Soda Butte Lodge - Cooke City

From the moment we walked up the stairs to our rooms, I noticed the dirt and neglect. The carpeted stairs, hallways, and rooms clearly hadn't been vacuumed in ages. Looking up, I could see missing ceiling tiles, as well as stained and sagging ones. While I could overlook the outdated 1950s bedspread, the stained, torn sheets that were inside out were simply unacceptable. We even found hair and some bugs in the beds! When I requested clean sheets, instead of apologizing, a non-English speaking man, with the help of a translator, just made excuses. The rooms were hot, and despite having an open window and a fan running all night, they remained stuffy. The lack of dusting would be a nightmare for anyone with allergies. When I asked for a glass of water, they told me to drink from the sink since they didn't have bottled water, even though the vending machines were out of order. When I inquired about the ice machine, I was told that I had to ask for ice at the front desk. The bathroom situation was just as bad. The sink faucet sprayed water everywhere because it wasn't the right type for that sink. The tub and shower weren't any cleaner. This location, which is one of the few restaurants in this historic little town, doesn't even provide breakfast—not even a muffin! When we asked where we could grab a bite to eat before heading back into the park, they suggested the gas station next door... seriously!? We certainly won't be stopping in Cooke City anytime soon. A central location in such a small town providing such poor service can really impact nearby businesses. I don't even want to return in the near future. I used to look forward to our annual drive once the Beartooth Highway opened, stopping for lunch at Soda Butte, but now the restaurant serves Indian food and I’m not interested. If they keep the kitchen as dirty as the rest of the hotel, I can only imagine how unappetizing it would be.

The Wi-Fi connection was quite difficult to access and maintain. The rooms were a decent size, but the bathrooms were rather cramped. The floors felt unclean when walking barefoot. The beds were uncomfortable, with a noticeable dip in the middle that made me feel like I was rolling downhill throughout the night. There is an adorable general store across the street, along with a café that offers good food, though it's quite pricey. I didn't dine at the hotel's restaurant. While you can't control your noisy neighbors, I could hear the people upstairs stomping around all night. The building itself is older, which contributes to the overall experience.

My experience at this hotel was absolutely horrendous. The carpet was filthy, covered in dirt, grit, and stains. To make matters worse, I found a pubic hair in my sheets, which clearly indicated that they don’t launder the bedding after each guest's stay. The furniture was neglected, with layers of dust and chips everywhere. The walls were in disrepair, with chunks of paint and plaster missing. Our door didn’t even fit properly in the frame, allowing people to look directly into our room. The management seemed completely clueless about customer service. They spoke very broken English, possibly Pakistani or Indian. To top it off, there was no air conditioning, no hairdryer, and no coffee in the room. You could get coffee in the reception area, but once it was gone, they simply said it was broken and wouldn’t refill it. I wouldn’t recommend doing laundry here, as the room was not only disgusting but also had a terrible smell. We checked out at 9 AM, and there was absolutely no one around—no reception staff and no cleaning crew visible anywhere in the hotel. The rate of $190 per night was a total rip-off. Honestly, I would have been better off sleeping on a park bench; it would have been cleaner!

Extremely poor communication and customer experience! I made a reservation in April 2023, but my plans changed. After at least ten phone calls and six emails, I finally managed to cancel my booking due to my travel changes. No one answers the phone, and the website is unhelpful. Overall, a very disappointing customer experience!

The only people who should visit this place are sanitation inspectors. It’s an absolute dive. The rooms are filthy, with dirty carpets. The sheets are stained and unclean. The bathroom is revolting. Clearly, no one at this hotel cares about its upkeep. It seems like the owner is just pocketing whatever money they can make. Additionally, very few staff members speak English.