Four stars because we did enjoy our stay but not w...

Four stars because we did enjoy our stay but not without some ambivalence. The hotel is old but not too worn, at least our room. Curiously rooms in the same wing, just across the hall from us, had very sad looking sofas, one of those rooms would have been a big disappointment. I'm happy we didn't pay more for a room larger than our Deluxe Double with view. That's not to say our room was large; it wasn't exactly small but the square shape made it less functional than a rectangular room of the same size. The room was a little lean on furniture, the small dresser just fit our family's clothes for the 3 days we were there. The desk is small and there's no chair other than the desk chair and very little space to set things on which isn't something I typically notice in a hotel room but I often found myself searching for key cards, beverage passes, and activity passes that were buried under other things. The closet was very large but had only one rod to hang clothes on so it was only as functional as a much smaller closet. I did not like that the door to the hallway opens right onto the main room; it swings open to within a couple feet of the bed. The bathroom was a good size and nicely updated, relatively new tiles all around and a new sink. It has a large window but is still private with some nice plantation shutters. The large windows open. The AC worked but the carpet within three feet of it was damp the whole time making it unpleasant to walk on. One afternoon the shower started running very cold. Double beds just feel small, if we were there for more than three days these little annoyances would have started to really wear on me.
The grounds are beautiful, well designed and well maintained. The pool area was a lot of fun even when crowded. The water slides were great: kids 42"-48" can go down on their own with a parent waiting at the bottom, kids over 48" can go down on their own. The lazy river is nice. The main family pool is much less crowded since it's not heated, or at least it wasn't while we were there. There are hammocks scattered around the property. The mini golf was fun. Falconry was pricey but worth it as it is pretty unique and the woman running it really tries hard to give everyone a good experience. The kids' horse ride was disappointing for our kids that are ready in their minds, if not bodies, for a trail ride. But it was nice enough for a 10 minute ride. The skeet shooting was fun and they tailor it to each shooters' level. The indoor pool is a comfortable temperature and nice.
The valets bring the cars around pretty quickly, just call down a few minutes in advance.
The lobby bar had disappointing bourbon selection.
The food was for the most part not good and may be a dealbreaker in us ever returning. If we do return we'll eat off-property (but that's a hassle given the few nearby choices).
In the end we all had fun but for us food is a critical component in a getaway and on that front the Homestead falls short.