Fern River Resort

Fern River Resort was the site of the wedding of our dreams. All that we had hoped for, planned for, and breathlessly discussed for months came to fruition in utterly spectacular fashion, and we could not have pulled it off without the exceptional assistance and hospitality that we received from the fine folks at Fern River.
As it happened, our initial connection to Fern River was actually more by fateful happenstance than by our design. We had originally booked a site at Big Sur, only to realize very soon thereafter that, because of soaring costs and a total lack of accessibility, attempting to attend our wedding would be nothing short of nightmarish for our family and friends. As luck would have it, Fern River was the next place that we came across online, and we were immediately struck by how stunningly beautiful the grounds are (not to mention how accessible it is as a wedding venue and how reasonable the rates are). The fact that we could book the entire resort and have all of our closest friends and relatives stay there with us seemed almost too good to be true! But, it wasn’t too good to be true – it was just that good – so we totally altered our original plans and turned our wedding into a summercamp-​style three-​day weekend that included a welcome BBQ, lawn games, late nite campfire gatherings, our unforgettable wedding and dance party (aka reception), and anything else that our little hearts desired. It was perfect.
What really stood out to us about the venue itself was how much work Nicole and her family and crew put into it between the time we visited (early April) and the date of our wedding (late June). Because it wasn’t quite wedding season when we first visited, some parts of the site seemed to be in a transitional stage; however, when we arrived, we were awestruck at the transformations that had taken place. The lawn and reception area were immaculate; the spot where we held our ceremony (in the soft-​gravel area by the stand of Redwoods) looked like something from a magazine; there were brand new Adirondack chairs and loveseats that they set up for us to use (chairs built by Nicole’s father, no less, from a Redwood that he was forced to cut down), and every single cabin was clean, neatly decorated, and ready for inhabitation.
Lastly, what will always stick out in our minds in terms of the resort staff is how completely willing they were to accommodate us and lend us a hand. It was remarkable. Nicole regularly checked in with us and helped us solve any issues that we were dealing with, including having her friend, who just happened to be an experienced sound engineer, expertly facilitate our multiple music playlists throughout the day of the wedding (not sure how we forgot to set that up in advance, but boy were we lucky!) Everything went as smoothly as possible, we and all of our guests had the time of our lives, and we are eternally grateful for the kindness, hospitality, and grace that Nicole and company showed us at their beautiful resort.

My Husband and I had our wedding here in May and it was everything we could have asked for. We reserved all the cabins and were able to have family and our wedding party stay on site which was nice because we also had the rehearsal here as well. The staff is amazing and knew our caterer really well which was a major bonus. I am so thankful for all Dan, Lena, and Nicole did. Everything was perfect and the cabins were so cute and cozy. It really helped keep the family weekend vibe I was going for. Super affordable and worth every penny!

I’ve stayed here for many years. It’s a very low-​key and low budget place. It’s perfect if you don’t want fancy and just want a good price on a rustic cabin near the greater Santa Cruz area, especially if you want to be in the mountains & near Roaring Camp Railroads. The natural beauty & tranquility of this place is the draw.

