We had an impromptu stay in Watkins Glen on our way home to NC. We absolutely loved the hospitality of the staff at Seneca Lodge. The room was quaint and clean. The food at the Lodge restaurant was amazing, both for supper and breakfast. Can't recommend the cinnamon raisin French toast enough! Our server, Joyce, was attentive and friendly. We will definitely be back!
Kaitlyn Roche
Came in for breakfast and ordered toast with bacon simple, right? Apparently not. My server decided to repeatedly comment on how “weird” my order was, as if my breakfast choice was up for public debate. I came to eat, not to be critiqued.
A guest should feel welcomed, not judged, and a little kindness goes a lot further than unnecessary commentary. Hopefully management reminds staff that the customer’s order isn’t their business unless, of course, they’re the ones paying for it.
Kait Roche
Came in for breakfast and ordered toast with bacon simple, right? Apparently not. My server decided to repeatedly comment on how “weird” my order was, as if my breakfast choice was up for public debate. I came to eat, not to be critiqued.
A guest should feel welcomed, not judged, and a little kindness goes a lot further than unnecessary commentary. Hopefully management reminds staff that the customer’s order isn’t their business unless, of course, they’re the ones paying for it.
Eleanor Wise
They won’t warn you, so I will. Cabin 90 is rife with peeling paint and if you are traveling with a young child they will be exposed to lead. This is a serious health hazard and wasn’t taken seriously at all when I brought it to the attention of the staff. In fact, the front desk person was super rude when I brought it up. I knew at $100/night it wouldn’t be anything special but there is a reasonable expectation of cleanliness and some upkeep. These people just want your money. Won’t be returning. Please don’t stay here if you want to keep yourself and your kids safe from lead exposure.
Trevor Beer
Great history of old racers visiting here and celebrating there wins.
Steven Jancarek
Gray and interesting place to stay. The bar is chuckful of racing and sports history. Food is always excellent here.
Glyn Churchman
Rooms at Seneca Lodge are nothing fancy. I don’t think they even have a microwave. They are clean. They get the job done. Perhaps normal for the locals, but my one complaint would be that the white staff in the restaurant are not very sophisticated. They do not remove dirty dishes in between courses. They are friendly and courteous, and often have a little experience. The food in the lodge is usually very good . It’s worth putting up with a little lack of sophistication for.
Gary Voorhees
The rooms are very old and dated. The owner needs to spend money to upgrade the sight. It was built in the 1940's and it feels like nothing has been done since then. Their website is very misleading.
Kate
Skip this place. It’s not worth it.
We stayed here for race weekend and thought a rustic lodge would be a fun, cozy choice. It wasn’t. This place is overpriced, uncomfortable, and poorly run.
The room was bare. No fridge, no microwave, no basic amenities you’d expect for $140 a night (plus $16 in taxes). One side of the bed didn’t even have a nightstand. Outlets were hard to find and reach. The AC didn’t work. The lock on our door didn’t work.
It smelled like cigars inside because people are allowed to smoke on the porch. Staff told us, “We can’t control what others do,” which sums up the attitude here—no accountability for anything.
Speaking of staff: Barbra at the front desk was rude, didn’t greet us, didn’t look up, and didn’t say a word until we asked her if we were supposed to check in at the bar. Not exactly the welcome you’d expect from a place charging this much.
The room was full of bugs. Bug splatters on the walls and ceilings. Mosquitoes and who knows what else flying around. They do nothing to prevent it—no traps, no maintenance. Again, staff made it clear they weren’t interested in helping.
We left early and will never return. Management refuses to give any refunds or even partial credits. Their policies protect their pockets, not your experience.
There are plenty of better, cheaper, cleaner places within 30 minutes. Pick one of those instead. Don’t waste your weekend or your money here.
Kat
Do not stay at this hotel. It’s not worth the money, the time, or the frustration.
We booked a room here for race weekend, thinking it would be a charming lodge experience. Unfortunately, it was anything but.
The room was extremely basic—no fridge, no microwave, no nightstand on one side of the bed, and hard-to-reach outlets. For $140 a night (plus $16 in taxes), we expected at least the standard amenities. What we got felt closer to a budget roadside motel, without the price to match.
The problems started at check-in. The woman at the front desk, Barbra, was cold and unwelcoming. She didn’t acknowledge us when we arrived, didn’t say hello, and seemed annoyed we were even there. It was uncomfortable and set the tone for the stay.
Once inside the room, the issues continued: • The door lock didn’t work properly. • The room smelled like cigars from guests smoking outside (which the hotel allows). • The air conditioning wasn’t working. • Bugs were everywhere—on the walls, ceilings, and flying around. There were no traps or efforts to manage them.
