We loved this place for the following reasons 1) It is close to everything 2) The staff was extremely helpful and kind 3) Everything was clean and kept up nicely. The only drawback was the fact that there was no a/c. It was 84 degrees in our room when we checked in. We were on the third floor so that was part of it. They offered to move us to a different room but other guests were complaining so we stayed put. They offered to give us another fan. There were two in the room. The bar b q at Woverton was wonderful and reservations can be made here. We would stay here again.

My wife and I have fond memories of the past when we hiked and camped in Sequoia National Park. Now, 30 years later, we have the means to stay in a more up-scale resort and the Wuksachi Lodge looked like a great way to enjoy the park in comfort. Boy were we wrong!

It all started with guest registration. At most resorts you can pull up to temporary parking near the lobby to register and get your keys. Not here! There is a giant parking lot a few hundred yards from the main lodge building where you can stop and hike back to the lobby.

We were told our room was on the third floor and I asked if there was an elevator. We were told that there are no elevators but that you enter on the middle floor and take the stairs one floor up or down. The receptionist handed us a map and told us how to find our room.

At most resorts you can find a parking spot near an entrance to your building and an easy way up to your room. That is not the case here. There is a huge parking lot and three buildings high on the hill above. It was a long walk across the parking lot, a long trail up the hill and another trail that leads to an entrance facing away from the parking lot. There were some luggage carts scattered around that could be used to haul your things up the hill but once you hit the stairs you were lugging everything. My advice, pack light!

I paid a premium for a “deluxe” room and found a small dark hole with tiny windows overlooking a dirt slope. I guess the lack of lighting has to do with energy conservation but the drab dark colors didn’t help.

Dinner in the dining room looked promising and they have a great menu and wine list. Unfortunately the results did not live up to the promise. The staff seems to have been recruited from Sweden or Norway and English does not seem to be a required skill. Service consisted mostly of a little blonde girl walking around pouring water. When I asked her a question she smiled and chirped a pre-recorded sound byte without a clue as to what I was talking about.

Breakfast is to be avoided. The items in the steam trays were tired and old. There was something that I think was supposed to be French toast, the eggs were like rubber and the diced potatoes were like chewing bullets. The coffee was nothing short of horrible and the waiters were slow in bringing it. Even though they charge extra for coffee tea and juice, you would think they would put some out for self service.

The BBQ dinner at Wolverton Meadows was another bust. There were some picnic tables on a deck in direct sun. The few café umbrellas placed around did no good at all to shield the glare. Food consisted of a row of steam trays offering stale dry meat. Since there is nothing else to do in the area, car loads of people just drove up, consumed their meal in silence and drove away. Two employees just stood in stony silence and ignored the customers.

The one thing that I found hard to understand was that not one but two families drove up and asked if they could purchase tickets. They were told that the BBQ was sold out even though there were empty tables and lots of food. I guess that if you want to participate in this grim ritual, you need to purchase your tickets in advance.

The thing that impressed me most about the Wuksachi Lodge was a complete lack of outdoor amenities. There is not a single patio, picnic table, outdoor bar, or anyplace where one could sit and enjoy the mountain air and tall trees. The rooms don’t have much of a view even on the parking lot side and the windows are too small to enjoy it even if they did. I would welcome a small deck attached to my room and some windows big enough to open up and enjoy the mountain air. After all, that’s what I drove all the way up there for.

We took a road trip from Newport Beach and drove up to see the big trees. Stopping on the way at three rivers first we stayed at the simple Holiday Inn in Three Rivers $89.00. Great air conditioning and it was used. It was hot. Nice free breakfast also. We white water rafted on the Keawah and had a great time. Then we drove up to the Wuksachi Lodge to stay one night before checking into Montecito lodge. The lodge lobby is the only nice part of the hotel. Same small room as the Holiday inn but no air. House keeping gave us a fan and thier was one in the celing. The cost was over $200,00 for this dark room with a view of the parking lot. If your tired from hiking all day the drive to one of the three builidings is more than two city blocks. Not for much is up their. I will write about the wonderful Montecito - Sequoia lodge next. WOW