May 7, 2010

My wife and I feel compelled to share our experience at Ohana with prospective guests. The occasion was a fall weekend celebrating one of our 60th birthdays.

By way of background, we had roughly 80 people coming to join in the festivities, of whom 24 chose to stay at Ohana.  Our guests came primarily from New England, but a few west coasters made the trek. Many of them were quite accustomed to luxurious accommodations.

Everyone of our guests remarked upon arrival, about the stunning physical setting of the camp, perched high above the lake, surrounded by hillside autumnal hues as far as the eye could see. The spacious main lodge was the site of 3 meals, on-going snacks/drinks, and much frivolity.  Despite the fact that the room is large, there was a sense of intimacy, particularly in the case of  smaller groups gathered around the fieldstone fireplace in rockers and other groups taking in the view on the capacious front porch.

Because we are in the hospitality industry, we had a particular concerns about the possible limitations of the kitchen at Ohana.  Imagine our surprise when we discovered that the kitchen had a full compliment of new commercial restaurant equipment and working space galore. That behind-the-scene reality proved to be a major hidden asset in the ability to provide fine food, seamlessly served.  Another behind-the-scenes reassurance was the attentiveness of the Ohana managers and staff – a great comfort to us as hosts. The lodge fire was always stoked,  coffee brewed, and had something gone awry, we were confident that they would have been able to remedy any shortcoming.

Our guests who chose to stay overnight were thoroughly charmed by the snug, rustic cabins - with firewood stacked just outside the door to offset the chilly fall nights.  Although the facilities do not boast bidets, mini-bars, or flat-screen TVs, even our fussiness, most sophisticated guests were delighted by the accommodations and appreciated the old-fashioned simplicity of the cabins.

Our only regret was that we were so engaged with the communal activities at the lodge that we failed to take advantage of the impressive lakefront facilities down the hill.

In conclusion, we would recommend Ohana without hesitation for anyone who is seeking an antidote to the standard issue hotel scene without sacrificing any essential amenities.  Ohana is truly a special place on a special lake in a seductive corner of Northern New England that will provide fresh tonic for the soul.

Many thanks for the perfect setting – John & Libby Chapin

We have a number of other Ohana alumni, as well as current Ohana families, who are happy to share their thoughts with you regarding their experiences at Ohana. We encourage the first contact with these families to be via email. Please let us know if you would like to recieve a list of references by emailing us at Info@ohanacamp.org or by phone at 802-333-3460.