Kit Carson Lodge

Was there on a Sunday. Risotto de Vinci was very good (chef’s favorite I was told). It was made with trout and shrimp and scallops in a creamy sauce. Pasta portions are big and came with bread and soup or salad. Beautiful views with seating outside. I would definitely come here again.

We spent 4 days at Cinnamon Bear cabin in August 2015 and my family of 7 had a wonderful time. Thanks to Mike the owner for spending time with my father. He is 93 and remembers much of that area and enjoyed the discussion about guns. My 85 year old mother has wanted to stop by for over 55 years and we finally full filled that dream. And my sister-​in-​law is from China and truly enjoyed walking around, watching the chipmunks and squirrels, and eating american food. Both of my parents were quite happy. Who knows how many more family vacations we will have. They have a very clean an organized place. The restaurant dinner was marvelous, and the chef checked on options when my son asked for a change on the wine sauce. They were very helpful.
The views were amazing. The hiking was wonderful. The cabin was peaceful even with 7 of us. You better enjoy rustic, which we all did. We were prepared and took our percolator coffee pot, but the fridge and stove/​oven were great, we had plenty of room for relaxing and talking in Cinnamon Bear. My family is ready to spend some time there again.

My boyfriend and I went here to celebrate our 3^rd anniversary. We don’t normally stay in something that costs this much but I’ve been wanting to stay here for years. We stayed in Eastern Brook which was very quaint. Yes, as the reviews say, the cabins are very rustic. We had a parking space, a bbq, and a partial view of the lake. The cabins are pretty close to each other but our neighbors were quiet so noise wasn’t an issue.
The cabin had pretty much everything we needed. I thought the master bed was pretty comfortable but my boyfriend said it was hard. The second «bedroom» has a full bed and that’s about all that can fit in there. It’s also open to the living room/​common area (no door). The cabin would have been fine with four people but not very romantic ;) The deck was awesome. Needs repainting and sanding so don’t go barefoot. The sliding back door needs to be replaced. The fireplace was ready to light with wood and paper already in it. Wi-​fi didn’t work at the cabin but was fine at the restaurant.
We went down to the beach and like the all-​inclusive resort we went to in Cabo for a wedding, the seat-​stealers had already «called» the chaise lounges and umbrellas. There were plenty of lounges but not enough umbrellas. We never saw one party of seat-​stealers in the 4 – 5 hrs we were at the beach. First world problem, yes.
We never ate at the restaurant but it is super cute and inviting. Only issue w/​the cabin is the toilet is super sensitive due to having old plumbing. Aside from checking in with Tom when we arrived Friday evening, we never really saw anyone and it was a very relaxing stay. We would have rented paddle boards had they been available. The old outboards are way too expensive at $ 45/​hr. The kayaks should have been free for guests since the cabin was over $ 700 for 2 nights.

