Thank you so much, Rush Creek Lodge and Spa at Yosemite " the perfect day to enjoy and relax
Chicago G.
Beautiful resort just outside Yosemite park. We chose the location for combo of proximity to Yosemite and amenities. Love that they have a heated pool and hot tubs cranking in spring. So much for kiddos to do - s'mores at night, game room, Easter egg hunt! Rooms are large and well equipped. Fun to sit on the balcony and enjoy a beverage evening or morning. We appreciated the fridge in the room, and microwave and laundry in the common area. We ate several dinners here during our stay and had a positive experience. Kids have gluten allergy and gf items are marked on the menu, and if you talk to the staff they will make other options as well. No dedicated frier so no fries for the kiddos tho. Enjoyed the gf tacos, chicken salad, and hamburger with gf bun. Less awesome was the soggy flatbread. The onsite store has great breakfast to go (either to bring back to room or get an early start on trails) as well as lots of options to pack a lunch - we appreciated gf options including gf bread to make sandwiches, frozen gf meals, make your own trail mix, etc. but
J B.
Review is for the tavern only! Overall, RCL is amazing! What a beautiful resort. The grounds are just lovely, the shop is nice, and the spa is absolutely incredible. My friends and I spent a few hours at the spa and then decided to have lunch in the tavern. UGH, what a buzzkill. We went to the tavern in the early afternoon on a Saturday. The place was practically empty. We were going to just grab seats at the bar, but a host ran up and curtly told us we needed to go to the host stand to ask for a seat. Okayyy-- we did so and then were seated at a booth. We were fine with this, but it got off to a weird start. We were handed some pretty beat-up paper menus and when we looked at them, we realized they didn't match! Some had items on it that weren't on the others. No idea if those items were available or not. The server came by and we were ready to order. One of my friends wanted the wings, and she then informed us that they were out. It happens, but it was annoying they didn't inform us at the beginning so we could plan accordingly. We ordered food, 2 cocktails, and 1 beer. We waited and waited for the drinks and after about 10 minutes, the server came back and let us know they were out of an ingredient for one of the cocktails. Again -- how annoying. My friend made a different drink choice and then the server finally came back with our cocktail order. It felt like the food took forever to come out. I had ordered a chicken sandwich with a salad that was supposed to have a dressing on it. Another guest at our table ordered the salad as well. When I looked at our salads, hers was dressed and mine was dry. It took a minute and we finally got our server's attention and I asked if I could please have some salad dressing. Now the server seemed annoyed and asked me "Ok, so you want more dressing?", to which I said mine doesn't have any. The server again said, "Ok, I'll get you MORE dressing". Sheesh. Whatever. They brought my salad dressing and it didn't look anything like what the other salad had (theirs was a creamy-looking one, whereas mine was a vinaigrette). The food was ok, but ungodly expensive. My chicken was kind of tough, but I was starving, so whatever. A table was seated next to us and their server was upbeat and informative, letting them know that they were out of the wings, another app, and ALL chicken. I guess I got the last one. So weird. At least these guests were informed ahead of time. Why on earth would you be out of so many items on a weekend?? Throughout, we were never offered to order dessert or more drinks, which I guess is ok since a cocktail was $18 a pop. I get that its a schmancy hotel and the prices are going to be what they are, but the service was seriously awful. Then we sat with empty plates in this empty restaurant for the longest time. The server finally dropped off the check and I paid. It was $160 for lunch for 4 people, which I wouldn't have cared if the service would have matched what we had just experienced in the spa. Such a disappointment after just being on Cloud 9. Go and enjoy the spa, but if you're hungry, just do yourself a favor and go anywhere else.
Michael A.
I didn't spend the night here, but had a great experience eating here and chilling in the lounge and game rooms. The whole lodge has an air of authenticity about it. The fireplaces burn real wood fires. The games are classy and free. The Wi-Fi is fast. The restaurant staff are extremely friendly. The food was also really good. Quite pricey, but was worth it for the whole thing they have going on. Top class
Siddhesh Dindorkar
Love their food, friendly (possibly friendliest) service and their game room!! For food, their crispy cauliflower and king salmon were great!
