Kohl’s Ranch Lodge

Stayed at this gem of a resort for four nights over the Labor Day weekend. Could not have been more pleased with all aspects of their operation. This was our first stay at a Diamond Resorts property and, given the quality we experienced on this trip, will gladly book with them again. The entire property has a real Old West feel including the well-​appointed rooms that are fully stocked with anything you may need to make your stay as comfortable as possible. Although the remote location causes spotty wifi and cell reception staying here is a peacefull, invigorating experience. Cannot say enough about our joy of staying here.

This was a hidden gem that we found just before coming out to Payson and boy am I glad we did. This place is charmingly decorated with a log cabin feel. There were plenty of activities on site which made the evening even more fun, including a saloon with a jukebox! One of the employees was serving up smores cones which I can’t believe I never heard of before. The room was clean and spacious. I like that it had a kitchenette to cook our own dinner and breakfast. There was a nice patio we could sit out on and look at the stars. All in all it was a fun, romantic evening and I look forward to going back.

We only stayed one night in an a studio but it had everything we needed. There are also plenty of activities on site to keep you entertained. The front desk staff were very pleasant and helpful, however, I deducted a star due to the not so positive attitude of the bartender and some of the other staff on site. It appeared that there were several who weren’t Happy about having to work that day/​night. I would certainly recommend this location for families.

Had a great time! Cabin was nicely appointed, ours was on the creek which was very relaxing! We visited the fish hatchery across the way which was nice, enjoyed the basketball court and playground and roasted marshmallows on the fire pit… Overall a great weekend!

Meh. Front desk clerk was great (thus the two stars). Other than that, I was unimpressed. Took an hour to get our food. And we waited and waited. One of the food servers was rude and found it more appropriate to socialize than to help the other food server who was frenetic and overwhelmed. We have a special diet and I found accommodation of this a real issue. In fact, the rude food server was speaking loudly to another table so we could hear, complaining about people on «special diets.» Wildly professional. The cabin was nice but needs maintenance. I won’t be back, and, in fact, we almost left and asked for a refund. No big deal for us but don’t plan on consistent cell service or internet.

We stayed here for one night and it is an adequate place to stay.
Pros:
we arrived on ³⁄₁₄ (pi day) and we got a free slice of pie
The room was large and clean
The bed was comfortable
Cons:
Very remote
Low water pressure/​lukewarm shower water
Late check in time (4) and early checkout (10)
No breakfast options nearby and the price for oatmeal that they charge is unnecessarily steep.
Charge for USA today
No utensils in the room with a kitchenette
Website photos a bit misleading (not as nice as in the pictures)
Fan/​light combo in bathroom extremely loud
Internet very slow

Friendly staff… food came out quick and it was delicious. Looks like a very family friendly place although couples were welcome too. We celebrated our anniversary here and had a great time. Check hours before hand, especially during the winter slow season.

First time here and we loved every second. Had a creek facing studio room with a cute kitchenette. Perfect for bringing your own food and saving some $$. Room was darling and very clean. Grounds were beautiful. Staff was very friendly. We ate at restaurant one night and food was great! Bartender Taylor pours great drinks. If they are offering the S’More Cones in the lobby in the evening, get one! They’re amazing. Easy hour and a half drive from Chandler. Can’t wait to return with kids and book a cabin on the creek.

This is a really nice place to stay, we bought a groupon and it was totally worth the money.
We got there to check in and the young lady at the counter only had two twin beds available. My wife expressed that this is our honeymoon and and that we would prefer not to sleep in separate beds. The lady helped us out by giving a very spacious room, I think it was meant for someone in a wheel chair.
The lobby was warm and inviting, wood furniture doors the works. The staff was super nice and they have coffee machines and water dispenser in the lobby.
Getting to our room we have a personal refrigerator a queen sized bed, a nice sized TV, a desk with all the free stuff on it, a safe for valuables, an iron, a ironing board, a hair dryer. Man just a upscale place.
The bathroom was very spacious and was really nice it has all the little bathroom stuff needed for a weekend stay, like shampoo and conditioner and hand soap. The bath tub was very small. There was hardly any water pressure and the shower head was a retractable one and it didn’t work very well. The bathroom had a small Heater which my wife tells me is common in cold places.
The grounds were nice they have games outside like shuffle board, putt putt golf a huge chess set, bocce ball, basket ball. Needless to say you shouldn’t be bored. There is a horse ranch up the road a bit and for a nominal fee you can take a hoarse guided tour. The pool and spa were very clean and after a hard day of hoarse back riding that hot tub was the bees knees. There is a restaurant adjacent to the check in counter. The food is a bit pricey but dang was it good. I have pics of that. Well I will be staying here again. I truly enjoyed my stay and only wished I wax hear for the entire 7 days of my honeymoon.

