A perfect Family Reunion or group Retreat

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Overview
Amenities
Policies
Location
Host

Wonderful

10 bedrooms8+ bathroomsSleeps 36743.2 sq m

Popular amenities

Parking available
Breakfast available
Air conditioning
Fireplace
Barbecue grill
Kitchen

Explore the area

Wattsburg, PA

Wilderness Lodge
‪1 min walk‬
Peek'n Peak Ski Resort
‪17 min drive‬
Lake Erie Speedway
‪21 min drive‬
Erie, PA (ERI-Erie Intl.)
‪48 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

10 bedrooms (sleeps 36)

Bedroom 1

4 Single Beds and 1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Double Bed and 1 Single Bed

Bedroom 3

1 Queen Bed and 2 Single Beds

Bedroom 4

5 Single Beds

Bedroom 5

1 Queen Bed and 2 Single Beds

Bedroom 6

1 Single Bed and 1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 7

4 Single Beds and 1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 8

1 Single Bed and 1 Double Bed

Bedroom 9

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 10

1 Queen Bed

8 bathrooms, 2 half bathrooms

Bathroom in room 4

Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom in room 5

Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom in room 6

Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom in room 7

Towels provided · Bathtub · Toilet

Bathroom in room 10

Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom in Room 3

Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom In room 2

Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only

Downstairs Men's

Toilet

Downstairs Women's

Toilet

Upstairs Hallway Bathroom

Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio

Kitchen

Separate dining area

Garden

About this property

The Wilderness Lodge was founded in 1969 by James and Nansi Janes (my grandparents). Jim wanted to create a unique place in the image of a european style inn. As you enter the lodge you are greeted by the main dining room and a huge round fireplace. The natural rustic feel of the hand hewn beams with the granite floor and bar instantly feel as though you have stepped back in time. There are 9 available guest rooms with a max capacity of 31. There are 7 bathrooms in the upstairs and 2 downstairs. In order to properly care for this huge property, I (Ryan), my wife Emily, and our 3 children live here on property in a separate residence that is attached to the Inn. Not only am I able to help guide you to local activities and attractions, I am also available to be your private Chef during your stay your stay so please inquire about menu options when you book. The Kitchen was fully upgraded in January 2015 with a Vulcan Convection oven and 6 burner top, Vulcan IR Salamander Broiler, Garland 36" flat top with a conventional oven and a commercial dish machine.
There is a huge selection of area attractions to fill your days. We are close to multiple wineries in the North east Area as well as a couple of fantastic brewpubs such as Southern Tier, Voodoo, and Sprague Farms. The Beaches of Presque Isle and Bemus point are both easy drives. There are 3 Casinos within an hour. When you book the Lodge for your stay you will have the entire place to yourself including all of the grounds and a full commercial kitchen. The lodge sits on 350 acres of private land and the trail network expands over 1200 acres including the neighbor property that we manaintain. Enjoy hiking on 26 miles of groomed trail, fishing in the pond, or shooting on our private ranges. (10yd, 50yd, 100yd,) There are frequently deer at the feeders in the back yard and the nights here are even more beautiful than the days because of our extremely low level of light pollution. On a clear night literally millions of stars are visible. There is a stocked fishing pond on the property (no barbed hooks please) and it is also fun to go and feed the collection of Japanese Koi. There are multiple campsites and fire pits spread around the property as well. Please allow us to prepare your group a picnic lunch and deliver it to any spot on the property that you choose.

Property manager

Ryan Janes

Premier Host

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen

Free WiFi

Air conditioning

Outdoor space

Breakfast available

Parking available

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Pool
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Washer
Dryer

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM

Minimum age to rent: 25

Check out before 11:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17

Events

Events allowed: family gatherings and weddings

Pets

No pets allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

The kitchen is to be cleaned back to the standard of your arrival including the flat top and all dish ware. A commercial washer is provided.

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy

Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges

Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed

Parties and events (including family gatherings and weddings) are allowed on site. Maximum attendees: 99

Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip

Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property

Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock

We should mention

A car is required for transport to and from this property

About the area

Wattsburg

Located in Wattsburg, this holiday home is in a rural area. Lake Shore Railway Museum and North East Historical Society are cultural highlights, and some of the area's attractions include Wilderness Lodge and Erie County Fairgrounds. Travelling with kids? Consider Burch Farms Country Market, or check out an event or a game at Lake Erie Speedway. Enjoy the area's slopes with skiing, and don't miss out on the sledging.