My husband and I went to Kit Carson Lodge in July for three days to celebrate our 20^th wedding anniversary. We had been looking forward to the trip for months.
I called the day of our reservation to confirm the cabin and there was no mention of a problem. When we arrived to check in we were told that it (Rainbow) was having a septic problem and we would have to check into another cabin (Gray Squirrel). We asked if that meant we would have to move during our stay and the nice girl helping us was unsure. She asked us to check back in the office the next morning at 9 am and the owner would be there. She told us we did not have to pay our outstanding balance yet because she was sure the owner would «take care of us» somehow because of the hassle.
We checked into the Gray Squirrel and unloaded all of our stuff, and since these are housekeeping cabins and you bring everything, that means we unloaded coolers, dry goods, extra cooking supplies, etc. so we could make dinner that night. The Gray Squirrel also seemed to have a septic problem and my husband had to plunge the toilet repeatedly to get it to flush that night.
The next morning we went to the lodge and found we would indeed have to move out of the Gray Squirrel because it was reserved for other guests. The bad news was that the Rainbow cabin was still being worked on. The owner was apologetic and appreciative at our willingness to move and he and another worker helped us move our stuff from one cabin to the other in a golf cart. We may be overpackers, but it was still a pain to hurriedly throw everything into the cart and move cabins. Unloading and reloading the fridge and cabinets of our supplies was the biggest hassle. When we got to the Rainbow cabin we were very pleased with the cabin, view, location, and cleanliness.
Unfortunately, there was no water in the Rainbow cabin due to whatever problem they were having so we could not use the sink/​shower/​toilet while they were working on it. They were again apologetic, but we were told that we had to walk down to the lodge front desk, ask for a key, and then walk to the outdoor bathrooms anytime we needed to use the toilet or sink. The workers were in, under, and in front of the cabin for most of the day working in an open sewer pit right off of the deck. Nice people, but not quite the privacy we had planned for our 20^th anniversary celebration. Finally, shortly after 3 pm, they let us know that all was well and we could use the bathroom and they were leaving us.
That evening I went to take a shower and found we had no hot water. It was after 9 pm and the front desk was closed. I boiled hot water on the stove to wash dishes that evening and the next morning. The next morning, we awoke smelling gas. My husband checked the pilot light in the oven and it was out so he lit it. When the office opened we went down to let them know that we didn’t have any hot water. It turns out they had blown out several pilot lights the day before and had either not realized or forgotten that our cabin was affected. We went back to the cabin and the maintenance folks soon showed up to relight all of the pilot lights in the cabin. At this point (mid-​Wednesday morning) all of our maintenance issues had been resolved. (We had checked in Monday). We made the best of it and had a wonderful time, but we were a bit irked that out of our entire stay only 24 hours of it was in a trouble-​free cabin. The staff was very kind and apologetic and kept telling us that Mike would «do right by us.» One of the workers brought us a bottle of wine that evening and although I told him we didn’t drink, it was a nice gesture.
Upon checkout, the girl at the front desk still didn’t know what to charge us. Mike was off the property, and she was sure he was going to give us some sort of discount. She asked us to pay the entire balance and said he would call us later that day and they would provide a credit. Once home that afternoon, My husband called and asked to speak to Mike and was told that he was still unavailable. He ended up calling three separate times and Mike wouldn’t even get on the line or give him a call back. We were shocked that he wouldn’t return the call, even if to say that he wasn’t doing anything for us or refunding any of our money.
Other than the maintenance issues and the situation with Mike not returning our call or making good on his promise, EVERYTHING else was amazing. The food in the restaurant, the service in the restaurant, store, and front desk, and the setting were all exceptional. We thoroughly enjoyed everything about the trip, the location, the resort, and the employees, other than our cabin issues. The accommodations are pricey, but I think it would have been worth it — IF — everything had been working and the cabin was truly ready for us when we arrived. The maintenance issues and lack of follow up by the owner has left a bit of a bad taste in our mouths. I think we would return again, but am not entirely sure.

This place is multifacted. First, yes it is rustic so you will need to be okay with that. For instance we brought a one cup coffee maker and blew the fuse in the cabin — cost $ 20. We went to the restaurant for breakfast (and coffee). The coffee is BAD — cost $ 2. The beds are pretty bad. In essence, it’s rustic. Oh, and very limited cell/​internet — which I guess could be a blessing.
But there are some good things about the place. 1) the lake is magnificent 2) the fishing and kayaking are great — better than great 3) we saw a bald eagle flying overhead which was breathtaking.
The thing is for us as a middle aged couple, we think staying at Kirkwood overnight and then driving down (5 miles) to Silver Lake to enjoy the lake is much better. Kirkwood offers ½ the price and 2x the quality.

My husband and I have enjoyed a delicious lunch in July and last night a memorable dinner on the deck. Great service. And remarkably outstanding dinner. I had the salmon in flaky pastry and my husband had the sea bass. We shared a all Caesar salad. Runquist wine made it even better. Location unbeatable. Sooo much better than fancy Tahoe places.
Rustic, yes. Worth it, absolutely. Going back, no doubt.

The check in lady was rude, the boats don’t work according to one guest that had to paddle all the way in when his boat gave out, no microwave or oven in a ‘full kitchen’, left without staying figured it could only get worse. Shallow lake and no fish.

We had dinner at the Lodge the night before the Death Ride. We’ve always loved this setting, can’t get any better views. Charming, it’s like a throwback you might find in Northern Midwestern states.
The food is ok, and by Kirwood standards, it’s on par. Decent chicken picatta, veggies were overcooked, mashed potatoes starchy. The soup was delicious.
Connor, our waiter was a gem. Really the only person there, and funny, he’s younger by 30 years, that had that customer service DNA. The older female waitress cracked me up, barking orders at him (he was way ahead of her), and completely stressed over 4 tables. Hilarious. She needs to go do something she likes. The older guy who didn’t do much, acted like the manager also should go do something he loves. Everyone is right, not welcoming.

Unfortunately, although the surroundings are beautiful, the people that run the lodge and the store are rude and unwelcoming. This is one of the most unfriendly places we have ever stopped. After purchasing items at the general store, we asked if there were restrooms close by. The rude clerk, an older woman, told us we would have to drive out to Hwy 88 and find public restrooms since we were NOT lodge guests. This was AFTER we purchased several items from the store. When we went to the lodge, we were again told we could NOT USE ANY of the facilities unless we were paying customers. My friend ordered a glass of wine ($ 10) just so we could use the restroom. I have never seen the like! We will NOT EVER go here or recommend it to our friends due to their inhospitable rude behavior.

