International Rehabilitation Consulting Review of Deer Valley Ranch Colorado
Our family has vacationed through four generations...
Our family has vacationed through four generations and over 40 years at Deer Valley Ranch. It has been the location for many wonderful family memories over the years. Unfortunately, our most recent experience did not nearly live up to those in the past. Here are 10 reasons we do not plan to return to Deer Valley: 1) change in structure to pay per person, not cabin, and requiring guests to eat all meals on site as part of the cost - this actually resulted in less quality family time than when we were able to share meals in each other s' cabins; 2) lack of hospitality - from check-in to check-out, there was a general lack of service that even average guests expect; sometimes this was rudeness and blaming guests for mistakes made by their office or staff, and other times this presented as a feeling that staff and owners were too busy to be bothered to attend to the guests; 3) disorganization - there were dozens of errors made by the staff from beginning (i.e. booking) to end. These included not being signed up for events such as horseback riding, even though emails and phone confirmations were made weeks prior, incorrect billing, no replies to email communication they asked for to reserve activities in advance; 4) lack of sensitivity and accommodations for the elderly, those who are pregnant, small children, and persons with physical disabilities. This was extremely disappointing for a camp that advertises a Christian mission. The much anticipated Wrangler's Breakfast was held in a rocky, uneven spot where persons with any type of physical challenge were endangered of falling (unlike the prior spot in a more flat meadow). Guests who had to walk a distance on this dangerous ground included an elderly woman in her 90's, several pregnant women and a few with small children/babies, other elderly folks, and persons with visual and physical impairments; 5) poor communication among staff - on several occasions, guests had made prior arrangements for meals or activities with a certain staff member, but that information was never communicated to other appropriate staffers, resulting in mix-ups for which the guests were "blamed". There were no apologies made even though the staff later acknowledged that error was on their part; 6) meals - under the previous ownership, meals were a delight to look forward to, but not required as part of the paid plan. Items were home-baked with great attention to detail and presentation, served by happy helpers. Meals on this trip were disappointing at best - little was original, home-made, or tasty. While guests tried not to complain, the comparison between then and now was striking. Servers were over-worked, some of the food was soggy, under-cooked or overcooked. Teens remarked that they "had better food at church camp" this summer; 7) upkeep - most of the ranch and the accommodations (cabin and lodge) look just like they did 40 years ago. The little Western town for small children to play in was a safety hazard, with holes in the flooring into which small feet could slip through. Many of the cabins are outdated. The carpeting in several places has not been replaced for decades. While there is a new tennis/volleyball/basketball court with flooring, most of the ranch seems tired and untended to; 8) overpriced - One might excuse some of the other shortcomings if the cost was not so high (an average family of 4 - 5 may spend nearly $1,000 per night to stay on the ranch, with meals included), and pay additionally for activities such as horseback riding, white water rafting, fishing etc... 9) Christian mission - we missed being led in prayer before meals. Sunday church did not focus us on the Lord. The spirit that made us love this ranch seems to have evaporated into a poorly run corporation; 10) understaffed - it was obvious that the college students working were severely overworked, particularly in housekeeping and dining services - not nearly the number of staff in prior years. Overall, this was a sad experience, not reflective of the Deer Valley we have loved.
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