Edit: Service and speed have definitely improved. Deliciousness is again pretty high.I’ve been to Rush Creek six times and the restaurant is getting slightly worse year over year. A shrinking drink specials on the board above the TV’s, tavern menu is the same as the dining menu, few too many bites with egg shell in the morning rancheros, dinner curry needs a spicyness prompt, and website menu is out of date.Menu does not change enough, but it is delicious. This is a super user problem but we’re still a part of the business.Let me say again, I love this place, but we have to better in the restaurant.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 3
Sarah Baniewcz
I have been here 6 times with my boyfriend. The first time we absolutely loved it back in the winter of 2023. But since then it has gone extremely down hill. They advertise on the website that it is a seasonal menu, but it has not changed once since the summer. The only change is that the menu has gotten smaller. Back in 2023, there were four boards at the bar for drink specials. Now, in 2024, there are three total specials on one board. While the menu has gotten smaller and not changed, I still give the food a 4/5 bc everything I have had has been excellent. I would recommend anything on the menu. The service is also horrible for the summer months. The winter staff is amazing, but during the summer the staff is inattentive and bring all of your food out at the same time.I love this hotel and would rate the rest of it 5 stars, but the restaurant could use a little bit of improvement, especially in the summer.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 3
Jen W.
We didn't have the pleasure of staying at the lodge, but we enjoyed Thanksgiving Dinner at their restaurant and it was so nice! Our waitress was super friendly and the special prix fixe menu was a good deal for a holiday and included a lot of food. The ambiance and views were great and it all made our family really want to stay here one day!
lindsey s.
Our family has stayed here twice and had a wonderful time each stay. Extremely kid friendly with many kid activities. Received excellent customer service in each and every interaction. Very close to Yosemite's entrance, however there is so much to do on property that last time we came we didn't leave the resort. If you don't have kids/ are on a kid free trip, I would suggest coming during the week or picking a different location. The family friendly atmosphere means kids are everywhere.
Thomas D.
I would give a 6 star review if I could. We stayed 4 nights at Rush Creek Lodge and it was amazing. Our vacation started horribly - we were in a car accident in Yosemite and our car was not drivable. We called rush creek and Andrea from the staff drove into the park to get us to drive back to rush creek. Then she drove me 2 hours away to get a new rental car. She was hands down one of the sweetest people I've ever met. She checked in on our family, brought the kids stuffed animals, gave us spa passes, picked up our dinner bill and even put together a sweet gift bag for my kid's birthday. I could keep going on and on. The actual lodge was amazing. Great accommodations, lots of activities for the kids, great spa (with family time!), a good restaurant and all kinds of other great amenities. The people though were just incredible. We left feeling like part of the Rush Creek family thanks for the generosity and kindness of Andrea and the amazing staff.
Wyatt F.
Great hospitality and experience. I would recommend for anyone looking for a nice stay close to Yosemite Valley.
Great family friendly environment. Rooms were great staff was awesome and only a short drive to the Yosemite basin. While the food was O.K. I would recommend bringing snacks and lunch stuff if you're planning an extended stay.
We had dinner here a few times during our stay at Rush Creek. We liked the food for hotel food. I would skip the breakfast buffet however. Service was hit or miss. It's very busy so make reservations ahead of time.
Tom K.
I've traveled the world and stayed in a wide variety of resorts. This is the most family oriented resort I have had the pleasure of staying in! Everything from the enormous game room to the plethora of outdoor activities. The room is pleasantly comfortable with an amazing view. The shower has wonderful water pressure. The restaurant has many delicious eats for all meals throughout the day. Justin, the restaurant manager was a true professional!
Hey Y.
Rushcreek Lodge X-mas 2023 Pros - -Close proximity to Yosemite Valley -Built in 2016 -Wi-Fi, Alexa, mini frig, small safe, electric kettle -Good size shower -Good size room -Friendly staff -Daily activities for kids and adults (including trivia and nightly S'mores) -Hiking paths right behind lodge -Excursions (Tyler was phenomenal !) -Equipment available for rent (hiking poles, snow shoes, etc.) -Store has almost everything you could possibly need -Food is tasty with generous portions -Bar has good drinks and GREAT bartenders (Patrick, Austin, Jeremy and Luke) -laundry facility and microwave available. -Nicely decorated -Pool/hot tubs and spa is open year round -Luggage carts available -On-site fitness center -One night they had live music -Coffee bar with lots of coffee options and a few pasteries for $$$ Cons - -Christmas time charges double the room rate. Booo. -Not an all inclusive resort. So even though you are paying a lot to stay there, none of the food or dinks are included -Food and drinks are pricy -Beds are firm (not to my liking) -The heater/air vent in the room is very big and loud -No TV in the rooms (that is by design to get you out and about which is not a bad idea. We just would have liked to watch a movie in the evening) -No prices on items in the store. So you have no idea how much things cost until they ring you up. -We had reservations in the restaurant. They tried to seat us in the bar. We had already eaten all our meals in the bar and wanted to have a nice dinner in the restaurant. Because we asked to be seated where we had made our reservation, we were told we would have to wait 15-20 minutes......what? We had a reservation in the restaurant! -My husband said the coffee was terrible in the restaurant. For the financial hit we took for this trip....not sure we'll be back.
