Deer Ridge Lodge, Cassville, MO

"We carefully selected this destination because of its pet-friendly policy, allowing us to bring along our Labradors. Upon our arrival, we were warmly greeted by the hostess, accompanied by one of her two dogs freely exploring the property. As my husband stepped out of the vehicle, he engaged in a conversation with the host, who surprisingly informed him that we would be renting the walkout basement apartment beneath her own residence. To our astonishment, Kim then requested that everyone, including our dogs, exit the vehicle and join her in the suite.During this exchange, we noticed a second dog observing us from the screened porch attached to her part of the house. After a tour of the apartment, we were repeatedly reminded of what we were not allowed to do, accompanied by cautionary tales of past guests' foolishness and the subsequent fees they had incurred. Kim's presence lingered longer than necessary, and she even scolded my 15-year-old for innocently tinkering with the weights on the provided exercise equipment.Once the awkward welcome was over and Kim had left the apartment, I decided to let my dogs out to relieve themselves and explore the surroundings. However, it didn't take long for us to be approached once again by the host, the dog we had initially met, and the dog that had been locked up. This time, Kim resumed barking orders and addressing us as if we were incapable of understanding simple instructions.To our surprise, we discovered that the hot tub, located a few yards from the apartment, had strict rules. Only two people were allowed in at a time, and any damage caused by overflowing water would result in financial responsibility. Furthermore, the hot tub was shared with other guests on the property. Out of nowhere, the second dog lunged and bit one of our dogs, prompting a frantic rush to separate them and ensure their safety.Kim displayed a concerning lack of understanding regarding the dangerous and unacceptable situation at hand. It was clear that she had failed to inform guests on her listing about the presence of dogs on the property, their freedom to roam, and the absence of a fenced area to protect one's own animals in case of any conflicts. When confronted about these inconsistencies, she became defensive and refused to acknowledge any wrongdoing.Realizing the potential risks and the unlikelihood of finding alternative accommodations in such a popular area on short notice, we immediately requested a refund. However, Kim informed us that she was unable to assist and directed us to contact the third-party platform through which she had listed the property. In an attempt to find a resolution, we even proposed the removal of her own dogs from the premises, but this suggestion was met with refusal.After leaving the property, we promptly made the necessary phone call to the third-party platform, only to be informed that we would need to seek a refund directly from the owner. We reached out to Kim multiple times, but received no response. Regrettably, we have yet to receive a refund, and Kim has also ignored the requests made by the third-party platform.It is crucial for the safety and well-being of all guests that accurate and comprehensive information is provided when advertising a secluded, dog-friendly cabin. Failure to disclose the presence of dogs on the property can lead to potentially dangerous situations, especially if some guests' dogs are not friendly towards others.It is important to note that this host seems to have a recurring issue with handling criticism and addressing concerns about the inconsistencies in her listing. While she has received mostly positive reviews on various platforms, there are negative reviews that highlight her offensive behavior in response to such feedback. It appears that she takes great pride in the house her family built, but struggles to separate her personal attachment from running a professional business.Her unwillingness to admit fault and her lack of communication with dissatisfied guests is unprofessional."

"I've never had a worse experience with lodging. Booked the place for five nights and was required to pay completely in advance through PayPal, which I thought was odd. She kept texting and emailing that I needed to pay or I would loose my reservation. We got a lame receipt that had no dates on it, but I knew where the place was and paid for the invoice in Feb. Upon arrival we were greated by her dogs, not her. She had given me a code to enter, so upon arrival , I try the code on the entrance gate... Turns out it isn't locked but closed. So we start our vacation and she begins to harass us about the gate the parking there we put our trash etc. There was some issue everyday. Upon our final day there, she texts me that I am to be out by 11. I tell her I had planned on that night that there must be some mistake. She begins talking over me threatening extra charges not listening , you know the type . Of course within 5 minutes she throws me off her property and calls the police. When they arrived she shows them some paper and they say I have to leave and recommend contacting BBB because this has happened before. After we cancel the last day of our vacation we stopped for Ice at the local store and happened to mention our ordeal to the cashier and she says "oh we all know her, she's crazy". I couldn't agree more. The unit that she rents is in good condition but the part that she lives in(upstairs )is in very poor condition with a little hoarding going on. So yes she is upstairs the whole time . With cameras and her looking out the windows all the time. We set some trash out the door and the dogs she lets run around the place got into it and she threatened us with charges if we didn't come and pick it up. She was right there! It was her dogs! Beware this woman acts mentally disturbed. I still haven't received a detailed invoice . Just a Paypal statement kind of thing"

"We had a wonderful experience at deer ridge! Kim was super helpful with anything we needed and was always available. The place itself was so nice, we especially LOVED the screened porch! Lots of seating areas outdoors and fun things to do available everywhere. We usually camp at roaring river as our tradition but everything was booked, so we were very blessed to find this place...very short drive to the river and hiking opportunities that we love. Also, dont let the "mini kitchen" fool you, she had everything we possibly needed to cook our own meals and 3 mini fridges throughout the house really helped us. She also had fresh eggs and hard boiled eggs and yummy breakfast options there ready for us which was an awesome and special touch! Definitely recommend, we will certainly be back!"

"I stayed at Deer Ridge over my wedding weekend and I had a wonderful stay! If you are looking for a secluded place to get away and destress this is the place for you. It was very clean and Kim was a very kind host. She was kind enough to show us around, but also knew not to hover. I would love to return here to stay again some day. I very much recommend staying here!"

"We really enjoyed our stay. Kim was easy to coordinate with. The place was clean. There was so much to do indoors which was neat. There were books, fun indoor games, exercise equipment, 2 outdoor fireplaces and outdoor games too. We enjoyed watching the sunrise one morning on the outdoor patio with gas heater and blankets provided. There is a BBQ on site, and small fridge and cook top in the kitchenette. Coffee provided was delicious. I brought travel shampoo with me, but ran out. The shampoo provided smelled divine, as did the soap. The hot water in the showers and sinks were amazing after being in the cold outside adventuring all day. We had a great stay. Great views during the winter through the trees of the Valley below the Ridge. Would def stay here again when visiting the area."