We stopped by Kohl’s Ranch to stay for over a holiday weekend.
The rooms are nice, the staff very friendly and ready to assist.
The grounds are very family friendly with lots of activities for those with children; volleyball, basketball, an enormous chess set with giant pieces that the kids move around.
Nearby are various trails near streams and the forest.
The restaurant was very good. The fish fry on Friday’s was very good. Breakfast is served on the weekends but not during the weekdays.

Nice cabins, beautiful creekside views, love the scenery & grounds, tons of activities to do – just check with the front desk but know the cabin units are losing the hot tubs –only 3 units left with hot tubs. We booked a unit with a hot tub and it was filled with green water that was completely gutted of all electrical components.

The lodge is in a beautiful setting. We stayed in one of the studio rooms and had a stove, fridge, dishes, and microwave which was nice. We had brought food items to make our own b-​fast and were able to do that using the stove. The studios have a small patio in back with 2 chairs that over look the cabins then creek. I recommend if you stay here ask for the creek or pool view depending on what you prefer or you may end of looking at the parking lot, not pretty. The restaurant is only open Friday and Saturday nights other wise you have to eat in bar and grill area. Kitchen closes at 8 pm which in my opinion is little early when the weather is warm. We brisket and chicken which ran us about 35.00 for both. Not to expensive overall. There is awesome hiking across from the lodge on the way up to the fish hatchery. No place to shop nearby so if you need food or supplies stop at the store before driving out of Payson or you’ll be making a 40 mile round trip trek to stock up. Overall the lodge, is not luxury and does need some remodeling and updating but it still very pleasant and we would stay again.

Awesome experience. Reasonably priced. Very clean. The staff was extremely nice and professional. The food was generous and tasty. We will return. Thank you.

I’ll start by saying this was my 3^rd Valentines day here with my wife, EVERY single time we book the cabin with the jacuzzi on the deck. EVERY TIME!
As usual the first of the year I call ahead to make sure I get our cabin.
As I book, I get…“yes sir, we have one available.”…BOOKED.
Day before we arrive, we get the confirmation phone call from the resort.
«I’m booked with the cabin with the jacuzzi on the deck right?»…YES SIR!
We head up to Payson early every time to walk around the property and enjoy the resort. We hit the front desk at 3pm to let them know we have arrived. Our room isn’t ready yet… great no problem. We’ll be in the bar, let us know when its ready. My wife asks… could you make sure the jacuzzi is on and warm so we can get into it right away… Yes Mam, we’ll check, but they are always warm.
SO…at this point is there any question in my mind that I’ll get a different room? NO
We make friends with people at the bar, and the bartender. We are the bartenders «Guinea Pigs» and she makes several SEVERAL shots for us, our friends and herself. (Liquor violation) After a couple beers, and several fruity shots, we go back up to the desk get our room key and head to our room… NO JACUZZI… back to the office.
«Sorry your room isn’t guarenteed»…Wait what? Yes it is we confirmed it 3 times.
No sir, we’re at full capacity, we have nothing else.
Now instead of TRYING to make things right with us, the front desk walks in the back room hands me a piece of paper with a full refund, and then disappears to the back.
As my wife and I sit in the lobby in disbelief and slightly buzzed, our friends at the bar extend an invitation to stay with them in their room instead of driving. We weren’t going to rain on anyones V-​day night, so we declined and drove all the way back to Phx.
We were treated so horribly it turned my stomach. They didn’t do a SINGLE thing to make it right. We got the here’s a refund… get out treatment. I wrote letters to the head office and the staff twisted their story to the corporate office. Why? Because they violated several liquor laws. (I’m a bar owner)
Book us another night on the house? Buy us dinner? Take responsibility of your mistake? Nope none of that. Send the intoxicated customers on the road back to Phoenix, just get them out of the hotel.

