Cabins with Hot Tub in Hocking Hills

All in all a very high cost for an underwhelming stay.

THE most AMAZING trip I have ever taken! GlenLaurel is nothing short of a hidden gem—an enchanting Scottish sanctuary tucked deep within the heart of Ohio’s Hocking Hills. From the moment we arrived, it felt as though we had been transported across the ocean to a real-life Highland retreat.

This remote oasis provided the perfect opportunity to disconnect from the world and reconnect with peace, beauty, and each other. Our cottage was the ideal balance of accessibility and seclusion—easily reachable yet completely private. Surrounded by serene forest, flowing creeks, and winding trails, it offered an intimate escape we’ll never forget.

Each morning began with a gourmet three-course breakfast crafted by a professional chef, setting a high bar that the rest of the day somehow managed to meet. The evenings were pure indulgence—elegant six- and seven-course fine dining experiences that rival any top-tier restaurant. Every dish was a work of art, and the flavors were beyond exceptional.

What truly sets GlenLaurel apart, however, is the staff. Their warmth, attentiveness, and sincere hospitality brought the spirit of Scotland to life. They anticipated every need, remembered every detail, and made us feel like honored guests in a storybook setting.

The on-site 9-hole links-style golf course added a fun and scenic touch to our stay, and the bonfire pit on the bluff—overlooking miles of rolling hills and forest—quickly became our favorite spot to unwind and watch the sunset.

Whether you’re seeking romance, rest, or a remarkable culinary journey, GlenLaurel delivers an unparalleled experience. This was, without a doubt, the most magical and memorable getaway we’ve ever had—and we’re already dreaming of our return. We have determined that this will be our annual anniversary destination.

We’ve traveled to the Hocking Hills area not infrequently, and we love Inn at Cedar Falls. After our first stay there, we tried this one. Wow, bad idea.

First, our room was above the dining room. Very loud, basic, and hilariously, it had a bidet that was set to some ungodly temperature and literally burned my butt. Now, that was funny, but true to their pretentious form, they described it as “the only known bidet” in the county. We still laugh about that.

The bigger, real issue, was the dinner and the female owner(manager?) We booked the multi-course dinner. First, we were in the bar area not dressed up yet about 45 mins before dinner. We had every intention of changing to match the dress code for dinner (and did), but the manager approached us and advised us to change. (Literally, I was in jeans and a blazer after hiking; I had added the blazer before getting a drink because it’s my general attire.)

So, we’re all dolled up for dinner, and we find that the good seating (on a different floor) is mostly locals and a few chosen folks. We were in a weird basement room with the bulk of the other diners. Terrible lighting, trash environment. But, fine, we’re rolling with it.

What prompted me to write today was that I saw a review within the past few months which echoed my experience, and the inn’s response was spicy.

The food was terrible. Every sauce was sickeningly sweet. Every protein (fish, meat) was previously frozen, obviously. The food was disgusting, and my husband and I commiserated and laughed with two other couples after.

The less funny part was the chef with terrible jokes and off-color comments (I’m not sensitive, but really sexist stuff) at every course throughout the dinner. What is the opposite of romantic? This. We can only hope that his presence in the dining area kept the food from getting worse.

We didn’t complain, we just laughed and vowed to never go again. We call it “the snobbish place,” like “Scottish,” but, you know, terrible.

Inn at Cedar Falls. Great food, great people, great cabins. Just don’t waste your money here. We live near Chicago, so we don’t have an axe to grind. But, wow, absolutely terrible.

We arrived early for the Pub Social, and it was fine. There was a small serving plate of cheeses and some fruit in the room with the bar. Be aware, this room gets crowded due to a lack of places to sit during the Social. Just as an fyi – I was under the impression we got a free drink during the social but we didn’t, which is fine because I probably misread the website. I did get a glass of wine though, and it tasted like a very cheap bottle. They only had between 2-4 single glass wine offerings on the drink menu.

The first course of the dinner menu was a scallop. The presentation was beautiful, but I couldn’t eat more than one bite because it had sand in it. The second course was a soup that I didn’t like, but that was probably a personal preference. Third course was a salad, and that was the best course. The forth course was a wine sorbet and it reminded me of one of those sugar-free fruit gummies with a grainy texture. Fifth course, the entrée, was slow-cooked beef served with a merlot reduction, mashed potatoes, and asparagus. The beef on the tippy top had a char, fell apart, and was delicious. But, the rest of it did not fall apart and when I turned it over the back side was just a conglomerate of fat. The asparagus wasn’t done, and the merlot reduction didn’t reduce enough. The final course was a gluten and dairy free butterscotch dessert. It tasted like someone put a coarsely ground nut butter on top of a weird granola.

At the end, the chef with a fake sounding accent came out and told a couple of stories that made no sense. Most people in the room were looking at each other like…what?, or trying to avoid eye contact with the chef. Finally, the music sounded like the same 3 songs over and over for the whole 2 hours of dinner. Not a great experience.

Highly recommend this establishment.
We stayed in the Muir cottage and I didn’t want to leave. The cottage was so inviting, warm, cozy and larger than expected. The cleanliness was greatly appreciated. I can’t wait to go back!

Jean Michel is an amazing chef with an excellent sense of humor.

The grounds are awesome with a 1 mile hike to the Gorge and falls. The icicles in the winter are beautiful!

Can’t wait to come back next year!!!