Silver Lake is one of the most beautiful lakes in California. This Lodge could be a great place but the current owners are just awful. To say that they are un-​hospitable is an understatement. They are obsessed with identifying and removing any non-​paying trespassers from the property. Even folks that just came by to check the place out are quizzed. I was approached several times in 2 days and asked if I was a guest. The restaurant was good but the adjoining restrooms were locked at all times; requiring guests of the restaurant and lodge to ask for the «giant key on a piece of driftwood» from the front desk. This is also the only place on the property that guests can plug in a blow dryer or any electrical device. Too bad if the front desk is busy… The facility is referred to as «historic» which is another word for falling apart. Roofs are sagging, decks are rotten, window screens are hanging off, sliding doors are loose and rattle. My sink in the hotel room was coming off the wall and the 1950s steel painted shower pan made clanking sounds when stepped into. I paid $ 180/​night for my 9×15 room with a tiny bathroom in the hotel cabin. All of the buildings need a major repairs and structural upgrades; a lot of money needs to be pumped into the place. This Lodge has so much potential, it’s a shame that the current owners are running it into the ground.

We were on a driving trip and stopped here for the afternoon. We rented a motorboat and had a fun time on the lake. The staff was very friendly and helpful.

We stayed here for 3 days in September. In spite of the varying Unilocal reviews, we decided to try it for ourselves… and I am so glad that we did. The area is beautiful, we found the staff to be very friendly, and we very much enjoyed our dinner in the restaurant. If you want to totally unplug (literally-​we had no phone or internet at all), then this is the place to go. I loved sitting out on the deck taking in the beautiful scenery… put on some shoes and you won’t get splinters! If you are expecting a luxury resort and need to be pampered to have a good time, then this is not the place for you. If you want to completely relax and can just enjoy the beauty of the area, without TV, phone or internet, then this is the perfect place to do it. Sadly, no pets are allowed and we missed our dogs, but I do understand the reasoning behind that. Looking forward to many more trips to Silver Lake and Kit Carson Lodge.

We got two nights at the Kit Carson Lodge through an internet deal. What a beauttfiul setting. Silver Lake is stunning. The cabin we stayed in (Rainbow) was tiny but really cute. The restaurant food was good, not great and a bit pricey, but our waitress was the best.
This is NOT a luxury resort… the cabins are rustic, there is one place to eat, and it is pretty far from everything. Perfect!!!

We were recently married on Carson Pass — we stopped by Kit Carson Lodge for a celebratory beverage at about 4:45pm on a Thursday afternoon.
We were told immediately upon entry that the lodge opened at 5:00pm. The manager then came out and said we cannot in any accommodate you we have fully booked up for dinner and we only serve wine and beer.
This situation could have been addressed in a number of ways that would have welcomed us. One of the easy method since they had a big beautiful deck that was unused. Instead it was no way, we can’t, more importantly you are not welcome here. Won’t be going back there.

We ate at the restaurant yesterday for lunch. Besides the fact that one person in our party got food poisoning from the clam chowder, the owner/​boss yelled at the waitress in front of all the customers trying to eat. She told her she should be able to handle all the tables faster. I say the owner/​boss should’ve put an apron on and helped the waitress. She was doing a good job, but she was slammed working all by herself.

I bought this deal from living social for a two night stay. Upon arriving my husband and I immediately gained our sanity back. The nice, peaceful and natural views of the lake were breathtaking. We stayed in the Red Fir cabin, it was a reasonable size, with a descent shower, and cute little patio, where I sat for hours feeding blue jays with nuts and almonds. The room was quite hot, (labor day weekend 2012) during the day, and quite cold at night, but we managed. To describe it, I would say it was like camping, but with class. The cabin décor was old, but fit the natural forest view and I thought it was cute. Lunch was average with corn cobs, and pork ribs. Breakfast was descent with boiled eggs, bagels, and yogurt.
Overall, I really enjoyed the birds, kayaking, fishing on the breathtaking lake, the cute little chipmunks crossing our paths, the friendly service from the national exchange students, and most of all disconnecting from the noisy city life, and our excessive addiction to technological instruments!
We enjoyed our stay and will definitely return!!!