Stayed here for the weekend and was pleasantly surprised! About 20 miles east of Payson on Tonto Creek. Upon check in the lady was very nice and knowledgeable.
Let me start by saying we are from Northern Arizona and were invited here by a friend, so to us, it wasn’t really THAT much of a getaway (as opposed to someone from the city) as we live in a similar setting but that’s not to say it wasn’t a beautiful place! Our friend told us it was a cabin with a fireplace so we brought our own firewood but it turns out our «rustic cabin» was a newer modular home/​cabin (which was perfectly fine, just not what we expected) and the GAS fireplace came one with the flip of a switch HaHa… Understandable as I’m sure the management wouldn’t want city people trying to start fires in their cabins!
The 2 bedroom cabin was spotless and had nice western décor. Was nice to sit on the porch and hear the creek. The grounds were all very clean, has FREE onsight laundry for guests, great pool and spa, horse shoe pits, volleyball area, basketball etc. Plenty for kids to do closeby if mom and dad want to relax at the pool. Even had a firepit (with real wood haha) that they light each night for s’mores!
The last night we decided to eat at the saloon and seriously, the food was DE-​LICIOUS! I totally expected it to be mediocre since it was the only place to eat on the property (but we didn’t want to drive 20 miles to town.) But dang! We got a little bit of everything and shared it (brisket, ribs, pulled pork, porkchops and veggie pizza, and don’t even get me started on the hot peach cobbler for dessert, it was the BEST I HAVE EVER HAD!!!) The service was great. Jasmine was a doll and put up with our boisterous group!
Overall the staff were awesome (even the maintenance guy collecting our trash asked if we needed help with anything, and did it with a smile!!) however, Kevin at the front desk is another story! I am sorry to call him out on Unilocal but our entire party had to deal with him at some point in our trip and each time he was anything but helpful, did not seem to know anything and seemed as if we were impositioning him! When the rest of our party checked in, he told them «you don’t have a reservation with us.» My friend was like «Um, I’m pretty sure I do since I made it and have the confirmation # and the rest of our party is all ready in the cabin!» That was just one example but no one wanted to deal with him. We joked about calling Undercover Boss but they have all ready done a Diamond Resort episode LOL But if management is reading this, please give Kevin a happy pill and some additional customer service training. His motto seemed to be «we love to say NO instead of Yes» and it was a damper on our stay… =(
A few notes:
Cabins 301 – 310 are the 2 Bedroom Deluxe Cabins (newer modular cabins, not rustic) and we assumed being they were «Deluxe» they’d have a private jacuzzi on the porch but they DO NOT!!!
The 5 cabins next to that are the «2 Bedroom Cabins» and THOSE have the hot tubs on the porch. It’s a bit confusing but good to know so you weren’t confused like us. No biggie, we enjoyed the main jacuzzi at the pool but next time we will make sure we get the right cabin with a private one.
Overall, a really nice place to stay. We would definitely go back but I bet it gets crowded in the summertime!
Cabins

Great family place. we rented a lodge room and it was great. we enjoyed having the mini kitchen which included a stove, microwave and small fridge. We appreciated the dishes, plates cups and utensils provided. all was very clean and they even supplied dish soap, paper towels and salt and pepper. We utilized the gas grills for dinner one night and it was great they were immaculate and we had a picnic table next to the grill so we grilled steaks was convenient. lots to do for family or a couple. we played bocce ball, and mini golf. We enjoyed the playground too with our little girl. The saloon was a good option for lunch we had pizza and it was good. We liked the smores available for purchase and sitting by firepit at night. The front desk staff was amazing and friendly. we checked in easily its a lovely property. will come back again for sure. We visited in September and our room had a fireplace was cozy. next time we plan to rent a cabin they looked really nice. quiet and relaxing place. We stopped across the street at the fish hatchery was an educational free activity worth checking out.

So sure enough the hotel sold out and I was unable to upgrade. Still frustrated that this location would refuse to allow me to upgrade days in advance to secure the larger room.
That being said, the lodge itself is very nice. Everyone is friendly in the complex. The complex itself is great for families. I will take my family back and ensure I book the cabin up front.
The one thing I did think was weird was that the front desk came knocking on my door at 10 am just to see if we were still in our room. I would think front desk would communicate to housekeeping ahead of time. They just wanted to know who was still in the rooms.

