Poll: Best & Worst base lodge?

[brooklyn1]

I will be on ski trips a few times with friends who do not ski or who may try to ski and then bail out.

I think I can talk them into trying nordic trails or snowshoeing, but they are already asking which lodges are decent. If anyone can add their 2 cents with a rating of **** or A to F, I would much appreciate it.

If there is another thread that already covered this topic (not the best place to read) - pls direct me.

I will add my ratings for:

Sugarbush: A, the works. High design, roaring fireplaces, very good dining (with slow service), a nice bar, bathrooms on the first floor, (not a mile underground), and the whole thing is very new and very nice.

Tremblant: A, not lacking for anything. Plus, it has a mini-Disney world on site. You can eat well in many other places besides the base lodge - but at rip-off prices.

Stowe: B+, very decent, but have not been in 2 years. Recall it as a bit rustic, like a local but good BBQ vibe (?) and definitely not the horrible cafeteria like some places. Seem to recall a bar.

Mad River Glenn: C, like a small town YMCA meets a rural food co-op, except it's mandatory to bring your own food.

 

[Brettski]

Mar River Valley?

You mean Mad River Glenn?

In any case, it is what you make of it

I liked the old top of the notch...which was rebuilt

But it was a dump...the bathroom was outside...and I mean, outside

But they had great vension stew and NE Chowder

In April the would BBQ outside, and you would hang out trailside

Top of Sterling at smuggs


OK, and if you haven't been, go to Chez Henri at Sugar and get the mussles or fondue

I'm not into the crowd thing...if it's off the beaten path, that's for me

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

The upper lodge at Blue mountain is pretty gross...It's straight out of the 70s and smells like a combination of urine, french frys, ass, and feet...plus the beer is expensive and in 10 ounce plastic cups. My favorite lodge is the Casper Lodge at Jackson Hole...excellent food and a great mid-mountain location.

 

[frozencorn]

Up with the best has to be Beaver Creek for the jaw-drop factor. Hardwood floors, leather seats. Crazy.

 

[ComeBackMudPuddles]

Whiteface base lodge is a total mess inside and an eyesore from outside (though they have been making steady improvements to it).

 

[andyzee]

Nothing like Snowbasin in Utah:

Just the Mens room is classier then most resort lodges:

 

[The Sneak]

Crotched = most intelligently designed for target demographic. Great use of space, large changing area, functional cafeteria. I'm there to ski, not get my nuts juggled by a toilet valet.

 

[ckofer]

Crotched = most intelligently designed for target demographic. Great use of space, large changing area, functional cafeteria. I'm there to ski, not get my nuts juggled by a toilet valet.

Ugliest too but I'm glad the place reopened.

 

[jaywbigred]

Some from recent memory:

Deer Valley, UT - A : Absolutely immaculate all over the mountain. Fire places all over, great bathrooms on all levels, tremendously good food (and not as expensive as you might think, if you order correctly). Biggest downside was the 3.2% alc. beer.

Sugarbush, VT - B+ : Attractive from the outside, lots of room inside, good no frills vibe. Food was forgettable though.

Okemo, VT - D- : The only thing keeping this from an F is that at least here are a # to choose from. However, the base lodge is etrocious and redic. crowded. Jackson Gore is nice but too small. The other options are also small but probably your best bet (Solitude Rest. and Sugarhouse, esp. Can't speak as well to Summit).

Stratton - B : Not bad, food offerings are decent but expensive. If you can sneak your way into Stratton Mt. Club (private), however, the diggs are much nicer. That might cost you some dollars though. Also, skiers right there is a lodge that is less crowded on busy days (Sunbowl or something like that?)

Stowe - B: I stick strictly to the Octagon for food and the Midway for jumping off (parking always seems better here) bc you can ski right down to the gondola. I know it has some devotees on the forum, but Mansfield is scary with that heart attack hill. I can't speak to the new facilities at Spruce.

Camelback, PA - D: Horrible smell, weird layout, poor parking lot layout. Saving grace is bathroom on main floor. Can't speak to new, weekend only lodge on skier's right.

Killington - C: Lots to choose from, most all of them antiquated. They were nice and state of the art I guess...in 1986.

Whiteface, NY - C: Strange layout, nothing special here.

 

[ckofer]

We were at Shawnee Peak about a week ago and I think their lodge represents both the best and the worst. Downstairs is smelly and cramped. Up in the bar, however, you have a nice view of the ski hill while tipping one. The decor is nothing special but the integrated view of the mountain action is the way it should be.

ps this isn't a base lodge but the Schwendi Hutte at the top of Waterville has at times impressed me with some great lunches.

 

[gmcunni]

Nothing like Snowbasin in Utah

i'll second that. When i went there a couple of years ago i thought i made a wrong turn into some 5 star hotel lobby.

 

[trtaylor]

Worst ski lodge goes to Camelback - the lodge has a tropical theme going - I guess they don't bother to change it from the summer when the place is a huge waterpark. It sucks sitting in there with palm trees and stuff that looks like Robinson Crusoe lives there.

 

[Phildozer]

I'm there to ski, not get my nuts juggled by a toilet valet.

That's absolutely hysterical!

 

[deadheadskier]

Last lodge I was in was Wildcat. I think that lodge nails it in terms of fitting in with the overall character of the mountain.

 

[2knees]

Crotched = most intelligently designed for target demographic. Great use of space, large changing area, functional cafeteria. I'm there to ski, not get my nuts juggled by a toilet valet.

bahahahahaha.

great stuff.

 

[andyzee]

I like Plattekill, has a nice homey local bar feel to it.

 

[Zand]

Smuggs: Kinda sucks going up quite a few stairs and it's a hike to the Sterling lift
Stowe: Heart attack hill rules!
Sugarbush: The new Gatehouse is very nice and I had a good lunch there
MRG: Really neat, quirky lodge
Killington: I've been in Bear, KBL, and Rams Head... all were average
Okemo: Been in all but Solitude and Okemo base... Jackson Gore was small but had good pizza, Sugarhouse had great barbeque food on the deck, and the summit was was decent for a summit lodge
Stratton: Didn't get a good feel for the base lodge because of the nutty crowds that day
Mount Snow: Main base lodge is great when crowds are low... Carinthia needs a new lodge
Cannon: Very small... had to eat outside because it was full inside
Loon: Only went in Camp III which was alright for a mid-mountain lodge
Waterville: Decent... but the day I was there the place was empty so I can't speak for the crowds
Sunapee: New lodge is very nice... old one is cramped and had horrible food
Jiminy: Kinda weird inside and the food was below average
Berkshire East: Cool old place, kinda gets cramped on crowded days
Wachusett: One of the best lodges in the east when it's not jammed full with people

Best: Gatehouse
Worst: Spruce at Sunapee / Carinthia at Snow
Favorite: MRG

 

[St. Jerry]

Those Snowbasin lodges are top notch.

A distant second is the Moonbeam lodge at Solitude.

Worst? Gore & Whiteface. Welcome to 1979. Okemo & Jay pretty bad as well.

 

[jack97]

I'm there to ski, not get my nuts juggled by a toilet valet.

that's funny..... now I have a visual.

Even so, the men's room at snowbasin just looks too classy for me.

 

[blizzboy283]

Nothing like Snowbasin in Utah:

Just the Mens room is classier then most resort lodges:

I was hoping someone would say that. Without a doubt the nicest lodge out there.