Rider Input Please

[revrider07]

Hi guys

My hubby and I are taking over a small lodge in the big horns this winter (SnowShoe) although we are avid riders ourselves and have many ideas we are looking for a little help from you all.....
Whats the most important thing amenity you look for in a lodge?
What can we do to make our place appealing to the average rider?
How may people normally travel together when going on a trip?

Any input or advise will be appreciated greatly.....

 

[tmk50]

Good Customer Service
Good Customer Service
Good Customer Service
Clean Rooms
Premium Gasoline at reasonable prices
Good Food
Good Customer Service
Good Customer Service
Good Customer Service


I think if you do a search or just browse through these sections you'll probably get a good idea of what people are looking for. If you aren't renting sleds, you should at least line up with some 'preferred vendors'. Have a good relationship with the nearest dealers for all 4 makes so that you can refer guests for parts/service. No need to stock parts to sell, but you should have some basic items that people will may not pack or run out of (oil, coolant, other fluids etc....)

As for number of people - I have no idea. We've stayed at places with 4-6, and we've also invaded Steamboat Lake with 20-30 (with lots of kids)......

tk

 

[Ollie]

You may want to put up a post in general also. Lot more answers.

There are usually 3 of us.
Clean rooms with lots of hooks for hanging wet stuff.
Good food and premium fuel, both at reasonable prices.
Enough parking to get the truck and trailers in and manuever.

We arn't picky, if we show up we are looking to ride.

 

[revrider07]

One thing that we are trying to work out is the parking.....in past years (more than likely this year too) the only way in is by sled......the parking lot is about three miles from the lodge.....not sure how to get around it.....we have the food thing figured out....a simple menu but a reasonable prices good homecooking comes easy when you are a farm wife......gas is a must for the sleds that is......

 

[sledskiing]

Funny i was thinking about this today. How cool would it be if there was a huge heated barn/garage so you could park your sled overnight and let it thaw out. Maybe have a keg and fire going at the end of the day so all the riders can hang out for a beer.

Dog Friendly
Premium Fuel
Free WiFi Internet

 

[revrider07]

We have the garage with a heated floor....that is a great idea......this is good stuff.....thanks so much

 

[Coldfinger]

Ditto the hooks to hang stuff. Maybe a retractable clothesline or make hooks long to keep items away from wall so they get airflow. Maybe have a small portable fan in each room to improve airflow.

Also like the idea of someplace enclosed to work on sleds if needed.

Like the fire idea, probably only feasible one or two nights a week and peeps probably bring their own beverages for liab reasons.

Post pics of current conditions on this site or provide link to your site with pics that you or your guests have taken.

Info on daily snowfall amounts is great as well.

 

[M.M. 700]

Make people feel at home. There has been so many places were I feel really uncomfertable. Which I don't go back.

Have a phone for people to use is a somewhat private area. I hate the phone situation at the Snowy Mountain Lodge. Half the time someone is sitting across the desk from you.

Number One for me: Ask/give advice, talk with riders to see which way the plan to head out. And keep an eye on the cabins to see if everyone made it back for the night. By no means am I saying babysit, but be somewhat envolved. Nice feeling when your a rider (atleast for me).


And of course decent prices.......

 

[M.M. 700]

Maybe have a keg and fire going at the end of the day so all the riders can hang out for a beer.

GREAT IDEA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! get together for sledders at nights. Hell, I would come just for that purpose!!!

 

[flatlander_99]

everyone has very good ideas here. customer service is always #1 & always remember that one bad experience will get more attention & spread faster than 20 good experiences.

 

[sledskiing]

You should rent SPOT's to the groups and make sure your in the notification list. That way anybody if anybody who is staying at you place gets lost you can respond.

 

[TREEKILLER]

clean rooms w/tv& phone& hot water, food ! must have breakfast/lunch/dinner or better yet room service. a bar, indoor pool /strip club nearby, gas, huille , ect. rental sleds avail? a snowcat to bring guests to lodge from parking lot. lighted trails for night riding !

i;d go there!

 

[revrider07]

Holy Cow treekiller.....I intend to give it our all but a strip club could be tough....lol........

 

[Ollie]

clean rooms w/tv& phone& hot water, food ! must have breakfast/lunch/dinner or better yet room service. a bar, indoor pool /strip club nearby, gas, huille , ect. rental sleds avail? a snowcat to bring guests to lodge from parking lot. lighted trails for night riding !

i;d go there!

dang, want someone to tuck ya in too?

 

[boondocker05]

Imo

i for one have stayed at snowshoe 3 times and i love the place and the set up, its comfortable and a great place to relax after a long day of riding. i know for size of groups that come through are all over the board. i believe you get quite a bit of business cuz people will come south from bear and get gas and food from ya. i know one problem that was always an issue when we were there is the sauna never worked, haha...but the home cooked meals, tv, and more hooks in the cabins would be stellar! phone would be nice but i know from experience phone lines there are shotty at best, and i dont know what you can really do about that though.

cheap gas is always a plus and having tools available in the garage would be nice. every year we are there, there is bound to be a problem with one sled and having that garage is awesome but if we dont bring our own tool box in there is little we can do to try and fix our own sled instead of going to bear for repairs.

 

[revrider07]

We appreciate all the response, any bit of input is helpful. We are heading out there tomorrow for a few days to really dig in and get a handle on what we need and what is there. We are hoping to do a good job for everyone, so lets all cross our fingers for a snowy year and have some fun.

ps.....that strip club thing has my hubby really wondering .......good thing I am the voice of reason ....