We noticed that you're using an unsupported browser. The TripAdvisor website may not display properly.
We support the following browsers:
Windows: Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome. Mac: Safari.

States Inn & Ranch – reviews, photos

2687 West Valley Road, 7.1 miles from Friday Harbor, San Juan Island, WA 98250
Hotel amenities
States Inn & Ranch
4.5 of 5 stars 72 Reviews
Which San Juan Island hotels are on sale?
See hotels
Write a Review

72 reviews from our community

    Trip type
Traveller rating
    43
    20
    8
    0
    1
Date Rating
USA/UK
Contributor
12 reviews 12 reviews
Reviews in 10 cities Reviews in 10 cities
18 helpful votes 18 helpful votes
“Hospitality a Plus, Comfort fair”
3 of 5 stars Reviewed 21 December 2011

It has taken a long time for me to write this, not due to lack of time. but difficulty in reviewing. It is obvious that the host of this establishment takes time to reply to reviews, I just wish they took the same time with the state of the establishment, perhaps they would raise the bar a little.

Yes it is a farm.
Yes the cost is alluring.
But beware.
If you associate b&b's with a bit of luxury, you may want to realize some home truths. I have stayed in youth hostels with shared bathrooms and five star hotels. I can be snobby and I can roll up my sleeves. This, my friends is a roll up your sleeves place. Make no mistake.

The water still stinks. I read other reviews stating the same, and also read manager rebuttals saying the problem had been "cured". Um. in a word. No. The water stinks and not just a little. It is beyond hold your nose, bear with it one night stinks. It. Stinks. BAD. Gagging stink. I wondered if taking a shower (which I so desperately wanted to do), I would carry that stench with me the entire day. I decided to forgo that challenge and birdbath somewhere else later. It was THAT bad.

The Montana room, while looking inviting and clean on the website, was dark, and had the feeling of masked cleanliness. There was an overpowering smell of cleaning fluids competing with the eggy sulfur smell. I have to say that leaving the room to explore the islands was an added incentive. No way would I do more than sleep there.
The farm yard was very potent with manure aroma wafting into the room. Mix that with the sulphur and, well. you get the olfactory picture.

Also, due to the age of the b&b, there would be a potential for noise.

The shower area reminded me of a very bad motel. If it was remodeled, recently, they should ask for a refund.

Breakfast was lukewarm. Eggs that, while are listed as a hallmark, were just average. The breakfast was by no means hearty or creative, just sufficient. Nothing to write home about. Visit the nearbyTrumpeter Inn for a true farmhouse breakfast, full, hearty and delicious. They know how to cook.

Yes, I kept telling myself. It is a FARMHOUSE. You should expect worn, expect focus on working, rough and ready. But I got the feeling they have spent more time working the farm, which, from the size, takes a LOT of work, and only manage to maintain the b&b.

I met only one innkeeper. Who was very nice.

I did not feel that the communal sitting areas were particularly inviting. Felt like an old folks home. Very dark in the evenings.

I think it would be a fabulous place to stay with a family or a group of bikers, hikers, youth hostelers. Not so much for couples or romantics.

The one nice thing? If you love animals, this is a fantastic place to engage in the true farmyard experience. As a place of refuge, the owner I met clearly cares for the animals in her charge. I think they expect their visitors to be as roll up your sleeves ready as they are accustomed to being as well.

  • Stayed June 2011, travelled with family
    • 4 of 5 stars Value
    • 3 of 5 stars Location
    • 2 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 3 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 3 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 3 of 5 stars Service
Was this review helpful? Yes
Ask P-Hopper about States Inn & Ranch
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
1 review
“I love this place!!”
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 7 December 2011 via mobile

I've stayed here twice over the past few years and I love it! The food is great and the area is beautiful. Go to the British camp, it is really nice.

  • Stayed June 2011
    • 5 of 5 stars Value
    • 5 of 5 stars Location
    • 4 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 4 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 5 of 5 stars Service
Was this review helpful? Yes
Ask Painterman9 about States Inn & Ranch
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
Iowa
Senior Reviewer
6 reviews 6 reviews
Reviews in 6 cities Reviews in 6 cities
“Friendly, welcoming, comfortable ranch”
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 20 September 2011

My husband and I recently stayed here for two nights and enjoyed our time. Jessica is a wonderful host and bent over backwards to make everyone feel at home and to provide what they needed. For example, she offered two of their lawn chairs to us to take to the state park to view whales and to use at the Shakespeare performance that night. Because of my bad back, the chairs were most welcome over those offered at the outdoor theatre.

