing this with anyone who wants to experience Lake Cuyamaca with their family and have a beautiful wonderful memorable experience, once again thank you Joanne for all that you do. read more

JoAnn, the owner of the Lodge, is incredibly unprofessional and rude. Upon trying to book a room for a night during Thanksgiving break I received an email from her stating that the payment did not go through because she got a new system that basically doesn't work so well (perfect) so she stated our other option was to pay cash at the time of the visit in which I agreed. She then emailed back a day later that since it's a holiday she will have to check to see if only one night visits were okay since it was a holiday weekend( kinda odd she didn't say that in the first place but whatever). A few days later she emailed saying she cancelled the reservation because they aren't taking one night stays during the holiday. I asked if she would make an exception as my boyfriend just got back from deployment and we were only able to get one night off together to go up there. She offered us a private room inside of a three bedroom cabin and said she could guarantee that room for us and to just let her know. I told her we would take it and asked her to send check in details in which she did. Two days later she emailed back stating that the room was no longer available (even after she specifically said she would "guarantee" it for us) but that the original room we had tried to book was now available for one night stays but the price increased from 160 a night to 200 a night. When I questioned her about her "guaranteeing" the room for us and even screenshotted her message and sent it to her stating how she was going back on her word she was incredibly rude and unprofessional. Even after ALL that hassle that she put us through she never once offered a discount for our troubles instead she said "if you don't want to book at holidays prices your should NOT have booked at all," even though the original "price"was not holiday price. Sleezy establishment if you ask me and we will NEVER spend our money here. read more

Beautiful views and comfortable accommodations! Great place to relax and enjoy creation! Very clean rooms and hospital staff, I highly recommend a visit! read more

Had a great weekend at Lake Cuyamaca Lodge. Beautiful view and nice rooms. Joanne the owner provided us a beautiful weekend. Thanks Joanne we will be back! read more

We wish the lodge was right by the lake and not on the other side of road, but it had everything we need to stay over.

Absolutely loved our stay. The room was so clean and the whole place is just adorable! The owner is so sweet!! They have such an incredible huge back porch with lovely chairs providing an amazing tranquil sunset view over the mountains and lake. They have a few humming bird feeders that bring in so many beautiful feathered friends. Cute common area with little kitchenette. It was the perfect quiet relaxing getaway we were hoping for. Will definitely come back! read more

Wonderful peaceful setting. . Haven't had such a good night's sleep in a while. Our stay in the Hummingbird room was so convenient to the common room. Loved sitting on the porch and watching the wildlife, raccoons, deer, squirrels and hummingbirds. The Ruels were so accommodating. We're looking forward to returning. read more