I was married at Fern River in August. We rented 7 cabins for family and friends, and it was such a WONDERFUL experience!
*This is a long review — I just wanted to return the favor, as it was so helpful for me to read detailed reviews when I was looking for a place*
Dan and Nicole were totally awesome! They were so accommodating, working with me to figure out how I could set everything up, giving me great ideas from their wealth of experience, and incorporating my own ideas to my complete satisfaction.
We stayed at Fern River 3 days before our wedding and 2 days after and it was the best decision we made! I would have stayed even longer if time allowed! First of all, the cottages at Fern River are so cute! Most have kitchenettes, and you can rent pots and pans for a nominal fee. The cottages are clean, comfortable, and were perfect for us. Second, the grounds are beautiful! Every cottage has a bbq grill and picnic table. There is a creek that runs right behind Fern River that we kicked our shoes off and soothingly walked in the creek.
i HIGHLY recommend staying for a few days before your wedding so that your families/​friends can get to know each other better (if they don’t already — mine were long distance from all over!). It worked out so well, that by wedding day, they were so comfortable with each other and it made their time at the wedding that much more enjoyable!
THE WEDDING:
My husband and i are down to earth, outdoors people and we really wanted a place that reflected our personalities. We didn’t want to spend too much (we’d rather put that money down on a house!) and we looked at several other places in the area. Most were more than we wanted to spend and not as accommodating as Fern River. We were SOOO happy when we found Fern River! It has the perfect mix of rustic, cozy, elegant, and classy.
The area where the wedding and reception took place is really, really, nice. My guests could not stop commenting on how beautiful everything was. My family can be quite superficial and even they were continually impressed with how nice everything was. Nicole and Dan set up two strings of café lights that go all the way across the ceremony/​reception area and I rented some gas lanterns to provide a little extra light. I also had the tables full of little votive candles. It was perfect, glowing and intimate. They also had those round paper lanterns that i asked to have hung on every other café light that made it look so cute. (They have them in some colors too if you want a color other than white).
We didn’t hire live music, but intended to play out own from a playlist. They provided us with their own sound system — all I had to do was plug in my computer! They also have some nice lights in the dance floor area in font of the gazebo.
The food service area is awesome as well. There’s a lot of room and perfect for us to do our reception buffet –style. But even if your event is catered, it’s a perfect area for the caterers to utilize to prepare and store all your food.
Wedding Day:
In a nutshell, NICOLE IS AWESOME! Literally, she saved my wedding day!
The caterers were supposed to bring the linens, etc. the night before or early in the morning so that we could set them up and set up our decorations (flowers, candles, etc.), but they said they weren’t bringing them until about 1 pm when guests would already be arriving at 3! Nicole got on the phone with them and agreed that I could set up my décor exactly how i wanted on the tables, and then when they arrived they would take everything off, put on the linens, and then put everything back the same way I had it. It worked out well.
There were a lot of little details that i hadn’t thought of and wasn’t prepared for — I forgot to make little signs for the guest sign-​in area, and I didn’t have time to hang a bunch of pictures next to the welcome table and my hair and makeup were running VERY behind! Nicole checked in on me all thoughout the day, asked me what i needed, and she took care of all of those things for me! Literally, she became my informal wedding coordinator and she did it so calmly and with grace. Her spirit and demeanor really helped to keep me calm and not freak out so much!
Because everything was running so late, we had to push back our photo session, which was after the ceremony and just before the reception. I didn’t want to keep my guests waiting so long for us and wanted them to start dinner. But i had no phone signal to call Nicole because i was in the woods! Argh! Well, Nicole has such a good sense of things and people, it’s like she read my mind and she made an executive decision to go ahead and start dinner instead of keep my guests waiting for me, which was so perfect. She’s awesome!
The rest of the night went off without a hitch. It was so perfect!
Post wedding was just as nice — bbq, volleyball, campfire, smores… I wouldn’t change a thing (except running so late!!!)!

I got married here one month ago. If I could do it all over again I would not change a thing. The location was everything we hoped it would be. We stayed in cabin 4. Our bed was perfect, our shower was fine. I’ve read a lot of the other reviews. Its Felton people! Sure cabs don’t come here. Sure, you have to rent your pans, but come off it. It is a family run business. You are not staying at the sheriton. I booked this place for the trees and the river and the fact that I wanted everyone I love to stay with me on site. I can’t wait to go back every year to celebrate our anniversary. We played tether ball, horse shoes and ping pong. It was perfect.
I loved the fact that the night of my wedding the owner was out there sharing in the moment and helping with the problems that are bound to happen with a wedding. Keep reading if you are thinking of hosting your wedding here. If you are looking for a cool place to stay for the weekend (or yes 3 day minimum) leave your computer at home and enjoy the old school summer camp feel of Felton.
For our wedding we had to rent out the entire resort. Great. I don’t want random people crashing our wedding. We had to stay 3 nights. Awesome. I got to spend the weekend with family and friends. I didn’t have to rush to leave and I got to come early and make sure everything was set up perfect. I could pee in my own cabin when ever i wanted. My guests could pee in an actual bathroom built by the owner to save the bride the extra cost of bringing in a luxury porto potty (thank you.) I had to pick from preferred caterers. Barbra and company is amazing delicious and cheep. Thank you for making it an easy choice. Lightening is FREE. Sound system is FREE. Custom made redwood tables are FREE. When everyone else is trying to nickel and dime you Fern River Resort tries to make it easy on the bride. TRUST! This place has its quirks, but it is all a part of it’s charm. Like I said I would do it again in a heart beat.
If you are looking for a beautiful, fun, family oriented venue, this is the place. Feel free to contact me if you are thinking about having your wedding here. We literally found it just by driving by. Its the hidden gem of the Santa Cruz mountains.