When we raised concerns, the response was basically: “It’s not our problem.” Staff deflected responsibility and stood behind “policy” instead of offering any kind of help, solution, or compensation.
It became clear the owners care more about making money than providing a decent experience. No flexibility, no accountability, no customer service.
We checked out early and will not be back. There are many other nearby options that are both nicer and cheaper. Do yourself a favor—book one of those instead.
Do yourself a favor and don’t stay here. This hotel is overpriced, poorly maintained, and run by people who clearly don’t care about their guests.
We came for race weekend and thought a lodge would be a fun, cozy experience. It wasn’t. The room was bare-bones—no fridge, no microwave, barely any furniture, and nothing that justifies the $140 per night price tag (plus $16 in taxes).
From the moment we arrived, the experience was bad. The woman at the front desk, Barbra, was rude and unwelcoming. She didn’t greet us, didn’t look up, and acted like helping us was a hassle. We had to ask if we were even in the right place to check in.
Once we got to the room, it only got worse: • The lock didn’t work. • The air conditioner didn’t work. • The room smelled like cigar smoke from a neighbor smoking on the porch (which is allowed, apparently). • There were bugs on the walls, dead bugs on the ceiling, and more bugs flying around inside. • The door opens directly outside, and there’s nothing in place to prevent bugs from getting in. • Outlets were hard to reach, and the whole space felt neglected and dirty.
When we brought up the issues, we were met with excuses. The staff takes no responsibility, blames “policy,” and refuses to offer any kind of refund or solution. They clearly just want your money and couldn’t care less about your stay.
We left early and will never return. There are better, cleaner, cheaper places nearby. Don’t waste your money or your weekend here.
Katie Elizaveta
Avoid this hotel—it’s not worth your time or money. Do yourself a favor and book elsewhere. There are many better and more affordable options within 30 minutes of the area.
We stayed here for race weekend, thinking a lodge-style place would be charming. It wasn’t. The room was extremely basic—lacking standard amenities like a fridge, microwave, or even nightstands on both sides of the bed. At $140 per night plus $16 in taxes, it felt overpriced for what we received.
When we arrived, the woman at the front desk, Barbra, was noticeably unfriendly. She didn’t greet us, make eye contact, or seem remotely welcoming. We had to ask if check-in was done at the bar before she even acknowledged us.
The room itself had several issues: • The door lock didn’t work properly. • The room smelled like cigars due to neighbors smoking on the porch (which is allowed). • The air conditioning didn’t function. • Outlets were hard to reach, and the walls and ceilings were covered in bug stains and mosquitoes. • There were bugs inside the room, likely because the door opens directly to the outside. No traps or efforts to manage them.
Staff refused to take responsibility for any of the problems, citing policy and offering no solutions or compensation. It was clear they prioritize profits over guest experience and are unwilling to make things right. Refunds or even partial refunds are off the table—no matter the circumstance.
We ended up leaving early and will never return. I strongly recommend looking elsewhere. This place is poorly managed, overpriced, and operated by people who clearly don’t value their guests.
Kat Elizaveta
Do not stay at this miserable hotel. Save yourself the headache. It is not worth your time or your money. Go somewhere better and cheaper. There are plenty of cheaper AND nicer options all within 30 minutes of the area.
We went for race weekend, and I thought booking a lodge would be a cute stay. It was not. The room is bare minimum. It does not not have any typical amenities. It is $140 a night and $16 extra in taxes.
We arrived and barbra behind the desk was rude and you can tell she doesn’t like her job by how miserable she acts. She did not look at us and did not say hello. For such an expensive place, acting rude is not a good look.
She did not acknowledge us or say anything until we waited a minute standing there, and I asked if we should check in at the bar. Then she said we check in here.
We went to our room. The lock didn’t work. The room did smell of cigar because the neighbor smoking. It’s allowed to smoke on the porch, but be aware the smell can be in the room. The excuse they give is they can’t control what other people do. Oops.
The ac did not work. There is no fridge or microwave. There are not nightstands on both sides of the bed. The outlets are hard to reach. The room is stained with mosquitoes and bug guts all over the walls and ceilings. There are also lots of bugs in the room. That makes sense, the door opens to the outside. But there’s no traps or anything to try to even catch them. And once again, the desk ladies have no control of course. They’re really good at abstaining from any responsibilities, and they’ll die by their policy. Because the family just wants your money and does not care about your stay or your experience. They truly just want to make as much money as possible and absolutely refuse refunds or partial refunds or anything.
We left early. We will never come back here. You should not either. They’re a greedy and rude business.
Kevin Shapiro
A good if not old school motel. reasonably inexpensive with a bar and restaurant built-in right next to one of the best state park, I recommend if you're going to go into town, take a car walking both ways on 90° plus day was a little challenging. make sure to bring your own shower type accessories.
