Unclean. Rude. Generally terrible.
What a HORRIBLE experience!
The only saving grace is the proximity to the carnival grounds during the Pony Penning carnival. We stayed there for Pony Penning, the Pony Swim, etc.
First of all - the carpets are FILTHY and left our feet PITCH BLACK!! Disgusting! They resealed the parking lot last year (2011), and apparently the blacktop was tracked back into the rooms - and they've never steam cleaned them since! The floors were so disgusting, we all wore our shoes at all times while in the room - including our 13 month old. Do you know how hard it is to keep a 13 month old off of the floor at all times?
The current owners - Rick Trot and his wife - bought the business from the Birch family (hence, Birch-wood). Apparently, owning a business makes the Trots MISERABLE, because they never wore a smile, frowned constantly, and they will follow your every move around the hotel grounds as if they assume you've already done something wrong.
I personally witnessed Mr. Trot come out to the pool and raise his voice in a very demeaning, nasty and rude manner to a boy (approx. 9 years old) in the pool. The boy's transgression? Playing with a ball in the pool. No one was complaining about it. (And no, it was not my kid, so I'm not defending the kid because he was my son). He marched out from the front office like the place was on fire, raised his voice to the boy, and proceeded to deliver a diatribe about how he was "an adult" so the kid "had better listen to him and respect him." All I know is, thank goodness it wasn't my kid because Chincoteague PD would have needed to respond if someone spoke to my son that way.
As for the breakfast - give me a break. I've had better breakfast spreads at street carts. There are NO TABLES in the breakfast area. NONE! The Trots sit behind this counter with their glued-on frowns and frown at you while you stand and try to eat a slice of pound cake. If you want to sit down, they direct you out to the outside gazebo, in the heat. Really?!? And come the morning of Penning Day - no breakfast, with no advanced warning that there wouldn't be any.
And whatever you do - don't use the washing machine off-hours or you'll get a stern rebuke from the owner. It's a vacation spot, sometimes people don't get back to their room until late - but I guess that they don't understand that.
If ever I've met business-owners whao are apparently angry that they own a business - it's these people.
Never again.
And I'd advise you to stay away also.