The River Ranch is a classic for those of us that spent a season or more up here as ski bums. Of course, as a ski bum I never had the cash to stay here, so despite living directly behind it I hadn't ever stayed here until recently.
This place just plain rocks- the location is minutes from Tahoe City, on the bank of the gorgeous Truckee River. The chef makes seriously delicious foodie-food, which is totally unexpected in Tahoe (which is known for burgers and beer, and not much else).
The rooms are basic, clean and decorated in a cabin pine pole lodge type of way, as they should be. Really great. Not at all fancy, but considering the location for the price you shouldn't expect fancy. The bedding is great though- much more like a high-end W hotel. Also, Tahoe isn't best experienced in a fancy hotel. In fact, skip the hotel and camp for some of your trip! We did just that, at the highly recommended Silver Creek campground on the Truckee RIver (get a walk-in site) about 2 miles away, but I digress.
Okay, so we stayed in room 21. This room overlooks the patio on the river, and has a front porch. We stayed on a night with a band playing, and both on the phone and when we checked in we were pressured by the front desk woman to buy $16 tickets to a "big concert" happening that night. Now, if you ran this place and knew that a band would be playing loudly until midnight...why wouldn't you just comp the guests paying $170 per night that are practically shacking up ON STAGE with the band? A very, very, bizarre business decision. I could see guests that were comped the price of admission being psyched that they "got something for free" rather than feeling inconvenienced. Anyway, this is Tahoe, and of course the "guards" that were checking for wrist bands also thought it was a ridiculous policy and we walked the two feet off of our deck and onto the "patio" whenever we wished and without trouble. Gotta love people with a good head on their shoulders. They actually made me like the River Ranch more than the woman at the front desk did.
Reason for the 4 stars instead of 5....when I noticed that the room was literally adjoining the public restroom for the concert-goers, I asked if any other rooms were free. I was practically yelled at by the front desk person that there were NO pet friendly rooms left!!!!!!!
Um, okay, just thought I could at least ASK. So sorry!! No worries lady!
Turns out, you can't hear the bathroom door opening or closing or toilets flushing...so it was fine in the end.
This hotel seems to be randomly "pet friendly". I have *zero* idea how they decide which rooms they will allow dog in or not. However, if they would turn this joint into a 100% pet friendly lodge they would make a mint. Charge everyone $25 more per night and we will gladly pay it. You have a hotel on a RIVER and walking trail. It doesn't take a genius to see the money here.
If you stay, and you don't have a dog (or you do, but by chance they have decided randomly to change their minds about which rooms allow dogs), reserve room #23. Gorgeous river views, front deck, just amazing.
Whatever you do, even if you don't stay here, be sure to eat in their restaurant one evening, rent beach cruisers, pedal along the river, and return for some famous rum punch slushies.