We had an impromptu stay in Watkins Glen on our way home to NC. We absolutely loved the hospitality of the staff at Seneca Lodge. The room was quaint and clean. The food at the Lodge restaurant was amazing, both for supper and breakfast. Can't recommend the cinnamon raisin French toast enough! Our server, Joyce, was attentive and friendly. We will definitely be back!
Came in for breakfast and ordered toast with bacon simple, right? Apparently not. My server decided to repeatedly comment on how “weird” my order was, as if my breakfast choice was up for public debate. I came to eat, not to be critiqued. A guest should feel welcomed, not judged, and a little kindness goes a lot further than unnecessary commentary. Hopefully management reminds staff that the customer’s order isn’t their business unless, of course, they’re the ones paying for it.
Came in for breakfast and ordered toast with bacon simple, right? Apparently not. My server decided to repeatedly comment on how “weird” my order was, as if my breakfast choice was up for public debate. I came to eat, not to be critiqued.
A guest should feel welcomed, not judged, and a little kindness goes a lot further than unnecessary commentary. Hopefully management reminds staff that the customer’s order isn’t their business unless, of course, they’re the ones paying for it.
They won’t warn you, so I will. Cabin 90 is rife with peeling paint and if you are traveling with a young child they will be exposed to lead. This is a serious health hazard and wasn’t taken seriously at all when I brought it to the attention of the staff. In fact, the front desk person was super rude when I brought it up. I knew at $100/night it wouldn’t be anything special but there is a reasonable expectation of cleanliness and some upkeep. These people just want your money. Won’t be returning. Please don’t stay here if you want to keep yourself and your kids safe from lead exposure.
Great history of old racers visiting here and celebrating there wins.
Gray and interesting place to stay. The bar is chuckful of racing and sports history. Food is always excellent here.
Rooms at Seneca Lodge are nothing fancy. I don’t think they even have a microwave. They are clean. They get the job done.
Perhaps normal for the locals, but my one complaint would be that the white staff in the restaurant are not very sophisticated. They do not remove dirty dishes in between courses. They are friendly and courteous, and often have a little experience. The food in the lodge is usually very good . It’s worth putting up with a little lack of sophistication for.
The rooms are very old and dated. The owner needs to spend money to upgrade the sight. It was built in the 1940's and it feels like nothing has been done since then. Their website is very misleading.
Skip this place. It’s not worth it.
We stayed here for race weekend and thought a rustic lodge would be a fun, cozy choice. It wasn’t. This place is overpriced, uncomfortable, and poorly run.
The room was bare. No fridge, no microwave, no basic amenities you’d expect for $140 a night (plus $16 in taxes). One side of the bed didn’t even have a nightstand. Outlets were hard to find and reach. The AC didn’t work. The lock on our door didn’t work.
It smelled like cigars inside because people are allowed to smoke on the porch. Staff told us, “We can’t control what others do,” which sums up the attitude here—no accountability for anything.
Speaking of staff: Barbra at the front desk was rude, didn’t greet us, didn’t look up, and didn’t say a word until we asked her if we were supposed to check in at the bar. Not exactly the welcome you’d expect from a place charging this much.
The room was full of bugs. Bug splatters on the walls and ceilings. Mosquitoes and who knows what else flying around. They do nothing to prevent it—no traps, no maintenance. Again, staff made it clear they weren’t interested in helping.
We left early and will never return. Management refuses to give any refunds or even partial credits. Their policies protect their pockets, not your experience.
There are plenty of better, cheaper, cleaner places within 30 minutes. Pick one of those instead. Don’t waste your weekend or your money here.
Do not stay at this hotel. It’s not worth the money, the time, or the frustration.
We booked a room here for race weekend, thinking it would be a charming lodge experience. Unfortunately, it was anything but.
The room was extremely basic—no fridge, no microwave, no nightstand on one side of the bed, and hard-to-reach outlets. For $140 a night (plus $16 in taxes), we expected at least the standard amenities. What we got felt closer to a budget roadside motel, without the price to match.
The problems started at check-in. The woman at the front desk, Barbra, was cold and unwelcoming. She didn’t acknowledge us when we arrived, didn’t say hello, and seemed annoyed we were even there. It was uncomfortable and set the tone for the stay.
Once inside the room, the issues continued:
• The door lock didn’t work properly.
• The room smelled like cigars from guests smoking outside (which the hotel allows).
• The air conditioning wasn’t working.
• Bugs were everywhere—on the walls, ceilings, and flying around. There were no traps or efforts to manage them.
When we raised concerns, the response was basically: “It’s not our problem.” Staff deflected responsibility and stood behind “policy” instead of offering any kind of help, solution, or compensation.
