Mendon Mountain Orchards & Motel

We stopped in to by Maple Syrup since we were staying in the area. I visited here during the winter, but I imagine it looks beautiful in the spring and summer. The little shop is a cute little country store and you can bring your empty syrup bottles and refill them here. I even found maple syrup lip balm and it reminds me of Vermont!

Sigh…
I booked this place really hoping to love it and the whole time, just wanting to love it even more each day. But sadly, that’s not what happened.
It’s a motel in an apple orchard, so naturally, it’s super cute. The rooms are basically little duplexes with little porches and red apple embossed shutters. There is wi-​fi, but there is no cable tv.
Most importantly, there was *NO heat* during our stay.
My partner David and I booked a room here on a chilly Friday evening in Vermont and walking into the room, saw an electric fireplace. Thinking and awaiting how cozy this could potentially be, we quickly secured a room for Saturday night, as well…before attempting to turn on the heat.
Yup. The heat was shut off. And it did not come on all weekend of evenings in the rainy low 40s. Why? Well, the first night, they explained that ‘the guy who does this type of thing’ left for the day and doesn’t have a cell phone and no one else knows how to turn on the heat — the place is run by a lady in her 90s and a younger girl.
There was no heat source, and there were no back up space heaters for the guests. But they offered us one extra comforter, and a promise to try to fix it tomorrow. So we stayed, and that night, we were really pretty cold still. We did manage to heat the room enough to fall asleep, by running the shower on hot and leaving the bathroom door open to steam the room.
Come tomorrow, we went back the office, after being out all day, because why? Still no heat.
This time, the older lady came out, explained it was a Saturday, they couldn’t find anyone to fix it, so on and so forth, and then offered me a partial refund on the room come check out the next morning.
The next morning? No one knew about the partial refund that was offered the night before. Rather, I was given 1,0000 excuses for why I shouldn’t be upset for freezing all weekend (not any apology or empathy). Also, there was no refund. However, there was an offer for a free apple pie or a gift from the shop.
Look, if you are going to run a motel in a state that is routinely known for cold weather, and charge people for rooms, the least you could do is make sure the guests have access to heat. A customary partial refund for something like this would be a credit for one of the night’s stay.
Mendon Orchards, I know you’re a family run business and on a tight budget. But, I’ve stayed at so many small family run motels (please see my other reviews), and this is the first time going without heat. Next time, rather than giving me 1,000 excuses as to why purchasing a space heater in times like these is a bad idea because would burn down a whole cottage (psst– they are really safe these days), just say you’re sorry.
Summary:
NO HEAT all weekend.
NO PARTIAL REFUND, as promised.
Lots of excuses as to why there was no heat.
A free gift from the gift shop, as a consolation.
I suggest staying in Mendon Orchards *only* if it’s during a seasonal time of year where heat is not going to be an issue for you.

Great rate and quintessential Vermont. Don’t expect some 5-​star NY high-​rise hotel; this is an orchard motel by every definition. Which means, of course, the famous apple turnovers! We took 6 total, we were NOT to leave hungry, and were offered more still – as many as we could carry. I don’t know if that’s the normal routine, but as we were the last to checkout, all the gifts were bestowed.
The attached store is cute, ever so simple. The whole property was iced over due to the looming mud season, but you can see how positively beautiful it must be in the spring, summer, and fall.
Now, I was tempted to give 5-​stars, but our room wasn’t ready at 2, though we had been told it would be ready at noon. This was an issue as we had an event to attend at 4, so we were cutting things a bit close. No one likes to feel rushed, especially in Vermont. Some of the details from other reviews are true, too, meaning the linens suffer some signs of age, along with a few other blemishes.
However, for the rate, location, kindness, and what we received in comparison to other sleep-​ins, MMO&M is a solid 4 stars. If the simple things in life make you happy, you’ll do just fine by staying here.

Had the pleasure of getting to come here twice this weekend both stopping in for pies and apple turnovers. Pies and turnovers were perfect as usual can’t wait for next weekend then I can try some more =)

A very tidy, reasonably-​priced motel.
It’s not a five-​star hotel, it’s a family-​owned and operated motel in rural Vermont that exists on a working apple orchard. If you want friendly, real people, this is the place.
The motel room was very modest and comfortable — two beds in our room, both were comfortable. Simple accommodations including fresh towels, a refrigerator, TV (no cable — we don’t watch TV but maybe you do!) and an A/​C in cooler months.
The apple turnovers in the morning were very, very good and as promised, a fresh cup of coffee!
We would stay here again!

I had high hopes for this place based on a few of the reviews, but I have to
give this a ‘1’ rating as one of the worst places I have ever stayed. After
hiking all over the property looking for #2, I found I was given the key to #1
so I had to hike back to the office and get a proper key. Upon reaching #2, I
saw a sign on the door: «Our most fervent request is a non-​smoking guest».
Great, because we are non-​smokers. But on opening the door I discovered that
they didn’t get their request. This place ‘Reeked’ with a capital R. It
wasn’t just a trace of smoke smell, it reeked and we smelled it all night and
our clothes smelled of smoke even after we left the motel. People must have
been smoking there for the last 50 years! I stopped counting at 26 the number
of cigarette burns in the small night table next to the bed. There were burn marks
on the rug as well. (please, place some ashtrays in the room before someone
burns the place down!) They would have to completely strip the room and rugs
in order to clear the smoke smell.
The bathroom sink hung at an angle that prevented placing any items on it
including a the soap. The bed sagged to the middle like all old mattresses do
but that was a minor issue. The steps outside had a large gaping crack in
them that makes you think it might give way at any moment. A sign in the
office said that wi-​fi and cable TV were only available for rooms nearest the
office. Despite having made my reservations two months prior, we had neither
wi-​fi nor TV.
I went to the ‘store’ the next morning to partake of the famous turn-​over and
have a cup of coffee but there was no one in the store so I had neither. The
turn-​overs looked really good but I guess I’ll never find out how good. We
won’t be back.

Love, love, love this place! The owners are so nice and very accommodating. They make a variety of delicious pies every morning (their complimentary breakfast of homemade apple turnover is pretty scrumptous.
The rates are fantastic. If you go towards the back, there’s a gorgeous landscape of orchard trees. It’s also a 15 minute drive to Killington Mt. Ski resort. My friends and I are definitely coming here again.

This place rocks. Stayed here in March of 06 while doing genealogy in Rutland County. The rates are very reasonable, they allow dogs with no additional charge, it is close to skiing and restaurants, and in the morning they make the all time best apple turnover things I have ever had.
The motel is a collection of small buildings, most duplexes, in the middle of a working orchard. It is not posh. I have heard apple blossom time is gorgeous, I can imagine it is. I would take walks with my dog through the orchard, she loved the ability to run around and smell and I like talking to the workers.