My wife and I enjoy more quiet and subdued getaways as opposed to fast-paced trips to bigger cities and urban areas. If you happen to be the same way, I highly recommend Pennyrile Forest State Resort. Quiet and seclusion are the key words here. The park and lodge are located a few miles south of the small town of Dawson Springs in the middle of a state forest. And when I say seclusion, I mean seclusion. It can even be kind of hard to find if it's your first visit. There isn't a whole lot around. With the exception of fishing, hiking trails, and a pool (only seasonal), there's not a whole heck of a lot to do (unless you're a golfer). And that's fine with me, but because of the lack of activities, I would not recommend a family with children to visit this particular park. For me however, the quiet isolation makes this resort park well worth it.
The lodge is similar to a typical motel. It could use a few updates, but the rooms are comfortable and clean. Every room has either a private balcony or patio over-looking the lake, with outstanding views. There are a few walking trails that are easily accessible near the lodge and offer visitors the option to experience the lake a little closer and the forest. The overall service was well above average and the gentleman who was working the front desk...My wife and I enjoy more quiet and subdued getaways as opposed to fast-paced trips to bigger cities and urban areas. If you happen to be the same way, I highly recommend Pennyrile Forest State Resort. Quiet and seclusion are the key words here. The park and lodge are located a few miles south of the small town of Dawson Springs in the middle of a state forest. And when I say seclusion, I mean seclusion. It can even be kind of hard to find if it's your first visit. There isn't a whole lot around. With the exception of fishing, hiking trails, and a pool (only seasonal), there's not a whole heck of a lot to do (unless you're a golfer). And that's fine with me, but because of the lack of activities, I would not recommend a family with children to visit this particular park. For me however, the quiet isolation makes this resort park well worth it.
The lodge is similar to a typical motel. It could use a few updates, but the rooms are comfortable and clean. Every room has either a private balcony or patio over-looking the lake, with outstanding views. There are a few walking trails that are easily accessible near the lodge and offer visitors the option to experience the lake a little closer and the forest. The overall service was well above average and the gentleman who was working the front desk both at our arrival and check-out was very friendly and helpful.
My only complaint however, was the restaurant. Like other state resorts we have stayed at, the restaurant at Pennyrile was somewhat disappointing. The dinner we had the night of our stay was not worth the price we paid. I got the all you can eat buffet, and while the salad bar was decent, the entrees were very sub-par. My wife, who I will admit is a picky eater, ordered a sandwich off the menu and said it was average at best. The service wasn't all that great either. The waitress acted as if she wanted to be anywhere but there, and the young lady running the register also seemed to be very disinterested. This experience was very disappointing especially considering that there are no other dining establishments for miles around. However, breakfast the next morning was much better (especially in quality) and the service was much improved as well.
Other than the mediocre dinner, our stay at Pennyrile was worth the trip and price. Like I said, if you like a quiet destination, enjoy nature, and don't mind a location off the beaten path, I'm confident you'll enjoy Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park.More
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