Shawnee Lodge & Conference Center

Updated room and bathroom are attractive and comfortable. Miss the second sink that used to be in all rooms. Dining room and bar service was attentive, food good. I don't really want to say much more but this wants more characters so I guess I'll keep typing 😁

Filthy place. Entire property looks run down and tired at best. Restaurant (I use that term loosely) is not even of convenience store quality with even worse service. I've spent thousands a nite at places around world so 200 a nite is nothing however I do want to get what I pay for. I wouldn't stay here for free. Just too dirty. Sad because scenic potential is amazing but clearly the place is an extension local portsmouth ohio quality and ethic. Avoid this place and go elsewhere unless you're local then you'll probably think it's a gem, just like McDonald's is considered fine dining too.

We stayed at this property because it was the closest to Otway, Ohio and the Botkin Hornback Funeral Home. We decided to check in before going to the funeral home, because it was so close and we thought we would be able to do this quickly. We were put into room 204 where there were no working lights in the bathroom, the first two light switches in room also did not work. They sent maintenance to room, then changed room to 203, but by the time all this happened we arrived at the funeral much later than we had planned. We missed the private time set aside for immediate family. In addition, TV remote did not turn TV on and off, we actually had to get out of bed and unplug TV to turn it off. Two light bulbs did not work. There was no ventilation in bathroom, which is probably why there was mold in grout, and on ceiling of bathroom, but good news is the rooms are being renovated, or some rooms are. BAD NEWS is Renovation going on. Came with a warning please excuse our mess!! but should have been please excuse our NOISE!! Jackhammering extremely loud began at 730am and did not stop!! So for 3 hours 730am-1030m when we checked out we had to endure this noise over our heads and next to us. Sounded as though they were coming through the ceiling. Never should be booking rooms with this level of noise. We couldn't sleep, couldn't watch TV, could not even talk unless we practially yelled at each other. Our room with taxes was over 200, they did give us a partial refund $92 and some change, but this is terrible practice. They were apologetic but really just had the attitude that you were warned of renovations. True....but usually this is visual and I have never had this level of noise and at such hours!! Positives.....Scenic area, soft towels, bedding white and looked clean. Pools looked nice, even though we didn't use these.

My husband and I went for 10th wedding anniversary. Staff was extremely helpful and friendly. It was very clean and quiet. The carpet and bathrooms need big time updated. Bed were very comfortable. Restaurant was just ok, doable. My husband got a steak 1/3 of it was fat. I had salad which was great. Next night I got hot Italian sub and onion rings and it was delicious. Next morning we both got french toast and we did not like it at all. It was like cinnamon on bread grilled, very dry and never we never tasted any egg at all. Only disappointment thing was I'm in a wheelchair and we ask about handicap trails and not 1 person knew anything about the trails. Or even if they had handicap trails. So I would say restaurant needs menu improvement and rooms needs updated and staff needs to know about what's going on around the area.

The negative reviews are surprising. Our experience has been wonderful. It’s a state park lodge!! Rustic, comfortable, friendly staff and beautiful surroundings. The restaurant has a great selection. The first night we stayed an unexpected wedding party showed up with 26 people. The restaurant staff stepped up and served us and a large group without missing a beat. Pool area is inviting and the bar drinks are good!

This is such a beautiful area to be. So family friendly but I am writing to complain about an experience I had at the restaurant here. Everything was going great until the food came out first of all before I ordered I asked if the salmon came with two fillets and she said yes and when the food came out it was a small overcooked flavorless piece of fish. It says it is grilled but trust me it isnt. I spent $20 on this nonsense, I will not eat there again. I hope they invest in proper seasonings for the future if they plan to stay open for a while.

The lodge rooms are a bit run down. I have been around since the lodge opened in the early 70’s and it sure ain’t what it used to be. Mold around the shower, looks like a 9 year old tried to apply caulking. Supposed to be no outside alcohol but there was a group of people that camped out at the Lobby area TV and wheeled in their own cooler full of alcoholic beverages (moonshine & beer) with no repercussion. Same group were also smoking on the balcony area where you can dine. Beds are comfortable and views of the woods are excellent if you have a room facing the woods. Internet is hit or miss.

We stayed here as part of a group visit. The staff were oh-so-gracious, front desk, housekeeping, and the restaurant staff. The room was adequate, not unlike one might find in a national park lodge. It needs a bit of a facelift. Our heater rattled loud enough to warrant shutting off at night. The restaurant, however, needs a serious rescue, thus the rating of 3. The younger servers are well-meaning but completely untrained. We were a large group and thus a challenge. However, meals were brought out willy-nilly with the servers using no sequence to track orders, thus the "who had the french toast" refrain from the unknowing servers. Most of the time, only one server brought out those dishes, so food got cold. Our server on Friday morning, Carolyn (I think?), was a professional server in every way. Each of the young servers should be trained by her. The entree quality is inconsistent. I had one of two good dinners here. The morning oatmeal is from the instant packets, so save yourself that grief. The fresh fruit is mostly melon with a bit of pineapple. No apple, no banana, no berries, etc. The word is "getting by on the cheap". Go into Portsmouth for dinner, with my apologies to the restaurant staff.

I stayed here 7 years ago for a professional conference and wanted to return for a pleasure trip to view fall colors and hike. The views and weather were fantastic and there weren’t many people in the park. The trails and park were well maintained. I wish I could say the same for the hotel rooms. I’m not sure they’ve changed anything since I was here 7 years ago and it showed. The room needed some maintenance: loose toilet, falling plaster in shower ceiling, ripped screen sliding door, worn carpet. And the room just didn’t feel super clean. The lodge is beautiful, but the furnishings need updated. The restaurant has a fantastic view of the park, especially at sunrise. Too bad the food and cocktails didn’t match up. It’s great to have the convenience of the restaurant in the lodge after working up an appetite on the trails, just be realistic with your expectations. The staff was very friendly, so I guess that kinda makes up for the so-so food. Vegetarians beware: I ordered a salad and asked them to skip the bacon, (which they didn’t). Not one salad on the menu was made without meat. My husband ordered a side of beans, and even that was made with meat.