Vacation Rental Near Hoosier National Forest!

Reviews

• White Oaks is wonderful - but a mediocre stay this time

  4/5

  My family and I have been coming to White Oaks for probably around 25 years. It is one of our happy places. If this had been our first stay, I would have rated lower than a 4.

  We chose this particular cabin for the hot tub. I received a phone call an hour and 10 minutes before check-in. We were literally in the car enroute and I didn't answer the phone as I was driving and didn't recognize the number. Once we got to the cabins, I listened to the voice mail and was told the hot tub was not functional and we could either cancel and get a full refund or receive a 20% discount. Too late to really cancel. If I had been given a little more notice and we weren't already getting settled into this cabin, I would have asked if we could move to one of the other cabins with a hot tub (from prior stays, I know one had a hot tub that no one was occupying). They did process the 20% discount relatively quickly. These things happen and while this was annoying, not a deal breaker. In looking at other reviews, this cabin seems to frequently have issues with the hot tub though so I'm mentioning it.

  There were other issues however. Both the bathroom sink and the kitchen sink were barely draining. The kitchen sink had food stuck in the drain - but it wasn't easily accessible or I would have cleaned it out. Not sure what was going on with the bathroom sink.

  They are very stingy with the bedding. None of the beds really have blankets - sheets and a bedspread. The pull out couch did have a blanket, but no top sheet or bedspread. We actually asked for additional bedding and was told we had an adequate amount. Had to turn on the heat one night because it was too cold in there although would have been fine if we had blankets.

  The worst part was the deck. It was dirty. It appeared there was a can of baked beans that had been spilled and spread out. We cleaned that up. And there were cigarette butts everywhere. We also cleaned most of those up.

  I know the new owners haven't had the property long and there are always transitional issues. Hopefully these wrinkles will get ironed out soon so this property will return to its former place of comfort and tranquility.

• Misleading listing

  1/5

  We booked this cabin specifically for the amenities. Half of the amenities weren’t operational for us to enjoy. For the price we payed for the weekend is kind of disappointing. The hot tub was broken and the water was ice cold. No technicians available to fix the issue until Monday.

  So our stay has been ruined by the lack of preparation for their guest. The playground area outdated and caution taped off. Kids could not utilize it. No fire wood available to enjoy the fire pit. The deck is sketchy and the railing is wobbly, unsafe for kids. We were informed this the day of check in. If we had known of the issues, we would have cancelled to get a full refund. As a property owner, the integrity of the listing and the actual property do not match. We were mislead.

  Now we are out almost 600$ for a miserable stay so far and unhappy kids. The point of staying in a cabin with amenities was to not have to leave and all we want to do is leave.

  Nothing has been made right yet or offered to be made right to our requests.

  Manager's Response:

  Hi Ciera, we take guest feedback seriously and passed your comments on to the homeowner who would like to share the following:
  - Thank you for sharing your feedback. We deeply regret that your experience did not meet your expectations and apologize for the inconvenience caused by the non-operational amenities.
  - Regarding the hot tub, we understand your frustration. We offered assistance on the day of your stay, but unfortunately, our technicians were unavailable until Monday. We realize this impacted your enjoyment and apologize for the delay in service.
  - The deck has been inspected by three contractors who have confirmed its structural integrity, although it does tilt. It is deemed safe for children. The playground area, including the ship, is taped off for safety until repairs can be made. While we strive to maintain all amenities, unexpected issues can arise, similar to how major rides at theme parks occasionally go down for repairs.
  - We understand how disappointing this has been, especially given the cost of your stay. Please know that we are committed to improving and ensuring a better experience for future guests.
  Thank you for bringing these issues to our attention.
  We do all we can to make the best possible stay, and we look forward to this property hosting many satisfied guests.

• Great option in southern Indiana

  5/5

  We loved our stay here. The amenities were enjoyed by the whole family. The only thing to note about staying in the lodge is that it is located above the office (different entrances). For guests who want the whole building to themselves, choose a different cabin on the property.

• Caution

  2/5

  It is quite often we utilize Evolve for vacation rentals. One thing my kids will all reference is bugs....they were horrible. The walls were thin and you could hear everything throughout the house. Also quite outdated as there was no dishwasher or washing machine or dryer. Had I paid a lesser amount nightly, I would not have been so critical - but at the nightly rate, expectations fell short.

  I don't typically take time to write reviews, but as I utilize them based on our rentals, I thought future renters should be aware.

  Manager's Response:

  Hi Tracy, we truly appreciate you sharing your thoughts about your recent stay. Your feedback is essential to us, and we've relayed your comments to the homeowner, who would like to address the following: During your stay, we noted the presence of a chipmunk and ladybugs on the property. We took proactive measures by filling the bait traps to address the chipmunk issue. As for the ladybugs, while we can sweep them up, their presence may persist due to our wooded surroundings. As a rustic cabin nestled within eighty-seven acres of woodland, we aim to provide an authentic wilderness experience. The property was recently updated in 2021, following the transition of ownership, we have meticulously detailed all available amenities and features in our listing. We want to emphasize that while we do not provide a washer and dryer or dishwasher, this is accurately reflected in our listing. Ladybugs are a natural occurrence in wooded environments, and it's not uncommon for them to appear when the weather warms up. This is part of the natural ecosystem surrounding our properties. Rest assured, we conduct monthly pest control to manage such occurrences. We do all we can to make the best possible stay, and we look forward to this property hosting many satisfied guests as evidenced in all other reviews.

• Great family place

  5/5

  We had an amazing time. The property is huge and it has everything you need, including kids play area.

  *This review was originally posted on Vrbo