We chose to stay in the Rhode Island room because 1) it best fit our budget and 2) it looked the most inviting to us in that price range. It is a small room with a very large stone fireplace. Tealight candles are provided to burn in the fireplace which made for a nice ambiance. If a fire had been allowed it would have been too much for the size of the room. As with another room that was reviewed, the bed takes up the majority of space in the room although there is one wicker chair in the room. The bathroom is located next door and is used only by the occupants of the RI room. It wasn't too bad using it as the inn provides bathrobes and the room and bathroom are located at the end of a short hallway. In the middle of the night if you have to use the bathroom there is no one around to see you unless the people in the room across the hall come out of their room at the same time. Passing by some of the other unoccupied rooms (I assume in the same price range), during the day when the doors were open, I was very glad we were in the Rhode Island both for location and decor/lightness of the room.

All that said, we didn't spend very much time at the ranch as we were out exploring the island. We enjoyed seeing the alpacas, chickens, and other animals, but didn't feed any of them. The breakfast was good and they were willing to accommodate special dietary concerns by providing a different entree if needed.

There are undoubtedly better places to stay on San Juan Island, but for our price range it was great.

  • Stayed August 2011, travelled as a couple
    • 5 of 5 stars Value
    • 5 of 5 stars Location
    • 4 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 4 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 5 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 5 of 5 stars Service
Was this review helpful? Yes
Ask TravelinTays about States Inn & Ranch
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
Erie, Pennsylvania
Reviewer
5 reviews 5 reviews
Reviews in 5 cities Reviews in 5 cities
“nice space for our family”
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 12 September 2011

We stayed in the Southwest suite and had two bedrooms and a living room with a pullout couch, so there was room for our family of five and even some privacy for my husband and me. The breakfasts were really fresh and wonderful, helping to make the extra cost of a bed and breakfast a good value. We got good advice from the owner about places to hike to see beaches, foxes, whales, etc. I appreciated having fridge space and access to a microwave and tea/hot chocolate making supplies. What a lovely place!

  • Stayed June 2011, travelled with family
    • 4 of 5 stars Value
    • 4 of 5 stars Location
    • 5 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 5 of 5 stars Service
Was this review helpful? Yes
Ask ErieMargaret about States Inn & Ranch
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
Reviewer
4 reviews 4 reviews
Reviews in 4 cities Reviews in 4 cities
1 helpful vote 1 helpful vote
“Wonderful, relaxing, fun stay”
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 29 August 2011 via mobile

My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed our stay here. Everyone was so friendly and helpful. Our California room was beautiful with huge windows you could look out over the valley and see stars thru at night. The picture online for that room didn't do it justice. The breakfast was wonderful. The have horses and alpacas and other animals on the property giving it a fun farm feel. They had great tips for the area, who to go whale watching with, where to get certain views etc. They also have a fridge and microwave you can use, and hot chocolate, water, tea, fresh cookies available any time of day and plenty of room downstairs to relax. Also, the sulfer smell that you sometimes get with the water is because they use well water as does most (all?) of the island, when it's low sometimes it smells but it's not bad for you. Hope you go and hope you enjoy it as much as us :)

  • Stayed August 2011
    • 5 of 5 stars Value
    • 5 of 5 stars Location
    • 5 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 5 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 5 of 5 stars Service
Was this review helpful? Yes
Ask RaindropCrystal about States Inn & Ranch
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

Travellers who viewed States Inn & Ranch also viewed

Bird Rock Hotel
4.5 of 5 stars 147 Reviews
Friday Harbor, San Juan Island
CHECK RATES! ABS:HotelCheckRates-d1068022?&src=ShowUserReviewsHotels&fromServlet=ShowUserReviews&Action=QC_AlsoViewed
Friday Harbor House
4.5 of 5 stars 175 Reviews
Friday Harbor, San Juan Island
Tucker House Inn
4 of 5 stars 153 Reviews
Friday Harbor, San Juan Island
CHECK RATES! ABS:HotelCheckRates-d83107?&src=ShowUserReviewsHotels&fromServlet=ShowUserReviews&Action=QC_AlsoViewed
View all 9 hotels in San Juan Island, ranked by popularity »

Been to States Inn & Ranch? Share your experiences!

Write a Review Add Photos Add Videos

Owners: What's your side of the story?

If you own or manage States Inn & Ranch, register now for free tools to enhance your listing, attract new reviews, and respond to reviewers.

  • Manage your listing