It became clear the owners care more about making money than providing a decent experience. No flexibility, no accountability, no customer service.
We checked out early and will not be back. There are many other nearby options that are both nicer and cheaper. Do yourself a favor—book one of those instead.
Restaurantji Recommends
Do yourself a favor and don’t stay here.
This hotel is overpriced, poorly maintained, and run by people who clearly don’t care about their guests.
We came for race weekend and thought a lodge would be a fun, cozy experience. It wasn’t. The room was bare-bones—no fridge, no microwave, barely any furniture, and nothing that justifies the $140 per night price tag (plus $16 in taxes).
From the moment we arrived, the experience was bad. The woman at the front desk, Barbra, was rude and unwelcoming. She didn’t greet us, didn’t look up, and acted like helping us was a hassle. We had to ask if we were even in the right place to check in.
Once we got to the room, it only got worse:
• The lock didn’t work.
• The air conditioner didn’t work.
• The room smelled like cigar smoke from a neighbor smoking on the porch (which is allowed, apparently).
• There were bugs on the walls, dead bugs on the ceiling, and more bugs flying around inside.
• The door opens directly outside, and there’s nothing in place to prevent bugs from getting in.
• Outlets were hard to reach, and the whole space felt neglected and dirty.
When we brought up the issues, we were met with excuses. The staff takes no responsibility, blames “policy,” and refuses to offer any kind of refund or solution. They clearly just want your money and couldn’t care less about your stay.
We left early and will never return. There are better, cleaner, cheaper places nearby. Don’t waste your money or your weekend here.
Avoid this hotel—it’s not worth your time or money.
Do yourself a favor and book elsewhere. There are many better and more affordable options within 30 minutes of the area.
We stayed here for race weekend, thinking a lodge-style place would be charming. It wasn’t. The room was extremely basic—lacking standard amenities like a fridge, microwave, or even nightstands on both sides of the bed. At $140 per night plus $16 in taxes, it felt overpriced for what we received.
When we arrived, the woman at the front desk, Barbra, was noticeably unfriendly. She didn’t greet us, make eye contact, or seem remotely welcoming. We had to ask if check-in was done at the bar before she even acknowledged us.
The room itself had several issues:
• The door lock didn’t work properly.
• The room smelled like cigars due to neighbors smoking on the porch (which is allowed).
• The air conditioning didn’t function.
• Outlets were hard to reach, and the walls and ceilings were covered in bug stains and mosquitoes.
• There were bugs inside the room, likely because the door opens directly to the outside. No traps or efforts to manage them.
Staff refused to take responsibility for any of the problems, citing policy and offering no solutions or compensation. It was clear they prioritize profits over guest experience and are unwilling to make things right. Refunds or even partial refunds are off the table—no matter the circumstance.
We ended up leaving early and will never return. I strongly recommend looking elsewhere. This place is poorly managed, overpriced, and operated by people who clearly don’t value their guests.
Do not stay at this miserable hotel.
Save yourself the headache. It is not worth your time or your money. Go somewhere better and cheaper. There are plenty of cheaper AND nicer options all within 30 minutes of the area.
We went for race weekend, and I thought booking a lodge would be a cute stay. It was not. The room is bare minimum. It does not not have any typical amenities. It is $140 a night and $16 extra in taxes.
We arrived and barbra behind the desk was rude and you can tell she doesn’t like her job by how miserable she acts. She did not look at us and did not say hello. For such an expensive place, acting rude is not a good look.
She did not acknowledge us or say anything until we waited a minute standing there, and I asked if we should check in at the bar. Then she said we check in here.
We went to our room. The lock didn’t work. The room did smell of cigar because the neighbor smoking. It’s allowed to smoke on the porch, but be aware the smell can be in the room. The excuse they give is they can’t control what other people do. Oops.
The ac did not work. There is no fridge or microwave. There are not nightstands on both sides of the bed. The outlets are hard to reach. The room is stained with mosquitoes and bug guts all over the walls and ceilings. There are also lots of bugs in the room. That makes sense, the door opens to the outside. But there’s no traps or anything to try to even catch them. And once again, the desk ladies have no control of course. They’re really good at abstaining from any responsibilities, and they’ll die by their policy. Because the family just wants your money and does not care about your stay or your experience. They truly just want to make as much money as possible and absolutely refuse refunds or partial refunds or anything.
We left early. We will never come back here. You should not either. They’re a greedy and rude business.
A good if not old school motel. reasonably inexpensive with a bar and restaurant built-in right next to one of the best state park, I recommend if you're going to go into town, take a car walking both ways on 90° plus day was a little challenging. make sure to bring your own shower type accessories.
Restaurant review only: Excellent view, delicious food.
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