The cabin we stayed in wasn't able to get very warm, even after we pulled out the space heaters, so I started investigating:
The furnace filter was disgustingly filthy, and clearly hadn't been switched out according to proscribed maintenance. There happened to be a replacement around, so I switched it out myself.
Still, we were fighting off the cold, so I took a decorative cover off of the gas fireplace to get better heat flow. The model is nearly identical to my own.
They charged us our security deposit for both of these things, and some claim about ashes next to the hot tub.
They claimed that the decorative cover was scratched up; it wasn't. It was removed carefully via the same mechanisms I'm intimately familiar with on my at-home model, and then carefully set aside next to the fireplace. I forgot to hook it back in, so that's on me, but there was no damage and returning it to it's original condition takes about 5 seconds and 0 tools, contrary to their claims about the required work.
They claimed that the filter change was left in some unfinished state, but that's their own problem, and we should get a discount for doing their damn maintenance for them.
This was after we were given a weird look upon arriving to the lodge, and were dealt with fairly curtly.
We spent a lot of money to stay at Rocky Mountain Lodge & Cabins, we never will again, and we will recommend against them to our friends.
EDIT:
In reply to the reply they wrote to this review on Google:
We were very respectful of the property, following a fairly long checkout list considering the cost to stay at the property.
The posted check in time is between 3-6pm, during which we arrived @ 5:28pm, as confirmed by my Google Timeline GPS reading in local time (see attached image); we never called to say we were going to be late, because we weren't, much less 4 hours late...
So either they have no idea who they're replying to, or they're lying or just confused? I don't know.
I do smoke, but there is a gate directly next to the hot tub that exits immediately off property; there were no cigarette butts left anywhere, but it's not against the rules to have nature blow ash onto the property. Whatever she smelled while she came by must've been lingering from smoking shortly before she arrived.
Attached you will find a picture of how the hot tub area was left (including a completely clear picnic table), directly contradicting the owner's claims about ashes and cigarette butts.
It's possible I didn't put the new furnace filter back in, but hey... they're still welcome for doing half their maintenance for them, and it improved the airflow of the heat; contrary to their denial, the filter I took out absolutely *was* disgusting.
Contrary to their claims about how I'm not supposed to be in the shed, where the filter was sitting out in the open, the directions posted on the fridge directed me to take garbage there, and to remove all garbage to there at the end of our stay.
And I didn't try to only use the "decorative" fireplace; I had everything running, including the central heating, the fireplace, the space heaters, and even a fan blowing at one of the space heaters.
In fairness, they're not wrong in their reply when they note that it was very cold when we were there, with night time temperatures dipping into the negative.
Nothing about the decorative cover on the fireplace was forced or damaged; they're attempting to lay all the accumulated damage of rental use on us simply because they think they can. You can see there's no major damage in the attached image of the cover to the right of the fireplace.
They're right when they say that we didn't inform them of the issues; I've worked in hospitality, and I don't like to be the customer that's complaining. I solved the problem that I had, and I did it without causing any damage, and while doing work for them that they should be doing themselves.
For that, we were charged our security deposit, without ever having been given the opportunity to explain ourselves.
My review, rating, and recommendation stands. read more