Wattsburg, PA

What's nearby

Wilderness Lodge - 1 min walk - 0.2 km
Peek'n Peak Ski Resort - 17 min drive - 8.3 km
Lake Erie Speedway - 21 min drive - 14.8 km
Splash Lagoon - 31 min drive - 33.4 km
Presque Isle Downs and Casino - 34 min drive - 29.8 km

Getting around

Erie Station - 33 min drive
Erie, PA (ERI-Erie Intl.) - 48 min drive

Restaurants

‪Alexander's - ‬17 min drive
‪Pine Junction - ‬24 min drive
‪French Creek Tavern & Liquors - ‬15 min drive
‪Bistro 210 - ‬14 min drive
‪Gazebo Grill - ‬14 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is A perfect Family Reunion or group Retreat pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at A perfect Family Reunion or group Retreat?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at A perfect Family Reunion or group Retreat?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is A perfect Family Reunion or group Retreat located?

Set amidst the mountains, this ski-in/ski-out holiday home in Wattsburg is steps from Wilderness Lodge and within 6 mi (10 km) of Peek'n Peak Ski Resort and Erie County Fairgrounds. Lowville Lake and Della Bayle Recreation Area are also within 6 miles (10 km).

9.2

Wonderful

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.

Learn more

8.8/10

Cleanliness

9.6/10

Check-in

9.0/10

Communication

9.6/10

Location

9.0/10

Listing accuracy

10/10 Excellent

Denise H.

19 August 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wilderness Lodge

It was a great spot for our family reunion. It had space for everyone.

Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

keith k.

10 July 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Greatest week ever

We enjoyed everything, and Rayan was a very understanding owner

Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Lynn L., Arcade

25 November 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Memorable family reunion

Perfect property for a family reunion! It accommodated 17 people very comfortably.Fireplace and commercial kitchen were a plus!

Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

John B.

18 June 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Becoming our Annual Retreat

Our regular summer place wasn't available last year, so we tried the Wilderness Lodge. It was great. This is our second year coming back and likely to become our new summer tradition. Thank you!

Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Amy L.

27 January 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A true lodge experience

The kitchen is huge and well equipped, lots of space to spread out, and the many bedrooms gave each family group their own private space. It’s an easy drive to the ski slopes and worked wonderfully for our large group! The rustic decor is extra fun and we’d gladly stay there again!!!

Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2023

10/10 Excellent

Matthew J.

2 August 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great stay for our Youth Group Retreat!

Our church Youth Group Retreat went fantastic here! There was plenty of room for everyone, plenty of space and opportunity for games. The kitchen (especially the stove top and the industrial dishwasher) were amazing for quickly cook up food and cleaning up afterwards. Ryan was always prompt in getting back to us when we had questions. We would definitely stay again and recommend for others!

Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Peter K.

2 January 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Winter family get-together

Very roomy, even for our extended family of 9 adults and 12 children. The kids had plenty of room to romp, and the rustic furniture and decor meant they couldn't really break or ruin anything. The commercial-style kitchen made it easy to crank out meals for a large group (the dishwasher was awesome!). The owner was prompt and helpful in clearing up a few small glitches with the water system caused by the extremely cold weather.

Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2022

8/10 Good

l a.

12 August 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Family Reunion gathering

We stayed here for a week with extended family. The checkin process was pretty straight forward. Communication prior to stay was better than during, but not worth complaining about. Pretty much, for the price, not a bad place to stay. Definitely an older building, and smells like it)) the kitchen is nice, but depending what the meals, better to bring your own tools)) laundry is not available for guests, a bit of an inconvenience, especially if the group is larger and wet lothing jeeds washed.. but with all that said, you get what you pay for, and we still had a great time, as the goal was to spend time with family, and the property has plenty of space for such a group. Would consider coming again.

Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Joe M.

29 February 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great rustic spot

We celebrated my 40th bday with 30 friends and family. The lodge is great for a big group of varying ages. It is accurately depicted in the pictures; you don't get other amenities - I was hoping they would have a foosball or ping pong table.The kitchen is indeed fully stocked -- all the cooking surfaces, coffee pots, pots, pans, knives, silverware, plates, etc you could need. The grounds were nicer than expected. I'm sure it's a great place to cross country ski -- wasn't enough snow for us. Only small hiccup was communication. It took a few days to hear back, and the recommended caterer never called back. Worked better when I looked up the number and called the Lodge directly. All in all -- a great rustic place to gather with a big group of friends and family. -Joe

Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2024

8/10 Good

Judith M.

3 March 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect Lodging for our group of 31

Our group has stayed at this location many times over the last few decades! This was the first time we rented the ENTIRE LODGE, which includes the commercial kitchen for us to prepare our own meals. This was fantastic once we figured out all of the quirks of the appliances. I think that a laminated instruction sheet for the ovens, stove, broiler, and dishwasher would be a tremendous help for future guests. The beds were comfy and all linens and towels were clean and included. We enjoyed hanging out in the bar / dining area playing games and listening to our friends play the piano! The fire place is FANTASTIC and the rustic atmosphere is cozy and perfect for our large outdoorsy group. We had hoped to have a weekend full of Nordic Adventures... however Mother Nature did not provide enough of the fluffy white stuff. That did not keep us from having a great time! We hiked every day - so many places with in an hour drive: state parks, lakes, antique shops, breweries, wineries etc. I highly recommend this Lovely Family Owned Lodge for large groups looking for a rustic adventure :)

Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2023

8/10 Good

Colin H.

