Bavarian Inn & Lodge, Shepherdstown

My Wife and I had a long weekend escape from the kids at the Inn. We checked in to a "King Luxury" Room that was great. Everything seemed brand new. When speaking with the Front Desk attendant thay informed us that almost all the rooms have brand new furniture, carpet, drapes, etc. Seem that the hotel listened to some of the other comments about it being worn. Had a great dinner in the really quaint Rathskeller. The food was wonderful and our waitress was very friendly. I love wine and we were pleasantly suprised to find a German Inn with a huge wine list. I highly recommend the Inn for a couples get a way. We will be back.

I have been staying at the Bavarian Inn since I was a child but that ended last October. We were given a "Garden View Room" and I accepted thinking there was no such thing as a bad room at the Bavarian Inn. Boy was I wrong. The Garden View room we received was in the top floor of the restaurant. It was tiny and the ceiling sloped on both sides. The window was blocked by a TV and the bed was soft with springs that poked me in the back. The bathroom was very small and had only a single shower. We had to call the front desk because there was a spider making a web on the ceiling. The maid was too short so I used her broom to get rid of the spider. We requested a different room and were informed that there were no others despite offering to pay for a different room. We ate a wonderful meal and retired to the room. Toward the end of the evening the smell of wine permeated the room. The dining room connects to the hallway and the heat and spirits had risen. I wrote 2 letters of complaint (snail mail not email) and received no return correspondence. I was not seeking a refund or a free night. I just wanted my complaint heard. I don't feel like I was valued there. Eat there but don't stay there.

We have spent our anniversary at the Bavarian Inn annually for 9 years. Never again! We felt that last year's food had gone a little downhill (my turkey croquette couldn't be cut with a steak knife). I complained and I had to ask (no offers)to have it taken off of my bill. It was. This year (Friday,August 17) there was a wedding. (No one prepared us for any of this at check in). A live band with cymbals was playing outside on the patio about 200 feet from the Chalets which have outside door. We were in Room 1 of a chalet. With the river in the background, it was a perfect setting for unbelievable noise! We called the front desk and were told that the music would stop at 11:30 PM. When it didn't, we called again and again. We threatened to call the police when we got no where and no one from management was available to talk to us. Theycould have cared less. More bucks in a wedding than a returning guest. We finally called the police and the music promptly stopped. We said we wanted to check out the next morning and were told we would have to talk to management. Next morning came sooner than we wanted. We asked if there would be any bands that night. We were told "No". "No" didn't mean the DJ who turned up performing that night (for another wedding).We called and asked how late it would be and we were told midnight! Someone called back and said ten! It did stop promptly stop at ten! Hmmmm my husband wondered. Turns out there is a noise ordinance in Jefferson County that music can only be so many decibles and at that needs to stop by 10PM. When we got returned home, my husband called and talked to a manager. She said she would get back to us the next day. She didn't but did another day later. We wanted some compensation for at least our first night's stay. She said the owner said no. They gave us a free breakfast after we complained again on day 2 and that was all we are getting. We have given these people over $5000 in the past and at $190 a night I expect at least a quiet peaceful setting (as they advertise). I don't go on vacation for noise. If they want to do weddings, they should stick to afternoon ones with music ending at a decent time so regular guests can relax. Never again! We are appealing our bill through the credit card company now! We have never done that before, just like never calling the police on a hotel, let alone the Bavarian Inn.

When first arriving my wife and I thought what a wonderful place. After a few minutes things started going down hill. When we completed check-in the girl at the front desk simply stated that when we walk out the door our room was in one of the Chalets to the left. We were not given any kind of orientation of the grounds or informed were anything was located. A simple map of the grounds would have been nice. Also was not asked if they could help us with our luggage. As stated by another poster the rooms at first looked decorated well but as we found with everything about this place, not much below the surface. Seems most things were purchased at a discount store. Had a suite and expected a little more. We drove into town to explore and ended up having dinner there. When returning, a parking spot was no where to be found. When I complained to the girl at the front desk she then called the owner. I informed the owner that paying what they charge for the suite that I would think we would be able to park close to our chalet and not have to hike. Thunderstorms moving through the area and not the best way to spend our first anniversary. Neither one of the owners seemed to care about customer service and we ended up checking out. I would suggest both owners spend a few days at the Comfort Inn and learn something about customer service. Another poster wrote a supervisor was yelling at an employee, due to my experience there I would not have been surprised if it was one of the owners yelling!!! Over the next couple of days we talked to several residents in the area and told them of our experience and the response was the same each time, they were not surprised at all. Seems these people don’t even have a very good reputation with the local folks. Maybe the service was bad because they treat their employees worse than the guests and are short handed. Do not recommend this place, Try the KOA down the street.

My favorites about the Bavarian Inn are first and foremost, the landscaping! the flower gardens that surround the property are breathtaking, and nothing in the world lowers my blood pressure like a walk around the grounds after dinner. and oh, the dinners! The food is truly first rate. The deluxe rooms with those oh so comfortable beds, fireplaces and jacuzzi tubs make you feel like you've died and gone to heaven. Last but not least is the fabulous view of the Potomac river from your balcony. Believe me, it has to be seen. I've stayed in pricier hotels around the world, but none better for the money.

We checked into a pristine Bavarian themed room overlooking the Potomac River. The Front Desk was extra helpful by carrying our luggage. The night, we ate at the restaurant and had a wonderful meal and a good bottle of wine. Overall, extremely pleased and will return.

Three of us ate here in 2004 simply because after spending 5 years in Germany, we were craving some good German food in the US. It was not to be. We ordered 3 different meals and all were mediocre. The rooms are pleasant and well maintained, but not first class. Perhaps the American items were better. My husband and I stayed here in 2004 for our anniversary and the room was nice but not first class. Overall, rather disappointing experiences.

My husband and I did not stay at the Lodge but the place looked really nice! Maybe one day! But, we did eat at their restaurant. Reservations are recommended even though when we went, there weren't that many people. The atmosphere was great and the service was great! The food is good and dessert to die for!

My husband and I stayed at the Bavarian Inn in November 2005. It was the first night of a mini vacation and it set the tone for the rest of the trip. We had a room with a balcony overlooking the river. The moon was full that night, we had a whirlpool for two, a fireplace, a four poster bed and great German wine with a wonderful German meal. Very romantic!! I would stay there again and would not hesitate to recommend it to anyone. Everyone was very friendly and everything was very clean. The price may seem high at first, but drive a little further east. The third night we stayed in a chain hotel and paid $50 more for a whole lot less! Everyone was very friendly and the atmosphere of the restaurant is fantastic whether you choose the more formal or the casual setting. The location is great for visiting Antietam and Harper's Ferry (worth the trip).

THe food was good. The service was above par, but witnessing a supervisor degrading a waitstaff in the open, I'll never go back. How you treat the staff speaks volumes about what type of business you are.