Thank you so much, Rush Creek Lodge and Spa at Yosemite " the perfect day to enjoy and relax
Beautiful resort just outside Yosemite park. We chose the location for combo of proximity to Yosemite and amenities. Love that they have a heated pool and hot tubs cranking in spring. So much for kiddos to do - s'mores at night, game room, Easter egg hunt! Rooms are large and well equipped. Fun to sit on the balcony and enjoy a beverage evening or morning. We appreciated the fridge in the room, and microwave and laundry in the common area. We ate several dinners here during our stay and had a positive experience. Kids have gluten allergy and gf items are marked on the menu, and if you talk to the staff they will make other options as well. No dedicated frier so no fries for the kiddos tho. Enjoyed the gf tacos, chicken salad, and hamburger with gf bun. Less awesome was the soggy flatbread. The onsite store has great breakfast to go (either to bring back to room or get an early start on trails) as well as lots of options to pack a lunch - we appreciated gf options including gf bread to make sandwiches, frozen gf meals, make your own trail mix, etc. but
Review is for the tavern only! Overall, RCL is amazing! What a beautiful resort. The grounds are just lovely, the shop is nice, and the spa is absolutely incredible. My friends and I spent a few hours at the spa and then decided to have lunch in the tavern. UGH, what a buzzkill. We went to the tavern in the early afternoon on a Saturday. The place was practically empty. We were going to just grab seats at the bar, but a host ran up and curtly told us we needed to go to the host stand to ask for a seat. Okayyy-- we did so and then were seated at a booth. We were fine with this, but it got off to a weird start. We were handed some pretty beat-up paper menus and when we looked at them, we realized they didn't match! Some had items on it that weren't on the others. No idea if those items were available or not. The server came by and we were ready to order. One of my friends wanted the wings, and she then informed us that they were out. It happens, but it was annoying they didn't inform us at the beginning so we could plan accordingly. We ordered food, 2 cocktails, and 1 beer. We waited and waited for the drinks and after about 10 minutes, the server came back and let us know they were out of an ingredient for one of the cocktails. Again -- how annoying. My friend made a different drink choice and then the server finally came back with our cocktail order. It felt like the food took forever to come out. I had ordered a chicken sandwich with a salad that was supposed to have a dressing on it. Another guest at our table ordered the salad as well. When I looked at our salads, hers was dressed and mine was dry. It took a minute and we finally got our server's attention and I asked if I could please have some salad dressing. Now the server seemed annoyed and asked me "Ok, so you want more dressing?", to which I said mine doesn't have any. The server again said, "Ok, I'll get you MORE dressing". Sheesh. Whatever. They brought my salad dressing and it didn't look anything like what the other salad had (theirs was a creamy-looking one, whereas mine was a vinaigrette). The food was ok, but ungodly expensive. My chicken was kind of tough, but I was starving, so whatever. A table was seated next to us and their server was upbeat and informative, letting them know that they were out of the wings, another app, and ALL chicken. I guess I got the last one. So weird. At least these guests were informed ahead of time. Why on earth would you be out of so many items on a weekend?? Throughout, we were never offered to order dessert or more drinks, which I guess is ok since a cocktail was $18 a pop. I get that its a schmancy hotel and the prices are going to be what they are, but the service was seriously awful. Then we sat with empty plates in this empty restaurant for the longest time. The server finally dropped off the check and I paid. It was $160 for lunch for 4 people, which I wouldn't have cared if the service would have matched what we had just experienced in the spa. Such a disappointment after just being on Cloud 9. Go and enjoy the spa, but if you're hungry, just do yourself a favor and go anywhere else.