29 March 2025

Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Daniel S.

19 October 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A perfect getaway for a family retreat

This is our second stay at this property and between the pro kitchen, the ample sleeping and eating space and the 2 fire pits for relaxing sit down with everyone, this is a perfect property for a group outing. Could not recommend it enough!

Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Jimmy D.

14 August 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Family getaway

Nice location away from a lot of houses and people but close to activities and dining

Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2022

8/10 Good

Pat W.

11 August 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, location, listing accuracy

Happy travelers

Or overall experience was excellent. We have reserved the Wilderness Lodge for our 2026 reunion. That should give you a good indication of our satisfaction. The location, the grounds, the vastness of the building with plenty of bedrooms and bathrooms, and the large common room made for enjoyable interaction for our thirty people. We had fun at the patio fire pit and the large back yard. Our vote for a return was unanimous.

Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

8/10 Good

Melanie M.

27 July 2022

Liked: Check-in, location, listing accuracy

Old fashioned, but plenty of room

The size of the property was ideal for our large gathering, though the industrial sized kitchen did take some time to get accustomed to working in. Beware, as it is in the country, you'll want to store all food in the fridge/freezer. We had mice get into bread bags the first night. There was also a day when some caretakers walked in to clean an apartment attached to the home. This would have been fine had we known in advance it was going to happen, but it was uncomfortable to have them just walk in and their children going through our space, and not knowing if they were there to stay or what. (In the end they were only there cleaning for 2 hours, but not knowing what was going on made us feel anxious)

Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2022

4/10 Poor

Jason G.

28 September 2021

Liked: Check-in, communication, location

Disliked: Cleanliness, listing accuracy

Disappointing in many areas

Upon arriving to the property we found that one bathroom was out of order. The toilet had been removed and the bedroom smelled so badly that we couldn't use it at all. There was no kind of internet or cable. We found out when we got there that the caretakers lived in an apartment directly connected to the rental and they in turn walked into and through the rental numerous times. They had access to our living space at all times. There was even a door that led from their house into one of the bathrooms. There was no lock on our side. When we used the bathroom we found their personal toiletries in the medicine cabinet. We felt very unsafe and our privacy invaded. I attempted to contact the owner with my concerns but he has just ignored them.

Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2021

8/10 Good

Tin P.

27 July 2021

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location

Nice and quiet

Our family enjoyed the time we stayed at the home, lot of room for out door activity. We brought our fishing equipment but have no use for it( no where to fish). Bathrooms very small. Great place for large family reunion. But you better have all the supplies you need because everything is 30 to 40 minutes away.

Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Ian M.

26 July 2021

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Seven Families + Kids had a great time!

We had a group of families from Pittsburgh stay for the week and had a blast, plenty of beds for everyone and space for meals. Lots of outdoor space for kids to run around and trails to explore. Very convenient location for destination outings like Erie, Chautauqua, etc. Property owner was excellent with communications and accommodations for our group.

Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2021

6/10 Okay

Roena C.

31 July 2020

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Disliked: Cleanliness

family getaway

Our trip could have been ruined right from the start but Ryan and his family jumped into action and made sure that we were able to use the lodge and enjoy our time together. The lodge had not been cleaned from the previous renters and Ryan was clearly upset that his cleaning company had failed to do the job. He called in his family and friends and in 3.5 hours the place was notably cleaner and we could start our time together as a family. He also offered us a 50% discount for the inconvenience which I accepted. The lodge is in a secluded area and the outside is well groomed. The 10 bedrooms were plenty of space for our children and grandchildren to use and the many private bathrooms were great as well. There is a small playground area for the smaller children which was utilized a lot that is not listed on the property description. The industrial cook top was great for preparing meals for 23 people and there is a large grill outside.for cooking as well. Many hours were spent outside around the fire ring which is located on a beautiful flagstone patio. After a very rocky start we had a great time.

Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2020

10/10 Excellent

Daniel S.

22 October 2019

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great for big groups that like to cook

With a professional kitchen, a full bar, and a full lodge for seating, this is the ideal place to get some time away from civilization with a big group, or with extended family. The 2 fire pits make every evening an opportunity to sit under the stars and roast marshmallows with the kids. A dear snuck up on us and made my friend pee a little. Best night ever.

Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2019

6/10 Okay

Janet F.

27 September 2019

Liked: Cleanliness, listing accuracy

Disliked: Check-in, communication

Wattsburg

We were a little disappointed that nobody greeted us and no communication at all with property owners

10/10 Excellent

Mike L.