My friend and I stayed here over the weekend and had a fantastic time! I give it 5 stars because it met my expectations. This is not a super-​high class downtown resort; rather it is a clean place with a unique rustic history. It has been remodeled and there are two different room types; cabin by the creek which is newer and the original lodge room. The staff was honest about the restaurant — not very good. The staff was also friendly and extremely helpful.
They have horse stables on the grounds, cool pool area and places for kids to run around with lots of games and playground gear.
This place is near Tonto Natural Bridge Park and numerous hiking areas. I would return. Bring your own food to grill and eat — the nearest grocery store is about 14 – 17 miles away. Solid!

This place is a nice, rustic getaway from the atrocious heat in Phoenix. You’re an hour and a half away from Phoenix, in the woods/​mountains with cooler weather.
If you’re looking for a 5 star, fancy pants resort, please don’t stay here. This is a step above camping. Key word is rustic.
Positives:
Front staff is exceptionally nice
Great place for families with kids (lots of them)
Cute rooms with porches where you can sit and enjoy a beverage before dinner
1 ½ hours from Phoenix
Under 100 $ a night
There’s a saloon on site where you can get your drank on
Negatives
Great place for families with kids (lots of them)
Some rooms have views of the parking lot
No restaurant on site that is worth eating at so you have to go into town to eat. Read restaurant reviews. We were scared to eat there.
Very rustic. I was bit by some funky spider that was on the floor.
Payson is pretty redneck
I would definitely stay here again but would bring my own food and drink and be sure to get there early to get a room with a great view.

We recently stopped over while passing through to Cal, and wanted to check Payson out per suggestions from friends. I booked a room at a great price online. Everyone was very friendly and most accommodating. The lodge is beautiful. Maybe it is not new but they take pride in it’s cleanliness and appearance. We had a room with a little kitchenette. Which was perfect for us. The pool area was very nice and clean. The rooms were spotless. The bed was very comfortable. The bathroom was small but clean and nice. The surrounding area was beautiful and was a great place to take a walk. My little guy loved the creek. We also went horseback riding, which was so much fun and the views were beautiful. Overall we were so happy with the place that we decided to stay all weekend instead of just one night. Can’t wait to return.

My husband and I just got back from a weekend getaway at Kohl’s Ranch. We went for our anniversary, and I couldn’t be happier with the experience.
First of all, the staff were fabulous. They treated us like we were at a first class resort. They were extremely nice and helpful, and not in a fake way like other hotels. They seemed truly genuine.
Since it was our anniversary they gave us a card and a plate full of chocolate chip cookies. It was such a cute surprise.
Our room was perfect, and we were so impressed with the lodge. The décor was impressive, and we were delighted to see all of the activities that were available. We played bingo, ate smores by the fire pit (they have smore kits at the front desk for only $ 1!), ate a great dinner at the steakhouse, played putt-​putt golf, walked by the creek and even enjoyed live music that they had in the saloon on Saturday night. There was even more that they had to offer but you get the point :)
It was just such a relaxing getaway. There was no cell phone service, but that was a great thing. It was so nice to unplug (although they do have free WiFi and offer free calls anywhere in the US from your room lol).
This place is perfect for people like me who don’t love to camp but still want to enjoy an «outdoor» getaway in the woods. Thanks Kohl’s Ranch, we will definitely be back!

Never got to eat there, called and was told they open for breakfast at 8am, got there at 8:05 and was told they don’t open until 8:30. Well, okay
Asked when they close and was told at 1, I asked is that 1am or 1 pm, was told 1am so we showed up at 2 pm for lunch & they were closed. I asked the very same girl why they were closed and she said they always close at 1& I asked you specifically am or pm And she said whichever the 1 in the afternoon is .
2 and done here

Long drive from Phoenix to get there (2 ½ hours), but once you’re there, it’s the perfect getaway! Smooth check-​in with friendly staff, our room was ready, we were splashing in the pool within 20 minutes!
The studio needs some updating/​remodeling, but a room with a mini fridge, stove, microwave, and sink is a «thumbs up» in my books. Since it’s a small sized lodge, 66 rooms total, we didn’t have any problems with crowds.
Fun for people with kids because there’s so much to do: the pool, putting green, basketball, volleyball, jungle gym, and horseback riding. We didn’t try their food at the restaurant or Saloon since we ate out.
The only disadvantage is the late check-​in (4 pm) and the early check-​out (10 am) times.