I see many reviews regarding the restaurant, we did not eat there. This place cam highly recommended by a good friend, so we opted to give it a shot. A cabin with a view of the lake (Silver Lake), 2 beds, 1 double, 1 single. Full kitchen, small bathroom w/​shower only, small dining area. Cute and perfect for 2 adults, maybe also a young child say 6 and up. Each cabin has its own BBQ and a fireplace. Wood, trash bags, coffee filters are provided. No housekeeping in the cabins,(which is fine) you can exchange towels and linens at the office. No dell service or Internet, except at the office they have free wi-​fi. 7 nights, just under $ 2,200.00.
Upon arrival, we figured we’d head to the office to check-​in, but we could not find the office right away, because it is in the Art Gallery, which we found out after looking around and asking.
I was a bit taken by how close the cabins were to each other, but I will say the «map» online does hint at this fact. So we head to our cabin. Here it comes: I went straight to the deck to see the beautiful lake, but you can’t really see the lake because there are trees, big trees along the bank, in front of the deck, so rather than a 180 degree panorama, we got a 12 degree peek. I went next to check the bathroom facilities (because this is what I always check first, that is, when there’s no lake to check out first.
I was not very happy with the cleanliness, there was some mold in every corner of the shower stall, so we our flip-​flops when we used it. When we turned on the light over the sink, the chain came off and could not be put back on as it broke inside the fixture, so we had to loosen and tighten the bulb. The rods that operated the blinds also broke off in the kitchen and one in the main bedroom.
The deck is in major disrepair, the railing was loose, and you don’t dare go out in your socks because of the 3−4″ splinters (I measured them). Dry rot was present at all the main junctions and the deck floor was creaky and wobbly, so if you were in a lounge chair and someone walked behind you your chair would go up and down as they walked.
One of the 2 screen doors was jammed, the glass slider was out of line with its track, noisy and hard to open and close. That door’s screen was also very noisy and hard to open and close (we used some bar soap on the track which helped a bit).
They generate their own electricity so no toasters or microwaves, and plugs were not common (this is not a complaint, just a fact). After 2 nights of a very stuffed nose and shortness of breath I thought I would have adjusted to the 7,000′ altitude. After the 3^rd night I was really suspicious so I looked under the bed. Wow. The dust buildup must have been accumulating for months, many months. Further inspection found this to be true under everything that had an underside.
In short, disrepair and hasty cleaning (and some tree work) will cure the ills of an otherwise decent effort.

We came across this heaven by accident, but will become regulars. The setting is idealistic with a lovely lake and surrounding mountains. There is swimming, boating, fishing, hiking and decks overlooking the scenery. The restaurant was a gourmet surprise. The people are super friendly and the prices are reasonable. Bring your own goodies, the store is not well stocked, but they have the essentials. Lots of scheduled activities including a nightly camp fire with free marshmallows. Check this out. You’ll be glad you did!

Great location, great design and surroundings. I have tremendous respect for those that preserve such a special place. The first reviewer was right; it is not for those looking for luxury.
A few things to keep in mind: The «complimentary breakfast» is ONLY applicable to the 8 – 10 a.m. breakfast and NOT the Sunday Champagne Brunch. The brunch is highly publicized and they don’t make clear that they serve breakfast AND brunch on Sundays. If you want to pay $ 22/​plate for cheap champagne and sub-​par food/​service, feel free. I was gravely disappointed.
The restaurant leaves a lot to be desired in terms of quality and service. The prices are pretty hefty, but the quality of food is quite poor. On a Saturday night, we were told that they were out of pork loin, and that the rack of lamb was frozen so we’d have to wait an hour for it to thaw (it was already 8 p.m.) before we could eat. The service staff, while they were nice, was very, very poor. Took 10 minutes for anyone to acknowledge that we were waiting for a table (in a half-​empty restaurant), took another 10 minutes to be seated, another 10 to get a drink and for our order to be taken. No refills on coffee (even when we asked), no sugars in the sugar basket and really, I could go on.
The management seems to bring in exchange students from other countries to work the service industry, but that’s a big mistake if people are paying top dollar and these kids are not trained in the basics.
I’m giving the lodge 3 stars, but really only for the ambience and the respect I have for history and well-​designed places. For everything else, like management and service, I give it a 1 star +. By the way, thank goodness I brought my own soap, because after 3 nights, the housekeeping service did not provide a bar of soap! None!

This is your quintessential tiny mountain lodge and we really enjoyed our stay there — we had been before.
Newcomers to the Kit Carson Lodge will enjoy it best if they know what to expect. The prices aren’t cheap, and this might lead one to think they are heading somewhere more like a resort, and this isn’t.
The rooms are tiny and the cabins are small. The entire property is built from 1×12 knotty pine — something you just won’t see anymore. Most of the construction dates back to 1926. The views are great from all rooms and the dining hall is perfect. Many families we talked to had been coming back for years.
Expect to meet other families around the campfire at night. Summer only, closed during snow season. Elevation is 7,500 so dress warmly. If you’re seeking privacy of any type, you’ll want to get one of the cabins, not the hotel rooms.
Elegant, luxurious, prestigious? No.
Genuine, rustic, authentic? Yes.
Don’t bring your dog (not allowed).