I feel like travel bloggers always talk about the things they love so when I’m looking at a place they haven’t posted about, I always wonder if it’s because they just haven’t been there or if they didn’t enjoy the experience. So for the sake of honesty, I think it’s important to share the life-changing trips as well as the ones that I hope to never do again.
One of those was a last-minute getaway to Seven Springs Mountain Resort earlier this summer. The stay home orders had just lifted in my state and my company had recently announced that they would not be permitting us to roll over any unused PTO. So while I planned a few more detailed itineraries to national parks, I booked my husband and I a week at Seven Springs to decompress and hike a little before the fall chill set in.
About Seven Springs
Seven Springs Mountain Resort is a rustic ski resort in Southwestern Pennsylvania. It normally offers 414 hotel or lodge rooms, 20 cottages/chalets and 16 bars and restaurants and a variety of summer activities for adults, teens and children like pools, horseback riding, bowling, mini golf, stand up paddleboarding, basketball, bocce ball, and more.
The room
I’ll admit, after traveling to so many places, we have experienced a wide variety of lodging and have certainly built up some pretty high expectations. I bet when this place was built, it was an adorably rustic lodge that local families loved to frequent. But it doesn’t appear to have been updated in half a century. It wasn’t unclean, but when furnishings are particularly old, it’s difficult to get the grime and dust out of all of the crevices. Trust me, I own a 120-year-old home.
We booked a queen room with a balcony and it would have been fine in most circumstances because we spend most of our time traveling out and about exploring our locale. But considering the coronavirus pandemic, we ended up spending way too much time in our room and by the end of our trip, it felt like a prison.
Additionally, the internet was poor quality so we ended up hooking up our computers to our phone data plans so we could watch Netflix, browse the internet, and do a little work.
The food
When researching Seven Springs as an option, I saw on their website that they had 16 different bars and restaurants which was great because staying at the same resort and not venturing out much would mean we would have some variety. Unfortunately when we arrived, very few of those were actually open. We had a pizza place, a coffee shop, a bar with only appetizers, the pool bar, a nice restaurant only open for dinner that required advance reservations, and a restaurant that did have service for breakfast lunch and dinner.
I completely understand the need to close restaurants or sections of restaurants to accommodate social distancing. However, I expect that is reflected on the company's website so that travelers can decide if that will suit them and plan accordingly.
With the exception of Helen’s, which was exceptional, the rest of the food was school cafeteria at best. If you live in the area or are passing through, do make a point to enjoy the service, food and wine at Helen’s. Otherwise, don’t bother. We cheekily nicknamed the main restaurant available Slopside instead of Slopeside.
There is a lovely little market up the road from the resort that has sandwiches and groceries if you are staying somewhere with a kitchenette.
The activities
Again, as I was planning this vacation, I explored the Seven Springs website and found all sorts of activities that would be perfect for outdoors and socially distanced from others. Unfortunately, much of that was unavailable for one reason or another. There are two kayaks for the entire resort and you cannot reserve them in advance and they were always in use. There was a disc golf course but on three separate occasions the staff couldn't find the discs and didn’t bother to look or go purchase new ones. The hiking trails were barely that, really just the wash beside the road or through the backyards of the cabins on the resort property. The one section that was a trail had a great view of the massive junk yard.
We did enjoy services at the spa and sitting by the outdoor pool, but those things couldn’t take up a week’s worth of time on their own.
The service
Check in was a breeze. That is because the woman at the front desk asked for our name, then handed us a key. She did not ask if we had been here before, provide us a map, offer suggestions for meals or activities, share any details about what was closed or available, or even point us to the elevator. As a resort, one would assume that you’re paying for and taking advantage of the amenities on the property, unlike a simple hotel.
We only learned later after walking by another employee checking in another guest that we should have been given a parking pass to hang in our car in order to avoid being towed.
Many of the employees seemed to not take their service jobs seriously, playing pranks on each other in front of the guests, and not having a clue how to help guests.
The first time we tried to kayak, the website and pamphlet said to visit the activity center so we did. That attendant told us to go back to the front desk, on the opposite side of the resort. Once there, that attendant told us we needed to go to the ski lift. Once there, the ski lift attendant told us we didn’t need to take the ski lift up there, but that we needed to go to the activity center. Round and round we went until we finally figured out that we could drive up to the lake and pay for the kayak rental there. A few miles off the resort, a sketchy dirt road and no parking later, we made it to the top only to discover that we’d have to wait in line for a couple hours until the kayaks would be available. How frustrating.
The cost
While the cost is one of the only redeeming qualities, the value isn’t there. We spent about $1,500 for the week on the room alone which means just under $200 per night with no additional inclusive amenities. You can spend much less to get a significantly better experience elsewhere. Meals and all activities cost extra.
Would I go back?
We had terrible circumstances considering the non-stop rain and the coronavirus restrictions, but I still won’t return to Seven Springs Mountain Resort.
If you have a gaggle of children and are looking for a place you can let them run wild, go ahead and try it. But I would not get them excited about any particular activity until you are sure you can do that thing, otherwise risk temper tantrums. Which I had plenty.
We aren’t skiers, so perhaps a winter stay is a much more positive experience. Have you ever been? Let me know and I’ll happily share.