Rude front desk staff. I smiled a big hello at the door and she looked like I was interrupting something important. I explained that my mom had tried to reach them to book a few nights and had not heard back. She said, «Let me explain how it works. Online, if you try to book, it says you have to call.» When I explained we had tried that she scowled and was condescending and said there is a four night minimum. Just absolutely no interest in customer service. Too bad. Lost our business. This was my second encounter with two different staff members, and both were unpleasant.

We stayed in cabin 8 which had a nice soft queen sized bed, a futon and full kitchen. The bathroom was very nice despite a smaller shower with fresh towels and some toiletries provided. Flat screen TV with cable with a few additional movie channels. Office B attendant was very friendly and told us about a close by rope swing we ended up hiking to and really enjoying. They also have tetherball, ping pong, a fire pit and a few other things on site for leisure. The resort isn’t new and is in the woods so there are some things like creaky boards and other things one might expect. Pots and pans are available with a deposit. The weather was warm in the day and cooler in the night, there were quiet a few hiking and biking trails around, we didn’t rent the bikes from the resort but it appeared the cabin next to us did. Very quiet, family friendly resort and all around good stay.

we actually love staying here — it’s in a great location and is in a beautiful setting. Unfortunately, some of the things that people say on here are correct– the owners are absolutely the most inhospitable people one could ever encounter. The upside to this is that their daughter now seems to be taking care of a lot of the guest interaction and she is truly lovely and welcoming. They would be best off if she just took care of everything and they backed off totally. Even when you pass the man who owns it in the mornng and say hello, he just scowls at you truly making you feel unwelcome. The best news is that once you check in (hopefully with the help of the lovely daughter) that you really don’t have to have anything to do with them outside of being glared at when you enter the property.
The comments made about the beds are also true — I so wish that they would just take a litle bit of money and invest in some new beds — as they are right now — they are truly awful. We knew this coming back this time — thought that maybe we had the wrong memory of them — unfortunately, sleeping on the matteress is akin to sleeping on a concrete slab. We finally went to sears the second night there and bought a foam mattress topper. Even if the owners would just buy foam mattress toppers it would certainly be a step up from where it is right now — In all honesty, I would give this place a 5 if they would just do something about their mattresses.
My only other tip is that you should bring all of your own toiletries — this is not a 5 star hotel — which is fine — you don’t stay here wanting a 5 star hotel — they are kind enough to put little shampoos in your bathrom, but seriously do yourself a favor and just bring your own.
Again — despite the issues some have referenced, we still love this place — just bring your own mattress topper… bring your own shampoo… hope that the daughter takes care of you when arriving.

I loved the cozy cabin that my boyfriend and I stayed in. We were in cabin 7, which was perfectly placed in the corner of the resort, providing it with a more private back yard area. Some of the cabins are right next to each other and not as private, so I’m glad we got cabin 7. We took full advantage of the backyard by grilling up our dinner. This cabin also has a «river view.» I was hoping this meant that our cabin was along side a river. What it really means is that if you look over the hill from your back yard, you can see a small creek. However, the beauty of the redwoods that surround the cabin make up for it.
The inside of the cabin was very cozy and decorated like your grandma’s house, which I think adds to the charm. I also loved the resort’s family channel, which plays Disney movies! One night, my boyfriend and I made hot chocolate and watched Bambi. Pretty much my favorite night of our road trip vacation :)
The cabin was also VERY clean, to the point that it smelled like cleaning chemicals when we arrived. Luckily, it aired out quickly. My only real complaint is that the bed was rock hard and only had 2 pillows (I’m like the Princess and the Pea and I need a minimum of 3 pillows so my sleep was rough!). Also the people who run/​own the resort are… unique. …You’ll see.
Overall, this is a cozy resort in a gorgeous area. I would definitely recommend staying here if you’re in the Santa Cruz area!

Beautiful resort. The cabins are clean and the property in general is just well kept (A hard thing to keep up with surrounded by redwoods) You’re close to anything you could want, San Jose is just a 30 minute drive, the beach is like 10 – 15 minute drive, plenty of trails for hiking, mountain biking, and horses. Yes you have to supply your own kitchen utensils but this isn’t the first resort I’ve stayed at, a fair amount of them don’t supply cookware for their clients.
Please keep in mind that this isn’t some fancy hotel (Referring to the very negative comment from June 17, 2014). This is a cozy place with a beautiful setting.