We have been coming here for 3 years straight and never had any problems until our last visit. We called 5 months in advance to reserve our creek view cabin. We were set, until the day we arrived. Apparently reserving a cabin doesn’t mean you actually reserve a cabin it just means you get what ever is available. We arrived last around 7 pm and were told that the only available cabins did NOT have a creek view. Strike 1. We walked into our cabin that has no creek view and it was a pet friendly room. My family is allergic to cats and dogs. Strike 2. We ask for another cabin apparently the last cabin available and we find out that the second bed room only has one bed. All other cabins have the second bedroom available with two beds. Strike 3. No one on the staff ever tried to explain or apologize for not giving us our reserved cabin. Very disappointed.

Most of the grounds at Kohl’s ranch are beautiful. The room I had on 5÷4÷13 was not all that well kept. There was a giant hole in the carpet in front of my door in the corridor. My message light on my phone was constantly on and I was told that it it broken and does not turn off, message or not. The sliding screen door on our patio was mostly off track and by the end of our stay was fully off track. The plants in the patio planters were ½ dead and a big eye sore. The planters on the parking lot side of the patios were mostly dirt.
My friend made the reservations and she told me that I would have the larger of the 2 rooms reserved with a kitchen and 2 beds. Upon check in we were given a king room with no kitchen. At least it had a microwave and fridge. With 3 kids with me I knew that 1 king bed was not going to work. I went back to the front desk and was told that they were sold out and no other rooms were available. The staff offered me roll away beds. I asked for a pack n play and 1 roll away and they were promptly brought to my room. They worked. There was no lounge chair or love seat in my room. Other than the bed the only seating was a small 2 top table.
When my friend arrive we got to check out her room. She had a king bed, creek view, lounge chair, fireplace and full kitchen. So much for me getting the larger room with a kitchen…
The hotel/​resort staff was very helpful with everything from extra towels to band-​aids and coloring books for the kids.
The toiletry items were Diamond Resorts branded and I expected them to be awesome. The shampoo smelled horrible like hospital anti-​bacterial soap and the conditioner didn’t smooth out the hair at all. I recommend you bring you own if you go.
The room had a nice wall mounted TV and DVD player, which was convenient since we had brought movies with us, however some maintenance had to be done before we could successfully watch a move. I had to unplug and re-​plug all of the AV cables from both the back of the TV and DVD player before we could get decent sound.
AVOID THE RESTAURANT!!! Food there is terrible unless you order only fried foods or salad. You might also want to bring your own drinks as theirs are yucky.

Payson isn’t full of nice hotels because it’s really more about renting a cabin when taking the trip to that area. However, Kohl’s is actually a nice hotel and one worth staying at for a weekend! Kohl’s has been around since 1925 and is nestled within Tonto National Forest and right along the Tonto Creek. It’s a quaint and charming log cabin resort and a perfectly relaxing getaway location.
Once you get to Kohl’s, know that the nearest grocery store or restaurant (besides their own) is around 17 miles away, so it’s best to stop by a grocery store on your way up and grab some essentials since the rooms have a stove, refrigerator and appliances. They even have a grill outside the rooms so if you wanted to grill on your own, you could. If you stay, ask for a room that faces the creek because these rooms have decks with rocking chairs. The hotel is also dog-​friendly, so your pal Fido is welcome for just $ 20 extra dollars per stay.
Kohl’s has a restaurant and small saloon but beware that they close early (by 8:30 PM). This hotel is all about rural living and getting away from the hustle and bustle of the city. It’s right across the street from the Tonto hatchery for fishing and there are plenty of beautiful hikes surrounding the hotel. They offer horseback riding on the property as well! This hotel is perfect if you want to get away and have a quiet weekend with a lot of outdoor activities.
Be prepared, your cell phone won’t work here!
Note: As of July, 2012, parts of Tonto National Forest near Kohl’s is closed due to fire hazards and the recent bear attacks, so it’s best to call before you visit. However, there is hiking all around and Payson is just 17 miles away so it’s easy to get around and worth staying at Kohl’s so you experience a beautiful setting.

This place was great. We only stayed one night and didn’t get a chance to check out all there is to do but I plan to go back. All things considered I cannot believe this place doesn’t have more reviews and more great ones at that. Complaining about the beds being too soft? Stay home! The people were extremely nice, the place was gorgeous, the pool and spa were spotless and fun. The rooms were amazing and we got a great last minute deal. I loved having a little porch off our room to have coffee on in the morning!
The surrounding forest is beautiful also and worthy of all sorts of exploration.
Stay here! These places don’t exist everywhere, appreciate them!