Canoe Bay — Hotel in Town of Rusk

We visited for our wedding anniversary, and stayed in one of the Classic King cabins. We wanted to like our stay a lot more than we did, but unfortunately a lot of small things added up to us being a little disappointed.

First the positives: Dinners were delicious, well presented, and the service very friendly and accommodating the inside of the cabin we stayed it was what we expected and everything was clean and in good condition The organic garden was lovely to walk through The lake was peaceful and pretty The staff was always very friendly and helpful, like when we requested an iron and ironing board they brought one right out

Now the negatives: What wasn't made overly clear was that our cabin would be facing directly into another cabin, obscuring our view of the lake (see photo of our view out of the main picture window). We could see the other guests going about their lives, and it felt intrusive so we had the shades drawn most the time and felt an overall lack of privacy. We wished they would have spaced these cabins a little further apart with more attention to the lake views and privacy We signed up for the meal plan, and the breakfasts and lunch that were provided were fairly disappointing. The oatmeal option was not good, the granola option was mostly just a cup of yogurt. The lunch options were either a grilled cheese sandwich, a cheeseburger, or a salad. It felt like I was ordering off of a kid's menu. They often arrived late and not warm. I'm not one to complain about having food brought to me, but we felt we definitely did not see the value in this meal plan. On one of the rainy mornings, we stopped by the Lodge to pass the time indoors, since we heard there were many books and games and things. We decided to put together a jigsaw puzzle...every single one there was missing pieces and in poor condition. Once again, if I were staying at a $200/night AirBNB...I'd understand. This seems like something they could have kept up on better. We took a hike along their walking trails, but they were in pretty rough shape, overgrown and rutted out in spots. It wasn't a pleasant hike. There were some odd things we found in our cabin that were left behind by a prior guest...like a can of Fritos cheese dip. It made us feel like the cabin may not have been thoroughly inspected between guests. Some of the paddlecrafts by the water were in disrepair (e.g. paddleboards with the fins broken off). We were still able to enjoy them, but felt we had to rush out to claim the good ones.

All in all, it's not a bad place; however it's often touted as this very luxurious getaway, and is priced as such. We did not feel that we got our money's worth, unfortunately. It seems like an investment in a few things (better breakfast/lunch options, keeping up on the puzzles/games/watercraft condition, etc) would go a long way in having this place live up to...

I was looking for a few days of solitude and I decided Canoe Bay was the perfect place to unwind by myself. I came in mid-week and stayed in the Hilltop Cottage (#25). The property is gorgeous and very secluded. The neighboring cottages were a bit closer than I had expected and than the online pictures showed. However, it wasn't a problem as I rarely saw anyone, ever. The cottage was perfect for what I was seeking - a luxurious space with some room to spread out. Honestly, it was probably a bit too big for 1 woman but whatever, I loved it. It was sparkling clean (and I'm a clean freak).

I had NO cell service but the WIFI was quite strong. I led several Zoom video calls while here with no issues. I was also able to use Pandora and Netflix with no problems.

I met the gardener John on one of my walks and he was absolutely wonderful, walking me through his garden, answering my gardening questions and in general making me laugh. I took a trail above the lake one day and it was a nice, quick 1 mile round trip.

My only issue with this resort is food. I had thought the idea of having meals delivered would be perfect, as I was by myself and I was looking for privacy. However, they literally ding-dong ditch you with your meals - there is nothing friendly or caring about this process (how are you doing? Do you need anything?). The meals are packaged in such a way that looks a lot like what you'd get at the airport. Also, I had thought I would have a choice in options for dinner. Not a lot of them, I knew the process, but I thought I would have a choice of 1-2 options, but no, it's just one option each night. I was lucky because each night I loved my one choice. My husband would not have fared well as he's picky. Also, dinner is between $40-50 for just dinner for 1 (not including wine, dessert or charcuterie) which seems pretty heavy handed for a dinner in plastic. There really aren't any other options for food unless you want to drive quite a ways through the farmland (not so cool at night with deer).

That said, literally everything I ate was absolutely delicious. Like, AMAZING.

So, now that COVID is passing us and hopefully some of the hysteria has passed, is there an opportunity for more of a higher end feel for meals, even if you don't open your restaurant? I see from past pictures that there was more of a room service feel for delivery and I think that would go a long way with your guests and the high end nature of the property.

I would totally stay here again but thought I'd share my learnings with others as there are some unique pieces to...

My wife and I have stayed at Canoe Bay on three occasions and have enjoyed the experience immensely. Each time was a two night stay; we are planning a three night stay for our next trip. If you're looking for relaxation, serenity, calm, and the ability to be truly "unplugged" from the hubbub of modern society (without giving up 5-star creature comforts) then this is your place. Take along a good book and relax on the couch wrapped up in your Canoe Bay robe in front of the fireplace with your favorite imbibement close at hand. Pure heaven.

Our accommodations have included the Dream Cottage and the Dream Cottage Deluxe. The floor plans measure in at about 730 square feet of space. All of the cottages are modern yet beautifully rustic. Staying at any of the cottages allows you access to all the resort amenities and the restaurant. This includes a beautiful and well-stocked library; hiking trails; the amazing vegetable, flower, and herb garden; and canoes, kayaks, and stand-up paddle boards.

The food is exquisite. Everything is prepared in their kitchen by fabulous chefs who create unique dishes with an expansive arrange of flavors both classic and contemporary. Dinners are $75/pp and served in the restaurant. They have an extensive wine cellar, but you may want to bring along some bottles of your own for consumption in your cottage. Breakfast and lunch are optional and are delivered unobtrusively to your door. The units are stocked with the basics for dinnerware, glasses, and utensils. WiFi and cell phone reception are very limited in the cottages.

The cost for all this luxury, privacy, and natural beauty is relatively high, but the value is off the charts. We recommend that you do not rent one of the Escape cabins as they are akin to a “tiny house” and you have to pay extra to avail yourself of the full resort amenities. Canoe Bay is our place to escape, relax, unwind, and reconnect with each other in a private, intimate setting. We plan to keep going back until we’re too old to travel independently anymore. 😉

Note: The coronavirus pandemic has caused Canoe Bay to forgo restaurant service and deliver dinners to the room. However, the price per person for dinner has been reduced to $48. Additionally, the library (Lodge) and restaurant (Inn) facilities are closed...