10 July 2019

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Family Reunion at Wilderness Lodge

Our family reunion included 14 adults and 17 children... The lodge more than accommodated our needs for meals, games, and social time... The property is huge and we took advantage of the hiking trails, grassy areas for Ultimate and Kubb, and one of the two fire pits for an evening campfire... I highly recommend the Wilderness Lodge for large family gatherings...

10/10 Excellent

Brian W.

17 March 2019

Spring Break Retreat

We used Wilderness Lodge for our college spring break retreat, and we had a great time. The area received a surprise snowfall the week before we arrived, so Ryan had to open the lodge our first day there (Saturday). He offered to cook all our meals that day and get us a discount on skiing to make up for it. The students had a blast, as none of us had ever attempted cross country skiing! Sunday-Friday we had the whole place to ourselves. Plenty of space to spread out. The pictures don't do justice to the ambiance of the lodge. Ryan was super easy to work with, and even spent some time in the kitchen on Sunday helping out the students on cooking crew. He was very willing to help or just leave us be, whichever we wanted/needed.

Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2019

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

8/10 Good

colleen p.

25 August 2017

Rustic

This was a departure from the lake homes we and our 6 children and their families rent each yr. We did miss the water, but found that this property provided plenty of opportunity for exploration, family soccer games and good times around the fire pit. The accommodations are much more rustic than we are accustomed to. We loved the many bedrooms and bathrooms. They were clean, comfortable and adequate. Most had a room ac. Decor is dated and ecclectic. The living area is truly a lodge with bar/restaurant set up. The couch area is very small, but it suited us to have so many tables for games, puzzles, snacks and meals. The ice maker was the best. No AC but fans were adequate. It's perfect for late night hide and go seek. The owner lives on-site and was helpful and very personable. There is much to see and do if you're inclined to day trips.

Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2017

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

8/10 Good

Marjorie S.

3 December 2016

A Great Place for our Early Christmas Reunion!

Wilderness Lodge was a fun venue for our family's early Christmas celebration. Even the "White Christmas" blizzard arrived on cue! Ryan, the owner, catered a delicious Italian dinner for the evening of our arrival which made it easy and fun for all of us. The Lodge has a wonderful gathering room with a huge wood-burning fire pit, and lots of room to spread out. The caution I would advise is that this is a place best suited for YOUNG, nimble guests. The bedrooms are located on the second floor requiring a fairly long, steep staircase assent. Also, the en suite bathrooms are EXTREMELY small and almost impossible for a tall, long-legged or large person to maneuver in - definitely not accessible to a handicapped individual. We were only there for three nights so the two seniors in our party did manage, but If mobility is an issue with anyone in your party I would suggest you consider carefully. Thank you Ryan for ALL your help and we wish you continued success with your Wilderness Lodge!

Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2016

About the host

Hosted by Ryan Janes

The lodge has always been a part of my life. Although I have lived in Meadville, Pittsburgh, London and elsewhere, the lodge has always been the center of my heart. I live in an apartment on property with by amazing wife Emily and our 3 children. In addition to running the Lodge we also operate a free range beef and chicken ranch on the property. I am a 2000 graduate of Allegheny College and a lifetime outdoor enthusiast. I am also available if desired to teach classes in woodcraft and sustainable forestry.

Why they chose this property

I have always known that the Wilderness Lodge is a one of a kind place. It is hard to put into words the unique nature of this place but I can say this much. There is nothin quite like it and once you experience it you will be back. The vast majority of out guests have been coming for 10 years or more, some as many as 30 years.

What makes this property unique

Fireplaces
Bar
Commercial Kitchen
Beautiful Woodlands
Fishing Pond
Bocce
Hiking
Birdwatching
Hunting

This is the perfect place for a family of outdoor enthusiasts.

Here on property we also run a Free Range beef and chicken ranch called Wilderness Free Range. We ethically raise cattle and poultry with a state of the art rotational grazing system and acres of open pasture. There is a lot of pride in bringing the highest quality products to market with no antibiotics, added hormones, and no feed lots.

Languages:

English

Premier Host

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A perfect Family Reunion or group Retreat

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Reviews

Popular amenities

Explore the area

Rooms & beds

10 bedrooms (sleeps 36)

Bedroom 1

Bedroom 2

Bedroom 3

Bedroom 4

Bedroom 5

Bedroom 6

Bedroom 7

Bedroom 8

Bedroom 9

Bedroom 10

8 bathrooms, 2 half bathrooms

Bathroom in room 4

Bathroom in room 5

Bathroom in room 6

Bathroom in room 7

Bathroom in room 10

Bathroom in Room 3

Bathroom In room 2

Downstairs Men's

Downstairs Women's

Upstairs Hallway Bathroom

Spaces

About this property