First of all, this is set in a gorgeous peaceful location. It’s very pleasant and makes me feel like I’m in the middle of a calming landscape painting. The manager is incredibly helpful and goes out of her way to make her guests comfortable. I can be a picky guest at times, but she accommodated for every one of my needs with genuine pleasure. I will definitely be coming back here soon.

Stayed here over a long weekend. The cabins were really clean and nice. The bed was soft and the sheets were really luxurious. We had a sorority retreat onsite with a picnic and had a lot of fun. The hosts were really nice and accommodating and helped us when we needed it. The grounds are really pretty and you can tell the effort the owners put into the place. I am excited to return here for future events.

If I could rate this resort more than 5 stars, I would. I’ve stayed here many times and each time has been pleasant. The manager, Nicole, has always been wonderful. Friendly, helpful, and hospitable. Attentive to my needs and open to any questions that I ask.
Obviously the grounds are beautiful and well kept, you can tell as soon as you drive up. That’s just one plus. Cabins are adorable as well, and clean which is very very important to me! Love how peaceful and cozy this place is. Never had an issue staying here and plan on staying again when I visit Santa Cruz next weekend! Definitely recommend you check this place out if you’re in town. It’s tucked away just far enough into the woods that you are engulfed by the beauty of nature, yet downtown SC is only 10 minute drive away! Perfect.

If you love rock hard beds, then this is your place. My wife and I stayed here for a long weekend not too long ago, and let me just say if they took a tenth of the time they spend on the landscaping on the cabins then this place would be amazing. But, alas, their cabins are straight out of MASH episode.
First, the beds were absolutely terrible. Not just, ‘Sore back in the morning bad’ — but so bad you can’t sleep through the pain in the middle of the night bad. OWNERS: Your guest spend the majority of their time SLEEPING. The least you can do is switch out the mattresses every 5 – 7 years. You seem to think that the guests spend the majority of their time walking around your grounds. False. Most people use your motel as a resting place when not hiking or at the beach.
Second, the morning we were to check out the cleaning lady walked in at 9:30an unannounced, no knock, nothing. I was in my boxer shorts in the living room catching up on work e-​mail. Awesome. That wasn’t awkward at all.
Third, no pots and pans, but they give you a full kitchen. That’s pretty lame.
Fourth, the remote control is attached to the coffee table. Really?
Fifth, worst shower I have ever used. Little to zero water pressure, alternating randomly between hot and cold water, and the height was 5’2″. Being 6’3″ this made it incredibly challenging to wash my hair and anything above my belly button.
OWNERS: I hear you’re place is on the market. I’m happy to put an offer in and show you guys how to turn this property into a multi-​million dollar hotel that it could be. You guys are out of your league.
I’ll never stay here again.

Stayed here Thurs. 11−21−13, and here’s the run-​down…
Pros? Awesome setting in a highland wooded area with tons of natural beauty. Cozy little cabins with passable amenities. Nice grounds to stroll on with giant redwood groves standing sentinel, with Fern River flowing down below the cabins. Close to town and shops and things. Close to Cowell State Park areas.
Cons? Being made to feel about as welcome as a leper by, apparently, the owner, who should probably NOT be dealing with the public. e.g., Me: «Nice place you’ve got here.» Him: «I’ll sell it to you. That is, if you want to give up 15 years of your personal life and having any kind of life of your own…» blah, blah, blah… «Gee, so sorry to put you out as a valued (?) customer.» The other reviewer is absolutely right when he said that you are basically checked in (if that’s what you want to call it. It was more like listening to Elmer Fudd try to sell insurance or something. Actually, that would have been better) and then left on your own. No «Welcome to Fern River Resort, folks» or «we’ve got [list of activities and resort features] for you» or even a simple «Hello. Welcome.» It was literally the owner ass-​draggin’ over to see what these people could possibly want, acting as if he was on his way to have root canal or a colonoscopy. He spent the entire time bitching about property taxes in CA, banks, not having a personal life… NOTHING in the way of what I would call even close to basic customer service skills. Just «That’ll be $ 100, here’s the key.»
Wow. Thanks. Nice talking to you, too.
So, forget about expecting people skills or «customer service». Just focus on the trees and natural beauty and you’ll have a great time! Three stars only for the incredible setting and cozy cabins. One star for public relations skills.

