Shadowbrook Inn & Resort

Went to shadowbrook with a group of 4 to play mini golf and get ice cream. When we arrived the golf course was deserted and no one was in the booth. There was a sign (dated 2012) directing us to go to hotel check in for equipment. We did and it was only $ 5 per person which was nice, but once we started out game it was clear that this was because the course is in disrepair. While we all had a lot of fun, many of the holes are slanted, pieces of the structures were broken, everything needed a fresh coat of paint, and none of the waterfalls or pools had water or were cleaned out at all. It definitely left something to be desired. We got ice cream which was decent, but not as good as when it was owned by shadowbrook (it’s now owned by Perkins), and all four of us received different amounts of ice cream even though we all ordered single dips. Overall we still had a fun day, but I would consider finding another place to play a round of mini golf.

Local fixture fails:
Glory, past; sorry present.
Future up for grabs
Yes, you can go home again. But you and home have both changed so much, it’s hard to tell who is more disappointed.
Tunkhannock is a small (2,000) town deep in North Eastern Penna. Back in the day, the Shadowbrook Inn was THE place for friends and family to stay who were visiting the Tunkhannock area. It had a pool. It had golf. It had a restaurant close by that featured ice cream and two cow head statues on its roof. It was the shiz.
But time passed, and I left. And a lot more time passed. Recently, gas & oil companies have moved in, making a few people rich. But also bring crime and higher prices. The gap between the 99% and the 1% has never been greater.
We went back to the area over the holidays. Of course we booked our room at Shadowbrook. There was no question.
We arrived exhausted after 12 hours of travel by planes, trains and automobiles and wearily checked in around 8 p.m. With two young kids, we had opted to splurge on a suite, which included separate sleeping areas and a kitchenette.
What it also included was hot water that reeked of sulfur, two threadbare towels, and the worst customer service I’ve experienced outside of AT&T.
When we complained about the sulfuric water, we were told that they’d «forgot to put the tablets in.» Huh. We booked weeks prior. You knew exactly when we were going to be there. Plenty of time to «put the tablets in.» Plenty of time, as well, to make sure there were enough towels for four people. The room and most of the rest of the «resort» looked old and tired.
Pretty bad, huh? But we have such a strong attachment to Shadowbrook that we were ready to forgive and forget. What tipped us over the edge and caused us to check out the next morning and check in at the recently built Comfort Inn? Bottled water.
Yes, that’s right: bottled water.
When we checked in, there was a ‘fridge with bottled water and soft drinks in the lobby. I pulled out three bottles. And in the chaos of checking in and wrangling two punchy kids and more luggage than we had hands, I left the bottles on the counter.
Later, after the kids took a shower that infused the entire suite with the smell of rotten eggs, and after we used both towels and both washcloths trying to dry them, I remember the water.
I walked back to the lobby, and Shannon, the young woman who had check us in sheepishly told me she had put the water back in the ‘fridge because she «thought you’d changed your mind.» Really? And you would think that because I had asked you, when I pulled out the bottles, to charge our room for them?
Good would have been a call to our room to let us know. Better would have been if she’d brought the water to us.
Petty? Maybe. But good customer service can make up for a lot.
Shadowbrook, you are a sad shadow of your former self. I miss you.