The West Arm Lodge and Restaurant — Restaurant in St. Charles

NOT pet-friendly at ALL! My sweet 45 lb. dog and I were attacked by the owner's two large dogs who were running wild on their property. We had told them we were bringing a dog and they assured us there would be no issue. They assured us they would keep their dogs inside because the owners acknowledged that they are not friendly with other dogs. I had to take my dog out early for a bathroom break. I had her on a leash when the vicious dogs ran out from the bush and came after us. Luckily, I have some knowledge in self-defense (retired law enforcement) so I was able to stop them before they had a chance to do any physical harm. I was however very frightened. There was no one else nearby. My loud shouts didn't even bring out the owners! The owner described her dogs to me as 'wild' and 'monsters' so she knows they are dangerous! How can you run a business with dogs like this running around? I wanted to leave immediately but my partner and I were visiting with friends at their camp-site and we didn't want this incident to ruin our plans. My partner spoke with Frank and he again assured us that the dogs would be kept inside. Upon our return from a boat ride, Frank's wife came running out to tell us that her 'monsters' escaped and are loose on the property. I had my dog on a leash when I saw one of the dogs coming toward us. Luckily, the owner was able to control it that time. I was worried the entire weekend about being attacked again. I thought that the owner would offer us a discount or something to make up for this major disruption but all that was offered was an apology. I will certainly never return to this property and I wanted to warn other pet-owners. Aside from that, the campground is nothing to write home about. It is right beside a main road and there is nowhere to go for a walk without walking some distance on the fairly busy road. There were vacant sites that were very wet and other occupied sites but only one other occupant came the entire weekend. There's a very OLD swing set and slide but there was a garbage bag on the ground beside the swings; covering what was likely a wasp nest because there were wasps all over it. For $45 per nite, they do not even provide picnic tables or fire pits. Perhaps it caters to groups of fishermen and hunters because there's not much there...

If you're looking for a relaxing, peaceful, and stress free vacation; and I can't stress this strongly enough. Go ANY WHERE ELSE, but West Arm Lodge, St. Charles ON. My family has been running an annual Fishing Trip, for nearly 50 years; and have stayed at a multitude of resorts throughout South Central Ontario; many for multiple years. Let me share our nightmare with anyone reading this, as a precaution. None of which follows is disclosed anywhere. First, you will expected to pay 100% of all costs (cottages, boat rentals dockage etc.) up front, prior to your arrival. The owners seem to have a fixation with the number 500, since upon your arrival; you will be informed that you are required to pay a $500.00 damage deposit, per cottage, per boat rental. Which in our case totalled an additional $3,500.00 as we had 5 cottages, and 2 boat rentals. We think boat rentals are supposed to be from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. but that was never expressed; however after the tortuous process of photocopying everyone's Boater Operators Cards, the owners photoinspecting each boat, issuing  life jackets, safety kits etc. you'll be lucky to be on the water by 11:00 a.m. but rest assured at precisely 7:58 p.m. the owners will be standing at the dock, glaring at you as a reminder your time's up. Nothing's more enjoyable after a heavily policed day on the water, than being able to relax in a multitude of broken Muskoka Chairs and enjoying the gently wafting stench of the overfull septic tanks. After recovering from that assault on your senses, you'll want to shower the stank off, but you won't be able to, because there's no hot water, since the tank ruptured days before your arrival, but was not disclosed nor were repairs made, nor were  alternate accommodations offered. On the day of your departure, promptly at 10:00 a.m. or you'll be charged another full day, Tammi, and her skinhead minions Dave and Geoff will greet you, outside your door arms crossed and scowls on, to conduct the exiting inspections of the cottages, right down to, counting the cutlery. There are plenty more reasons, NOT to go to West Arm Lodge; but I'm sure you get the gist. If there's one comforting thought, we can all take away from this experience, it's that they won't be in business much longer, so nobody else needs to endure...

We recently spent a week at West Arm Lodge. We were so pleased to discover this lodge about ten years ago and always loved it, staying every summer, so we were disappointed that the owners Frank and Cathy had decided to sell it. They were always so welcoming, and always busy keeping things running smoothly. But we decided to go back, hoping the new owners would keep it to the high standards we had come to expect. Unfortunately, it was not to be. Our cabin was dirty, smelly and ill equipped. Not welcoming at all. The bed in one room had been replaced by a huge old king-sized bed, supported by cement blocks. It was so high that it was difficult to get in and out of it. The beds in the second bedroom were sporting bare mattresses! Not very homey. A sign indicated our garbage would be picked up daily. Not done. Another sign told us to disinfect all the handles and doorknobs in the cabin, something that surely should have been done for us before our arrival. And no disinfectant was provided. Our rental boat was another disappointment. The covering on the seats had worn away, so the sponge cushioning was exposed, and it was soaking wet. The owner did not seem to have any interest in, or knowledge of, the boats. Although the new owners seem like nice people, although we hardly saw them, they are much more interested in selling $30 take-out pizzas on a Friday than they are in people spending $2500 to stay for a week. They don’t seem to know what people are looking for in a fishing lodge and perhaps should have invested in a restaurant for their son, rather than a lodge, as the restaurant is their prime interest. The whole place just had a sad, run-down, deserted feeling. We will...