We held our daughter’s wedding at Fern River Resort. The setting was perfect. Gazebo with an 80 – 100 ft aisle. Green grass, tall redwoods. Enlarged concrete dance floor. The site had tables and chairs we could use for the rehearsal evening/​party and the actual wedding/​reception. Fees for the use of the site were reasonable compared to other sites in the area for our 100 guests.
Between the wedding party, family, and friends, we rented out the entire facility. The deposit in the form of checks was a bit maddening but final payment could be made by credit card. Cabins were warm in the early morning. No air conditioning but open windows made the California September afternoons comfortable.
The owners were accessible to us as we completed wedding setup. They were helpful with suggestions and when our original lighting plan didn’t work, they came up with a solution.
There were several restrictions about tape, etc for decorating but they are just trying to protect the finish on their redwood tables. The catering kitchen in the serving area is the best – gas stove, gas BBQ, refrigerator, freezer, and ice maker.
Recreation is nearby at the state park, railroad, and volleyball, tether ball, ping pong and other recreational activities. They helped us have a Bön fire on the rehearsal evening and we enjoyed it very much.
Towels were great and plentiful. We could get fresh towels each day by just taking them to the office. Our cabin #8 had a good sized refrigerator and freezer. Our cabin served as headquarters for breakfast and lunch. The deck was large enough for 2 small picnic tables. I brought my own power strip as outlets were in short supply in the kitchen area for toaster, microwave, and coffee pot. Coffee filters were provided.
My daughter and fiancé scouted out the site over a year before the wedding. They delayed their decision a bit and did not get their first choice – their fault, not the resorts. The groom ‘s grandparents had lived in this area when he was a child. My daughter and I did take time to visit the site one month before the wedding and review final plans with the owners. It was worth the trip.
Each cabin has a parking space for one vehicle. But additional vehicles can be accommodated. During the wedding and other activities you do not hear the nearby highway.
Our daughter and now son-​in-​law had the weekend wedding of their dreams. Our guests enjoyed themselves. Room rates were reasonable. The resort is in the process of upgrading bedding (based upon their FB page).

All in all, I liked this spot. The setting is gorgeous. You can hear the Roaring Camp Train (which is the reason we were in the area). You can walk into the San Lorenzo River. Henry Cowell Redwoods is just up the road.
However, as others have pointed out, the owners are a bit eccentric. Actually, I’m fairly certain they’re autistic. The pillow situation really is ridiculous. Bring your own. We stayed in Cabin 3, which I recommend. It’s in a nice corner spot, so you have a little more privacy than some of the others, but still a great river view.
There are activities if you are so minded. Tetherball, horseshoes, boardgames. There is a firepit and a hottub (for an extra $ 10).
I would go back to this place!

Strange little place. The cabin was adorable and absolutely freezing. The only heat for the cabin was the newly inserted gas fireplace which only heated the sleeping loft. So we ended up sleeping in the loft which was kind of fun but…
The cabins are super clean and the setting on the river is nice. The kitchen has no pots or pans so make sure you bring yours if you plan on doing any cooking. There is little help as far as the person at the office. Pretty much they check you in and you are on your own. This place would be nice in the summer when it is warmer or I can see having a family reunion there… everyone could have their own cabin.
Hiking at Henry Cowell is within walking distance which is the best part of this place. For the price… it was just okay.

I have stayed here in the past and enjoyed these cabins but I would advice
strongly against staying here! When my husband and I walked in to our cabin it reaked of Pine Sol. Not very nature like.
In the evening we went to use the community hottub and we were told that
we need to make reservations by 5pm. That would have been good to know at check in.
Now I come back and find that I have been charged twice on my credit card.
So, I call up the office and I am told that I need to call my bank. e
The lady answering the phone said she was busy and there is no problem. No time for a satsified customerThis IS BS!!!
Unhappy and unsatified!

Im sorry to give it only 2 Stars… because the resort is very nice… rooms are very quaint. BUT i agree with the other reviewers…
1. No shampoo or conditioner. just a big bar of dial soap.
2. Coffee maker with no filters or coffee.
3. Terrible hard cheap mattress.
4. The shower head is like for dwarves.
I know you can do better then that… for $ 130 a night!