Dawn Ranch - Guerneville, California

Lindsay H.

Dawn Ranch completely ruined what was supposed to be a special anniversary weekend. We’ll never go back—and certainly wouldn’t recommend it to anyone considering it for a wedding or getaway.

A friend of ours got married on the property, so we came up hoping to enjoy a romantic weekend and check it out as a potential wedding venue. What we got instead was a freezing, frustrating, and frankly embarrassing experience.

Check-in was a mess. We waited over 20 minutes just to get our room, outside in the cold, because the tiny reception area was too full. There was no parking available for guests. When we finally made it to our cabin, it was ice-cold with no heat, no working kettle, no wine opener, and no cups. It felt like the power wasn’t even fully functional. Attempts to reach staff via phone or text went ignored.

The final straw? My fiancé had planned a couples massage as a surprise for the next morning. We woke up trying to salvage the experience, only to be told we’d still need to check out by 10am—no exceptions—even though we were spa guests spending another $500 on-site. We explained we didn’t feel comfortable leaving our luggage in the car while using their facilities, and that as paying guests, we expected a little bit of basic flexibility. The staff couldn’t have cared less.

Their response? A blank stare and a robotic repetition of their policy. No empathy, no problem-solving, not even a pretense of hospitality.

It was so demoralizing we canceled the massage and just left early. We would’ve been better off staying home.

Dawn Ranch may photograph well, but the service, organization, and basic guest care are abysmal. What should’ve been a memorable, meaningful weekend turned into a cold, overpriced disaster. Don’t make the same mistake we did.

Michaella H.

Had a great weekend staying at Dawn Ranch! We opted for one of the Chalets over a Cabin and it was definitely worth the slight increase. We loved the sitting room and kept the fire place cranking the entire time. Being nestles into the redwoods and near the river makes the landscape stunning. We borrowed scrabbled from reception and spent a night in, then spent the rest of the weekend exploring the town. Dawn Ranch is walking distance to the main drag which we found really convenient. Also booked a spa treatment which was relaxing! Overall I would recommend and will probably be back for the summer.

Chris &. E. J.

our family of four was so excited for our stay at Dawn Ranch. Unfortunately it definitely did not meet our expectations. I have to agree with the other reviews that they have a great marketing team. What we thought would be matched up to the promoted vibe and images, and the hefty price tag did not and fell short.- the cabin (and most of the resort) were on a busy road with tons of power lines and you fall asleep to the sounds of cars. Not to mention the whole roads under construction which obviously the resort can't do anything about so we tried to disregarded that. To get to the lodge from the Grove you need to cross that busy street. The service was close to terrible (besides the workers in the Lodge/coffee stand - they were pleasant). The woman at the front desk seemed annoyed any time we asked questions and gave us hardly
any info when checking in. Their answer was no for anything we asked or just no response, or worse they nickle and dime you. I Haven't been anywhere in a while that requires you to pay extra for late check out. Also beware guests do not get priority at the restaurant or spa so book well in advance if you want to use the property amenities. In addition, the town was a dump and there are homeless literally sleeping outside the "resort". We were told this was a 4 star stay (and charged like a 5*) but I would think of it more like a 2-3 star property. There's hardly any activities offered at least during our stay, and just the friendliness in general was pretty nonexistent. Pros: their decor was cute (although blinds in our room crooked and broken upon arrival, table totally wobbly and showers did not stay hot) and their food at the coffee stand and restaurant were tasty. Highly suggest booking elsewhere with better service and location.

Andrew J.

This was a perfect get-away! I booked this place via Chase points and I received The Edit benefits. This was a beautiful setting for some much-needed R&R. I especially enjoyed the dinner at The Lodge because the food, service and ambiance were amazing.
The cabin was a little small but I spent most of my time hanging out in The Lodge. It’s also an easy walk to downtown and all of the cafes and bars.

Mia J.

We stayed here for a short winter getaway and had the most wonderfully relaxed time. The rooms are simply beautiful with thoughtful details and additions, very comfortable beds, and the staff were super kind and helpful and personable. The food at the lodge was incredible, as well. There are magnificent giant redwoods all around the grounds, and despite being in downtown guerneville it felt serene and remote. We would love to come back and see what the summer season would offer here!

Noelle H.

My partner and I went to Dawn ranch for our anniversary it was absolutely Amazing! such a beautiful property to walk around and enjoy nature but there was still everything I could possibly need there. Katy in the bar/lounge was so sweet and friendly. She made sure we got some bubbles for our celebration and snores left at our door! David at the front desk helped us with everything we needed including finding a taxi and recommendations to other bars and restaurants. We are already planning our next visit to Dawn ranch 💗

Gina L.

Mother/ daughter trip was great. The 2 bedroom cabin was perfect size. The bed was super comfy and the location was so convenient to town and still feel like you’re in the woods. The staff was very helpful with our very late check in and gave great restaurant recommendations .

ginny R.

Lovely piece of property set along the river in the woods. Our cabin was cozy and well stocked for our visit. The staff was welcoming and helpful for anything we needed. Would definitely stay here again!