The Pond House

In this review, I will try to be as objective as possible as I did enjoy my stay at the Pond House but the overall experience was filled with pros and cons.

Let’s start with the Cons: I know this is a camping experience and I should see it as so but for $200 a night we did expect a bit more.
• linens seemed dirty
• bed (mattress) was super uncomfortable
(We ended sleeping on our sleeping bag on the twin size day bed)
• daybed was covered in dog hair
• hot plates did not work at first and when it turned on only one did and did not heat properly
• the soaps / shampoos provided in the shower seemed like they had not been changed in years
• there seemed to be so much random stuff just laying outside of the pond house (for example, two carts filled with rained water that appeared to have been there for some time)

*** the pond itself seemed practically empty. I understand that’s out of their hands. But a nice disclosure would be nice: something along the lines of “pond levels may vary throughout the year” or “pictures were taking during high peak season “ etc

Pros:
• the property is vast and beautiful
• the reservoir is really nice and you can use their kayaks as well as swim if wanted
• plenty of hiking trails
• plenty of drinking water placed throughout the hiking trails
• the host (Mackenzie) is friendly and helpful
• the dogs are super friendly and beautiful
(One of them even followed us on a hike and seemed to be showing us around )

Once again, I know it is camping we are talking about. But for $200 a night I would expect a little more care and attention to detail.

Would I come back to this property in the future ? Yes
Would I rent the pond house again for that price ? No, I would opt for a normal campsite

Great place and great views. We had fun!

The Pond House is a cute little nest with a large and wonderful outdoor deck overlooking a lovely pond. It's small but has everything we needed—even a coffee grinder—to have a very comfortable stay. Don't hesitate to pass by Mackenzie's house while hiking around the property. She's such a friendly host! We would come again without any hesitation.

Beautiful and rustic
Very much in nature
Mackenzie, the host, is the best
Try to get to know her as soon as you can so you can get a feel for the place
She is the compass rose for the vibe here
She will also tell you where to go for grabbing food, picking berries, playing in the reservoir, etc
There are other campers close by - it is not utter isolation - but it is pretty darn close
Stargazing from the dock at night is amazing

Very rustic, but peaceful and the lights around the pond at night is magical. The over all camp is very rural but I see improvements and Mckenzie is a wonderful host and I see a bright future for people who go there. The pond at first looks very small form the side but once you are in front it is long and the inside is pretty equipped for anything you need.
You will enjoy yourself.
Dennis

We had a great stay at the pond house. It was a nice quiet place to spend new years. Enjoyed walking the path with a cup of coffee in the morning. Mackenzie is a great communicator and helpful. Made the drive over to fort bragg for a beer at north coast brewing and walked around. Would stay again!

The Pond House is probably one of the best spots on this huge fun property. It's not cheap but when you sit on the dock in the morning and watch the wildlife in the pond it's pretty much worth it. Keep an eye out for otters. The property has tons of hiking, and there' a huge lake about a 10-15 minute hike from the house. There's a communal cooking spot a minute's walk away. There's tons of camping spots on the property, so the Pond House isn't super secluded or anything, but it's really nice. I'd go back.

An amazing get away!

The Pond house is fun, but a little more run down than I expected it to be.