Firewoods At Gray Eagle Lodge — Hotel in Portola

This was the 2nd time my Wife and I had the privilege to stay at GEL, and I do not know how it was even possible but, this stay was even better than the first time. Our mistake the first time was that we didn't stay long enough, only 4 days. This time around we made sure that wouldn't happen again and we stayed for an entire week. Although, I did a bit of a screw up and thought I booked a whole week only to learn that I didn't....Oooops! This was where my Wife smacks me up the side of my head, ha! But, Bret and Lynn were amazing in figuring something out for us last minute and were able get us another room for the final night that I thought I had booked. I couldn't believe I had made that mistake!!! ||Anyway - There are so many things that makes this place so incredibly special, that it is really difficult to sum it all up. GEL does a masterful job in providing you with an exceptional experience by way of awesome accommodations, 5-star dining, a staff that goes above and beyond to make you feel at home, beautiful grounds in a gorgeous setting in the Gold Lakes area and so much more. I have been all through this region and have visited every lodge in the area, and it is without a doubt that GEL is by far the best lodge, period. When it comes to a vacation, I research the heck out of everything - let's just say I am very, very particular and I want to make sure we get the best adventure and experience possible - GEL fits the bill and then some.||My Wife and I used GEL as a base camp to go explore the region. We would Kayak fish Salmon and Sardine Lakes, hike the Round lake Loop (one of our faves), Deer Lake, Long Lake trails and more and come back at the end of a day to GEL and have one of best dinners you could ever ask for(seriously). The Chef at GEL is amazing!!! No joke - you will eat exceptional meals during your stay. Our room was beyond epic - right next to the stream that runs through the property. We would sit by the stream in late afternoons and have a cocktail or a glass of wine, with complete solitude. GEL is a true escape and my Wife and I feel so blessed to have discovered this hidden gem. Our only regret is that we didn't discover it years ago. I travel quite a bit and I know that places like this are rare and are getting harder and harder to find. As with any place, what really makes GEL special are the people. Starting with Bret and Lynn - who are just the salt of the earth. My Wife and I feel like they are old friends that have known each other for years. They have passion for what they do, work very, very hard to keep all of their guests incredibly happy, and just some of the nicest and most genuine folks you will ever meet. The very heart and soul of GEL is Bret and Lynn (and Meagan), which is why it is no surprise it is a truly unique, beautiful and special place to vacation and visit.||I can go on and on about GEL. All I can say is that if you want to see some of the most beautiful country in California, experience a true escape from the hustle and stress of daily work life and unplug, connect with what really matters to you, and be treated special - GEL will deliver. We are already booked for next year for another...

I loved the location, trails, beautiful scenery, and lots of water features, some swimmable. The food was well-above average and plentiful. I did not find the hosts especially dog-friendly, even though they advertised themselves that way. You do not have the option to eat outside with your dogs, so I left mine tied up (in the designated dog area). One of the dogs made some noise (whining, not barking), I was asked to leave the dining table and put the dogs somewhere else (in the car, when it was 100˚ that day? In the cabin, where they were not allowed on the furniture? Tied to a tree with a short leash?). The next morning, I brought them back to the tie-up at breakfast (there were no people sitting nearby) and got a snarky comment from the owner ("Brought those dogs back, eh?"). Frustrating and stressful, to say the least. I would like to return to the area, but will stay somewhere else. Note that the cabin price covers only 2 adults and 2 meals/day; kids (and dogs) cost extra, like $65/day per kid extra, so be aware of all the costs before you book. The teenagers I was with greatly enjoyed the ping pong table, the nightly campfire with s'mores fixings provided, and the opportunity to socialize with other guests, as well as the option to rent kayaks and SUPs which the lodge delivered to Salmon Lake for us. One night there was a bad guitarist performing and another night there was a fabulous guitarist. Both played for about 4 hours straight, so it was a mixed bag of entertainment. Wonderful lakes nearby, some at hiking distance (Lily Lake, Long Lake), and several larger ones a short drive away (Gold Lake, Salmon Lake,...

I've stayed here three times, and years in a row. I love the grounds, most of the cabins, and the dinners are excellent, breakfasts pretty standard. Even in the time of COVID, GEL pulled off a good stay in 2020. ||In July of 2020, my partner and I stayed in a cabin with an 'added' on extra room. It appears to be a deck that was walled in, new windows, but the wall and floor slats let in the cold - no insulation, but usually the summer weather overcomes this issue. There was, however, a smell that reminded me of a dead animal. I let the owner, Brent, know about it. He could not locate the source, but aired out the cabin.. however, when we shut the cabin at night (still a bit chilly), the smell returned. Brent tried his best to find the source, and we only had another night left so we dealt with it. ||Why is my review only 3 stars and not 4 or 2? Because our reservations were cancelled for 2021, without notice (they waited until we started calling around the NewYear to confirm our reservations). Said I called a guest and told them not to rent ASPEN. Checked with anyone I would have called, and they did stay in ASPEN but had asked about the smell when they checked in. A member of our group declined to reserve ASPEN cabin due to its flaws in the extra room. Between these two issues, GEL probably connected the dots since I complained about the smell. GEL was inconsiderate about cancellation without notice, also unable to mitigate the smell issue, hence the lean to 2 star.. ||I have a lean to 4 star out of respect for the lovely grounds, friendly staff doing their best to stay professional, and nice...