Lake Simtustus Resort — Hotel in Madras

My husband had one request for our Christmas vacation - “I want a hot tub.”

We found this little gem of a resort in Madras, OR which definitely had a hot tub, but it also had so much more!

We stayed in tiny home B10 which over looked the river. The park decorated each tiny home for Christmas which we appreciated! We did bring some of our own decor as well, but we really didn’t have to.

Each tiny home has its own hot tub, propane grill (propane included), outdoor deck seating area, and fire pit (with skewers). Because the homes have kitchens and provide all the kitchenware you need, we planned all of our meals accordingly. It probably ended up being one off the cheapest vacations because we didn’t need anything else. The only thing the tiny home didn’t have was an oven but we made our pies ahead of time.

The surrounding area is so gorgeous and you feel like you’re breathing fresh air! Plus, they had paths leading around the park that also went across the river. I highly recommend exploring as the area offers beautiful scenery.

I also loved how some tiny homes allowed animals. We were able to bring our 2 dogs for just $50 for the entire 3 nights! Much better than boarding them. They had such a wonderful time themselves and got to spread their little legs and run for the first time in awhile.

Tiny home B10 has a loft bed, Murphy bed, and bathroom with a shower. However, there isn’t much storage space (no closet, no dresser). And the storage options that do exist are already being utilized for towels... for example, there were shelves in the bathroom & a vanity, but the shelves and vanity already had towels (which we needed lots of). I didn’t realize the bathroom mirror was a medicine cabinet till later, so that helped with storing our bathroom products.

The bed that’s in the loft was soooooo comfortable. Normally, I don’t sleep well on vacation but my goodness! I would sleep any day on that bed again.

Overall, the tiny home is really cute and it was so clean when we arrived. I would come back here in a heart beat. Our vacation was in the winter, I’m sure more activities are available in the summer (like water activities).

The woman at the front, Crystal, was so helpful and super sweet. She gave us new towels when we needed and showed us where the ice & wood bundles were in case we needed some after dark. She even makes herself available for emergencies by keeping a walkie on the porch of the office for anyone who needs to use it. Now that’s customer service!

And not that they had anything to do with it, but we awoke Christmas morning to it snowing. The day couldn’t have been more perfect.

If you are wondering if this would be a great spot to vacation at, then look no more! I would stay here again in a minute. It was a beautiful area and only an hr...

Disappointing Experience: No Peaceful Camping at Lake Simtustus

I recently had the displeasure of staying at Lake Simtustus for what was supposed to be a six-night camping getaway. However, my experience was so disappointing that I cut my stay short after just one night.

Upon arriving at my campsite, I quickly realized that the location was far from ideal. My site, C02 was directly across from the main office/store and the entrance to the resort, making it anything but private. Throughout my short stay, I was constantly disturbed by the steady stream of vehicles passing by, including trucks, RV’s and golf carts. This constant traffic completely shattered any hopes of a peaceful camping vacation that I had been looking forward to.

The lack of privacy and tranquility at the campsite made it impossible for me to relax and enjoy the natural beauty of the surroundings. Instead of the serene camping experience I had envisioned, I found myself feeling frustrated and disappointed by the noisy and bustling atmosphere.

In addition to the unsatisfactory camping conditions, the overall ambiance of the resort did not meet my expectations. There was construction taking place on a tiny home. The loud noise from saw cutting and music being played didn’t stop until 8pm and picked right back up the next morning.

As a result of my unpleasant experience, I made the decision to cut my stay short and leave after just one night. I had hoped for a peaceful retreat in nature, but what I found at Lake Simtustus was far from that. I would not recommend the sites on level C to anyone seeking a quiet and relaxing camping experience.

In conclusion, my stay at Lake Simtustus fell far short of my expectations, and I left feeling disappointed, dissatisfied and frustrated for paying for a site we did not get to use because it lacked the tranquility and privacy that are essential for a truly enjoyable camping experience.

I recommend the website be honest and transparent about the lack of privacy and traffic levels for the spots located on level “C”. By clearly communicating on their website, Lake Simtustus Resort can provide potential guests with accurate information about the lack of privacy and traffic on the “C” level, which will help visitors make informed decisions about their...

Lake Simtustus resort is a beautiful property. Spacious sites built into the natural topography. It's described as an RV, tiny home, and marina resort. We have been a few times and never had a bad experience. The staff is friendly and helpful. We just wish it provided that RV resort feel because that's how they describe themselves.

While it's a beautiful place the downside is that while it's a resort, it lacks amenities that more RV resorts provide. The sites all have sewer, water, and electricity but there is no TV (unless you provide your own satellite) and the WiFi is spotty at the best of times unless you're near the office. All the amenities that they have are rentals (like pontoon boats and kayaks). They also rent golf carts. There really isn't shore lake access or a day use area within the resort. The "swimming area" lacks space for more than 1 family to use it and in the summer the algae fills up the swimming area and makes it gross to swim around. They do own the Pelton Dam Marina that has a day use area but it would require you to drive out of the park and probably 10 minutes away.

It's not a bad place to camp, we just would like more resort features and we're also willing to pay the site fees of the...