Fern River Resort, Felton

What started out as a problem was the minimum stay requirement. Apparently it was a busy weekend because we could not get a two night stay. Being only an hour away and with gas costing way too much to go further we decided to book anyway. Friday night dinner was at La Brushetta two blocks away. The rib eye steak was to die for and the beet salad was exquisite. The salad was spendy though at $18 but the steak was huge. It was way to much for one person. Next time my wife and I will share. It was dark when we got to our cottage. The TV became obsolete, instead we talked for hours by the fire. Saturday we spent at several local wineries. Bargeto�s was the best. Sunday was spent relaxing on the deck. We ate Sandwiches made at new leaf, the local health store and did not leave until after dark. I think the last day was the most enjoyable. Even though we didn�t stay the night, it was well worth having the third day so we could just spend it relaxing rather than having to check out by 11:00 AM. Next time were staying a week in one of the river front units.

I accidentally ran across this review site when looking up Fern River Resort. I couldn�t believe some of the posts that I have read. Over the years our family has become close to the owners so I must post our own experience. My family and I have been going to Fern River Resort for over 30 years now. We have watched the owners children grow up with our own. Now our children are bringing their own children. We rent 7 or 8 cottages every summer. We stay 7 to 10 days and have a grand family reunion. The picnic tables are lined up on the top of the riverbank with our children and our grand children as well. Mom and Dad and my brothers join in and we have a giant BBQ potluck almost every evening. Some times the owners bring a dish and join us. The conversation is relaxed and pleasurable. The kids play in the river while us adults watch from above. It�s a fun place for our entire family. We always reserve our favorite cabins for next year before we leave.

I loved that this place had a private use hot tub, so many times when you stay out at a resort or hotel and go to use the hot tub to relax, children pile in a top you, or other couples make you uncomfortable with their overly public displays of "affection". But here we could have the hottub to our selves for a half hour, and knew that it would be spotless, since the resort managers/owners clean it between each use. Plus with a hottub in a private gazebo clothing is optional! I completely understand the rules surrounding use of the hot tub, I mean who would want somebody's lotion residue floating around, or risk the chance of sitting in warmed up kid pee. The "rules" as others stated are common sense things such as not overloading the septic system, or ruining towels with makeup when there are makeup removing towelettes in the room. I think these guidelines are in place because some might not have encountered a septic system before and don't know they can overload it, and other people are just pigs when visiting hotels. As far as amenities... the kitchens were stocked with plates, silverware, cooking utensils and cups... not your standard fare 2 plastic cups but real items. I am glad there wasn't a fresh roll of toilet paper in the room, because i hate when hotels throw out tons of half rolls of TP and waste our natural resources! and there was a fresh and wrapped roll of tp under the sink. I would recommend this place to anyone, and already have. For Santa Cruz county there rates are wonderful, especially considering a standard hotel room is $80.00, and there you get a full one bedroom little cottage with a deck to lounge on.

i thought the place was very accomidating the people running the place were very nice to us even when they found out we brought a boat and took half of there parking lot.the rooms were spotless the setting was very peacfull and it is a hop skip and a jump from the dining in the town of felton i know i will be back there this year!!

This place is in the Santa Cruz mountains, it is so nice and beautiful,and peaceful,and such a nice area for a resort, and we loved being here for 2 day's, but on the other hand the owners/mgrs were just terrible. We felt like we were in school and they were are teachers. There are so many rules to follow, or signs in our cabin or outside, NO AMMENTIES what so ever,and don't ask us for anything after you pay us. As much as i loved this place and we did, i will only come back if these people were not running it. These owners/mgrs do not belong in a hospitality business. The grounds were beautiful, area was so stunning,cabins were pretty clean and overall a nice place to stay. The only thing is to many rules, and new owners/mgrs would be the best answer for this place.I would not recommend this place to anyone until things change, but i will think about our vist to a gorgeous area.

The resort is clean, beautiful, a wonderful place to stay EXCEPT for the management! The husband is nice enough, but the wife is the least friendly, most unpleasant, rude peson I have ever encountered in a service industry position. My husband and I have travelled extensively both in the US and some foreign countries and I have NEVER been spoken to or treated like this manager talked to me. Literally yelling at me because she couldn't find my registration card, then yelling at her husband when he attempted to help. We loved the area and the accomadations, but we will not be returning until the management changes!!!

WE loved the closeness to the river and the redwoods surrounding our cabin. Loved the gas fireplace. Cabins were quaint, rustic and structurally in good shape. Bed was comfortable, but we needed extra pillows, which the management kindly provided without any problems.Yes, the polyester bedding was not the greatest, but next time we plan on bringing our own. This is not a boutique-style resort.They run about 3 times the price of Fern river. This is your old fashioned rustic cabin place that is very clean and offers slightly more than the essentials. This is exactly what we were looking for, a couple of days away from the crowds and a return to the simpler life. We were very happy with our stay and plan on returning to Fern River the next time we have to stay overnight in Santa Cruz. It provided a quiet respite.

The service was the worst that I have ever had. They confirmed one cabin with us and changed it last minute, because they made a mistake but unwilling to work it out. Will let everyone I know,work with and meet not to ever go there and to tell there friends. Service was so bad we left 2 days early.

Very nice new manager who welcomed us warmly and made accommodation for us to stay only one night when they have a several-night minimum on a summer weekend. Picnicked in the room as the small kitchenette had fridge, micro, plates, etc. Couldn't get wireless internet access to work which was too bad. I have a MAC which works other places so who knows. Polyester bedcovers, but also new carpet and a well-clean place. Yep, there are some signs about the rules. Must be because people have not been thoughtful. I'd recommend it. Close to a great health food store, New Leaf Market, and the lovely Henry Cowell Park. Peaceful. Friendly cat.

This place has more rules than is humanly possible!THe mgrs/Owners could care less about the guests, both need to go find other jobs. Hot tub rules are real stupid, charges for ping pong balls,these people don't want kids here, charges for cups,plates,forks and others you get the idea. Great area but these people make you never want to come back again.Quiet time is 24 hours a day, the prior reviews did not say that. Rooms were ok clean, never saw a maid mgrs clean our room. Price is way to high for this place when YOU must bring everything for your stay, save your money and stay some place else. NEVER,NEVER, Again waste of money, and time.