Back in March we booked a three-day stay at Lakeshore Resort in Lakehead from June 11-14 to…read morecelebrate our 24th wedding anniversary. We frequent Shasta Lake and the Lakehead area, so we're familiar with the region and understand that many businesses are heavily dependent on the seasonal tourism industry.
We chose Lakeshore Resort because of the amenities advertised on their website, including the pool, bar, restaurant, store, upgraded cabins, proximity to the lake and boat launch, and the option to rent an RV space next to our cabin to keep our boat. This setup was highly recommended and seemed perfect for our anniversary getaway.
When we arrived on Thursday, the managers had everything ready for us and were very pleasant and welcoming.
Before I continue, I want to say that my husband and I are not overly picky travelers. We don't expect luxury accommodations. However, when we entered Cabin #10, it was nothing like the photos shown online. We had paid for one of the upgraded cabins and were shocked by its condition.
The cabin was extremely dated and in significant disrepair. The ceiling was falling down and had a hole in it that appeared to be plugged with toilet paper. The floors were uneven throughout, with multiple flooring types connected by jagged transitions and no transition strips. The ceiling fan wobbled so severely that it looked as though it might fall. The pantry and stove shown in the online photos were not present. The walls and ceilings had patches of mismatched white paint throughout. The shower did not drain properly because the floor sloped away from the drain, and the water temperature fluctuated between scalding hot and ice cold. Most of the electrical outlets were unusable because they had been painted over. The bed sagged in the middle, and the breakfast bar felt unstable, as though it could collapse if leaned on.
At that point, all we could do was laugh and decide to go to the restaurant while we figured out what we wanted to do.
On the way there, we noticed signs posted on the pool fence stating that the pool was closed for repairs. Once inside the restaurant, the hostess immediately informed us that the grill was down and only cold food items were available. We were happy to see our favorite bartender, Royce from Basshole, behind the bar, which ended up being the highlight of our trip. We enjoyed some cocktails and cold food, which was actually excellent.
After dinner, we spoke with the manager and explained our concerns regarding the closed pool, the restaurant limitations, and the condition of the cabin. She was very apologetic and accommodating. She mentioned that she had not been aware the grill was down. We understand that these issues were largely beyond the control of the on-site management and appeared to be the result of decisions made by the new ownership. She immediately refunded the RV space we had rented for our boat.
We decided to give the resort another chance and stay one night. We were told the grill would likely be operational the following day and that the pool might be repaired. With temperatures forecast to reach 102 degrees, both amenities were important factors in our decision to stay.
Unfortunately, we got very little sleep. The ceiling fan wobbled and rattled throughout the night, and the wall-mounted air conditioner was extremely loud and had a musty odor. The cabin wasn't necessarily dirty--it was simply very old, stale, and poorly maintained. The overall condition made us uncomfortable.
The next morning, we packed our belongings, returned to the office, checked out early, and requested a refund. Once again, the management team was professional, understanding, and accommodating, and they refunded our stay without issue.
I want to emphasize that the managers handled the situation as well as they possibly could. Our disappointment lies with the condition of the property and the apparent lack of investment by the new ownership. We work hard for our money and simply could not justify spending approximately $200 per night for accommodations in that condition, especially for a special occasion like our 24th wedding anniversary.
Based on our experience, we cannot recommend staying at Lakeshore Resort in its current state. Until significant improvements are made to the cabins and advertised amenities are restored and operational, prospective guests should carefully consider whether the resort offers the value they expect for the price.
Just to be clear, we were not refunded for our entire stay. We were charged for one night in a run-down, dilapidated cabin that looked nothing like what was depicted on the website. Your statement that we were "fully refunded" is simply not accurate.
Additionally, we were never given a discounted rate, despite your claim that we received one. We paid the full advertised price when we booked our stay.
