Lost River Hostel — Hotel in Paoli

Mattress coils without cushion above them, crumpled sheets with dirt and leaves between them, kitchen faucet without handles that required wrench to turn on, hole in screen that let bugs into my "nest" sleeping place, remote for light did not work requiring me to stand on bed to turn on and off, unhealthy, poor quality food. ||The owner got upset with me for suggesting staff make coffee when they drink the last cup after I was asked to do things many times a day. Empty coffee pot, sugar dispenser, and ice cube trays that I repeatedly filled. |Kitchen towels so dirty that I washed them with a teaspoon of detergent so that dishes I ate off of were dried with clean towels. Emailed owner to say he might want to bring detergent and sponges when he came (the ones in the kitchen were disintegrating). A staff member said she asked for clean sponges the day she arrived and thanked me for "following up."||Lots of things not working like the ovens. One only worked on broil and the other only had a working coil on the bottom so no heat from top. ||The owner, defensively, told me it is a self-service hostel, that he doesn't expect staff to do things most managers would want to know were not getting done. ||Other guests commented about the state of disrepair while not saying anything to staff. ||The owner spends much of his time in kumbaya meetings rather on repairs. "The color of this point in your journey is purple...." ||Most managers are there for 3 months with staff a few weeks to a few months so there is little institutional knowledge. Mostly people passing through on work-share status so unpaid. ||Accommodations for staff include four single beds to a small room. |While I was there, a guest appropriately called the setup indentured servitude. Most staff seem to appreciate the guru-like owner's approach. Asking people personal questions in "managers meetings" about their troubled pasts is one of the things I saw that reminded me of cult leaders. Another guest with experience in services related to providing for trauma victims echoed my concerns about this as a feature of manipulative.||I wonder what current staff will think about this experience...

Pictures honestly do not give this place justice.. From the sunrise over the gorgeous hilltops to the beautiful scenery that Lost River provides, it is truly a haven for those who appreciate the outdoors. ||||I will say that this hostel is not for everyone.. It is not a hotel. It is not typical in any way and that is what makes it so amazing. The staff are open minded individuals who are there to make sure that your stay is great and that you get the most out of your adventure.||||As far as amenities, the guest house is located down a short peaceful trail from the check in area. There is a compost outhouse right outside of the guest house. Each room has been decorated and painted by local artists. Linens and Pillows were provided and my room had been cleaned prior to my arrival. Since I decided to travel in the Winter, I knew that the accommodations would be a bit chilly just as any other cabin; however the staff graciously provided a heater that worked very nicely. ||||The main house is where the staff stay and where a communal dinner is served at night. The living room is a "phone-free" zone that encourages conversation and allows you to break yourself from the outside world. There are plenty of games and instruments to play as well as an art room overlooking the scenery. ||||Near the guest house is a short trail that goes around the property as well as a lagoon that would be perfect to swim in during the summer. I am hoping to make it back when the weather is warmer so I can see the scenery in full bloom. While I was there they were working on a tree house and a few other neat structures.I am looking forward to seeing their progress each time I come to visit the French Lick area. ||||If you want to get away from the world for a bit and have a chance to meet new people the Lost River Hostel is the perfect...

All I’ll say is do your RESEARCH before booking. This beautiful place is simply magical, BUT with that being said, you NEED to know what type of place this is BEFORE you book. And while some listings might be more in detail others aren’t. I will say this was one experience I’ll never forget. It’s unique presence, springs and wooded acreage make it the perfect background for this hostel. The tree house was cool but definitely not for people that don’t like camping, can’t climb stairs and/or hike through trails and rough terrain. The temperature inside will heavily depend on the weather outside. So BE PREPARED. Bring fans, if coming in the warmer months. And know that the bunk beds are high up. Also, you are not staying in a single tree house but one giant one split into several rooms. The sink/shower house was one of my favorite parts of this place. It was like a magical rainforest shower with breathtaking views! Everyone that stayed there long term and/or was helping run the place was very nice and we enjoyed talking to them. However, I would say this probably isn’t a place for children. We had a most enjoyable meal prepared by one of the guests and LOVED their gratitude grace before meals! The artsy/musical elements of the main house were what I enjoyed most. I think this could have been a better experience had a brought a few more things to make our stay a little more comfortable. However since we only stayed one night it was fine. All I can say is this Hostel was unique, has pretty views and very peaceful but just plan ahead if...