Resort at Split Rock--question about units

[wackymother]

I've got a 2br Extra Vacation unit at the Resort at Split Rock on hold for a week in November. This is a low-demand week for the Poconos, so all those kind of borderline Poconos resorts are up on Extra Vacations.

I've reserved a unit for 11/5, a Sunday check-in. The page says this.

FRIDAY & SATURDAY CHECK IN UNITS HAVE STAIRS TO ACCESS & HAVE NO ELEVATOR AVAILABLE. UNITS WITH A SUNDAY CHECK IN ARE LOCATED IN THE HOTEL BUILDING & ARE ACCESSIBLE BY ELEVATOR.

I want to be very close to the activities at Split Rock--ideally walking distance, b/c I won't have a car for half the week.

Does anyone know...
Are the activities in the hotel?
Are the hotel 2br units terrible or better than the ones for Friday and Saturday checkin?
Are the hotel 2br units basically okay? (I'm not very picky.)
Has anyone been to Split Rock lately? I know the nice ones are the Westwood, but they're not available right now.

I would reserve at Shawnee, but they had flooding this summer and I'm not sure what it will be like there in November. I would reserve at the Villas at Fairway or the Villas at Tree Tops, but the reviews are really pretty horrible for those--I hear the 3brs at Fairway are the nice ones, but none of those is available right now. Should I wait and hope for a 3br Fairway unit or a Westwood Split Rock unit?

So many questions! Thanks for any info.

Best,

Wacky

 

[SuzieS]

I exchanged with II last year to Westwood at Split Rock (WSP), a 2 bdrm, full kitchen. We had a Saturday check in. We were not in the main building, but in a townhouse style unit. What a disaster!!!!!! The unit was very dated, old, dark and dingy. The water pressure was sad. There was no TV in the 2nd bedroom, the master bedroom was only a 14 inch. The carpets were worn and dirty (had to wear slippers to walk on carpet). The pool area was nothing spectacular, just a rectangle pool with chairs. There were activities at the pool like bingo. No vending machines, the small bathrooms were upstairs in a building that was not used anymore therefore it was not air conditioned which made it very hot and hard to breathe. They were always out of pool towels. We did not participate in any of the activies in the Galleria (the main check in area), however, there were some activities. The ice cream shop had a line up outside the door, because there was only one attendant. I would check with the resort exactly were you will be placed. I would never go back to the resort or the Poconos. I did a review for II and TUG, but the reveiw on TUG was not what I wrote, somehow all my words were changed. Good luck!!!!

 

[TJK]

Are the activities in the hotel?

Yes most activities are in the hotel.

Are the hotel 2br units terrible or better than the ones for Friday and Saturday checkin?
Are the hotel 2br units basically okay? (I'm not very picky.)

I think the F & Sat checkin units are Westwood Villas, where you need to climb stairs for access. We used a 2BR Galleria (hotel) unit in 2004 and they were nice. And best of all to get to the activities you just go downstairs.

Has anyone been to Split Rock lately? I know the nice ones are the Westwood, but they're not available right now.

Actually, the Westwood Villas are getting a little dated and require an uphill walk to the hotel. The Westbrook units are new and gorgeous, but nowhere near the hotel.
We love it at Split Rock, there are so many activities and the activities director, Doc, is fabulous.
Tom

 

[wackymother]

Thanks for the info--I'm thinking you mean Willowbrook?

I talked to the resort and the (very nice) lady there said that Sunday check-in could be anywhere. She said there's an on-demand shuttle, so if we don't mind waiting for the shuttle, we could stay in any unit, but the Galleria units are the ones in the main building where the activities and pool are.

She recommended the Willowbrook units and suggested we call after we get our RCI confirmation. Said the Willowbrooks are so nice we won't want to go home! Since the resort will not be very full (in November, no kidding) we should be able to get placed pretty much anywhere.

SusieS, I'm sorry you had such a terrible time at Split Rock. We were there years and years ago and liked it pretty well. We love the Poconos and find the area fun and relaxing, but I agree that none of the resorts (that I've seen, anyway) are what they could be and what timesharers expect in other areas.

 

[TJK]

Sorry, you're right...Willowbrook. They are real nice, but quite a distance from the Galleria. You won't need to worry about SuzieS' experience in the outdoor pool since you're going in Nov. I wonder if the water park will be done then?
Tom

 

[kaylasmom97]

We were at the Galleria 2 years ago. The room was dated and needed updating. We were located right above the receiving dock so every morning we heard the beeping of the semi trucks. They did have activities in the main building - indoor pool, hot tub, bowling alley and a movie theater. Yes the resort needs some updating. We had an elevator since we were in the main building. Would I go back? Probably just because we like the area.

 

[wackymother]

News flash--I called the resort again (I'm a pain) and spoke to reservations. Willowbrook trades only through II. What's up with that? The old part of the resort is good enough for RCI, but the nice new part is reserved for II? Sigh.