The Lodge at Wakulla Springs — Hotel in Crawfordville

We stayed for 4 nights at the lodge while visiting family in Tallahassee. It is a beautiful old lodge, filled with antique furniture and details from the past. ||Admittedly, we don’t stay at hotels much with our 2 children, so I was surprised and disappointed that the lodge doesn’t make much of an effort to make it more family friendly, considering the main attraction is swimming at the springs.||First, I was surprised by the additional fees added for amenities that are typically included in other hotels, like the $15 charge for the opportunity to pull the couch out for sleeping, or the $20 a night charge to have a mini fridge in the room. I was then reprimanded by the front desk staff for requesting the fridge when we checked in at 7pm, because she complained that she then had to carry it up the stairs to our room after the maintenance staff left for the day. With children who wake up early, we needed to have snacks in the room in order to wait until 7:30am when breakfast service starts. Even a single $30 microwave available in a shared space for the entire lodge of guests would have added convenience and saved us from having to eat out for every meal. ||The room was beautiful, and yet had a single towel rack. Why not have extra hooks, knowing that people will spend the days swimming and needing extra places to hang suits and towels? Additionally, it would have been nice for the hotel to have additional towels for guests to use for swimming, rather than having to pack your own beach towels. I’ve never been to a hotel that has a pool that didn’t have additional towels.||It felt like management made decisions about what other hotels were doing 20 years ago, and never updated their offerings. Having coffee and espresso drinks available in the soda shop would be an easy way for the lodge to make more income. Showing “The Creature from the Black Lagoon” on repeat every single day in the lobby is cute but why not rotate family friendly movies that are shown in the evenings for guests?||The rooms are beautiful and yet could stand to be updated. The closets are enormous and could fit an entire bunk bed for children and then they could charge for a 2 bedroom room. Just has a lot of wasted space that could be better utilized now that it’s not the 1930s when the lodge was built.||The food at the lodge could also stand to be updated. It would be nice if there were more vegetarian options rather than mostly/all meat or fish- based meals. We never ate at the restaurant for dinner since our family told us they waited 1 hour for food without any updates from the staff about the wait. The voucher system for breakfast was also a bit confusing and would have been nice if everyone could just order off the same menu rather than a very limited “voucher menu”.||Finally, while the lobby is beautiful and feels complete, the rest of the lodge grounds have limited to no seating. The sunroom area outside the lobby feels like wasted space, and could have comfortable seating for guests to relax and read, rather than just an empty area that can occasionally be rented for special occasions. The gazebo is beautiful and was a wonderful place to sit in the evenings but was empty except for some metal chairs pulled over from a single outdoor table near the soda shop.||Overall, it was clean and comfortable, but we won’t be back to stay...

The staff, for the most part, were great, and the food was pretty good. The rooms are antiquated but ok. But if you have ANY issues, as we did, do not expect them to be resolved by the general manager!! At least one room for our guests had no working AC. There was no WIFI in our room, despite the website's claim that there is WIFI throughout the Lodge. We had NO HOT WATER FOR THE WHOLE WEEKEND (for a wedding!!)---and they didn't even give us a heads up about this! We discovered the water problem when guests getting ready for the rehearsal dinner complained that they had cold showers. When confronted about this, then and only then, did the staff admit that the hot water was broken and they were working to correct the situation (but weren't sure how long that would take). The Lodge eventually "comped" the families of the wedding party for one night as compensation for the inconvenience (they didn't offer it---we had to persist to get it), but for some reason, they did not see fit to comp THE BRIDE AND GROOM who paid for the rooms of the bridesmaids and groomsmen (a gift for the wedding party since it was a "destination wedding" with travel expenses)!!! If you have any issues whatsoever, do NOT expect the general manager (I believe his name is Scott) to get involved or to try and remedy the situation. He will NOT return phone calls even when he promises through his staff to do so. As parents of the groom, we tried over a dozen times over the course of more than two months to get the Lodge to refund the bride and groom for one night on the rooms they paid for! The stress on the couple as a result of the "no hot water" situation was immense and something they did not need to deal with the night before their wedding! It was very unprofessional of the general manager to not even alert the couple about the situation, and then to ignore repeated requests to refund them one night's stay. (He's obviously in the wrong profession if he can't deal with the public!) Again, it's an old place----it had some charm, but you may encounter issues: the faucet in our bathroom dripped continuously; there were only about three accessible outlets in each room (for phone chargers, etc.) If you go in forearmed with this knowledge, and IF you have no issues, you might have a...

🌿 Immerse Yourself in Nature's Harmony at Wakulla Springs 🌊Embark on a journey through time and nature at Wakulla Springs, nestled in the heart of Crawfordville, Florida. Step aboard the vintage boat and let the Wakulla River guide you through a tapestry of ecological wonders.🐊 As we glided along the river, the graceful presence of alligators basking in the sun reminded me of the delicate balance of ecosystems. These magnificent creatures, along with an array of wildlife, call Wakulla Springs home, highlighting the importance of conservation efforts in preserving their habitats.🦢 From the elegant swoop of herons to the melodious chirping of songbirds, Wakulla Springs is a sanctuary for avian enthusiasts. Spotting these feathered friends in their natural habitat is a testament to the area's ecological richness and biodiversity.🌳 Amidst the verdant foliage and towering trees, it's clear that Wakulla Springs is not just a place of beauty but also a stronghold for conservation efforts. The pristine waters and lush surroundings serve as a reminder of the importance of preserving our natural heritage for future generations to enjoy.🍃 After a day of exploration, indulge in a culinary journey at The Edward Ball Dining Room, where locally sourced ingredients and sustainable practices take center stage. Each dish is a celebration of the region's bounty, honoring the symbiotic relationship between food and nature.🏞️ For those seeking a deeper connection with the land, the on-site cottages offer a retreat into the heart of nature. Surrounded by the sights and sounds of the wilderness, guests can truly immerse themselves in the serenity of Wakulla Springs, fostering a sense of stewardship for the environment.In conclusion, Wakulla Springs is more than just a destination – it's a testament to the beauty and resilience of our natural world. From its diverse wildlife to its commitment to conservation, every aspect of Wakulla Springs invites us to embrace our role as custodians of the earth, ensuring that its splendor endures for...