I didn't spend the night here, but had a great experience eating here and chilling in the lounge and game rooms. The whole lodge has an air of authenticity about it. The fireplaces burn real wood fires. The games are classy and free. The Wi-Fi is fast. The restaurant staff are extremely friendly. The food was also really good. Quite pricey, but was worth it for the whole thing they have going on. Top class
Love their food, friendly (possibly friendliest) service and their game room!! For food, their crispy cauliflower and king salmon were great!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Coconut Chickpea Curry Bowl, Kids Chicken Nuggets, Poke, Caprese Salad
Edit: Service and speed have definitely improved. Deliciousness is again pretty high.I’ve been to Rush Creek six times and the restaurant is getting slightly worse year over year. A shrinking drink specials on the board above the TV’s, tavern menu is the same as the dining menu, few too many bites with egg shell in the morning rancheros, dinner curry needs a spicyness prompt, and website menu is out of date.Menu does not change enough, but it is delicious. This is a super user problem but we’re still a part of the business.Let me say again, I love this place, but we have to better in the restaurant.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 3
I have been here 6 times with my boyfriend. The first time we absolutely loved it back in the winter of 2023. But since then it has gone extremely down hill. They advertise on the website that it is a seasonal menu, but it has not changed once since the summer. The only change is that the menu has gotten smaller. Back in 2023, there were four boards at the bar for drink specials. Now, in 2024, there are three total specials on one board. While the menu has gotten smaller and not changed, I still give the food a 4/5 bc everything I have had has been excellent. I would recommend anything on the menu. The service is also horrible for the summer months. The winter staff is amazing, but during the summer the staff is inattentive and bring all of your food out at the same time.I love this hotel and would rate the rest of it 5 stars, but the restaurant could use a little bit of improvement, especially in the summer.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 3
We didn't have the pleasure of staying at the lodge, but we enjoyed Thanksgiving Dinner at their restaurant and it was so nice! Our waitress was super friendly and the special prix fixe menu was a good deal for a holiday and included a lot of food. The ambiance and views were great and it all made our family really want to stay here one day!
Our family has stayed here twice and had a wonderful time each stay. Extremely kid friendly with many kid activities. Received excellent customer service in each and every interaction. Very close to Yosemite's entrance, however there is so much to do on property that last time we came we didn't leave the resort. If you don't have kids/ are on a kid free trip, I would suggest coming during the week or picking a different location. The family friendly atmosphere means kids are everywhere.
I would give a 6 star review if I could. We stayed 4 nights at Rush Creek Lodge and it was amazing. Our vacation started horribly - we were in a car accident in Yosemite and our car was not drivable. We called rush creek and Andrea from the staff drove into the park to get us to drive back to rush creek. Then she drove me 2 hours away to get a new rental car. She was hands down one of the sweetest people I've ever met. She checked in on our family, brought the kids stuffed animals, gave us spa passes, picked up our dinner bill and even put together a sweet gift bag for my kid's birthday. I could keep going on and on. The actual lodge was amazing. Great accommodations, lots of activities for the kids, great spa (with family time!), a good restaurant and all kinds of other great amenities. The people though were just incredible. We left feeling like part of the Rush Creek family thanks for the generosity and kindness of Andrea and the amazing staff.
Great hospitality and experience. I would recommend for anyone looking for a nice stay close to Yosemite Valley.
Great family friendly environment. Rooms were great staff was awesome and only a short drive to the Yosemite basin. While the food was O.K. I would recommend bringing snacks and lunch stuff if you're planning an extended stay.
We had dinner here a few times during our stay at Rush Creek. We liked the food for hotel food. I would skip the breakfast buffet however. Service was hit or miss. It's very busy so make reservations ahead of time.
I've traveled the world and stayed in a wide variety of resorts. This is the most family oriented resort I have had the pleasure of staying in! Everything from the enormous game room to the plethora of outdoor activities. The room is pleasantly comfortable with an amazing view. The shower has wonderful water pressure. The restaurant has many delicious eats for all meals throughout the day. Justin, the restaurant manager was a true professional!
Rushcreek Lodge X-mas 2023 Pros - -Close proximity to Yosemite Valley -Built in 2016 -Wi-Fi, Alexa, mini frig, small safe, electric kettle -Good size shower -Good size room -Friendly staff -Daily activities for kids and adults (including trivia and nightly S'mores) -Hiking paths right behind lodge -Excursions (Tyler was phenomenal !) -Equipment available for rent (hiking poles, snow shoes, etc.) -Store has almost everything you could possibly need -Food is tasty with generous portions -Bar has good drinks and GREAT bartenders (Patrick, Austin, Jeremy and Luke) -laundry facility and microwave available. -Nicely decorated -Pool/hot tubs and spa is open year round -Luggage carts available -On-site fitness center -One night they had live music -Coffee bar with lots of coffee options and a few pasteries for $$$ Cons - -Christmas time charges double the room rate. Booo. -Not an all inclusive resort. So even though you are paying a lot to stay there, none of the food or dinks are included -Food and drinks are pricy -Beds are firm (not to my liking) -The heater/air vent in the room is very big and loud -No TV in the rooms (that is by design to get you out and about which is not a bad idea. We just would have liked to watch a movie in the evening) -No prices on items in the store. So you have no idea how much things cost until they ring you up. -We had reservations in the restaurant. They tried to seat us in the bar. We had already eaten all our meals in the bar and wanted to have a nice dinner in the restaurant. Because we asked to be seated where we had made our reservation, we were told we would have to wait 15-20 minutes......what? We had a reservation in the restaurant! -My husband said the coffee was terrible in the restaurant. For the financial hit we took for this trip....not sure we'll be back.