We arrived quite late after driving from vegas but had no problems checking in. Our Accommodation was ok a little dated, unfortunately no hot water the first morning but we rang reception and it was sorted for the rest of our visit. Sadly we encountered a very rude barman so only had one drink and left. Shop is quite expensive. The location is absolutely perfect.

Overall we were very happy with our stay in the cottages. We got a good deal for Cyber Monday and booked for the off season. We saw very few other Ranch guests while we were here. The beds were very comfortable and the cottages were clean, except for the floor near the front door, but that was unsurprising in a desert environment. The pool was dated, but still worth an afternoon dip after a long morning hiking. The restaurants were generally good, although expensive. We ate most meals at the buffet, and only had one disappointing meal there. We tried to eat at the saloon once but it turned out to be Super Bowl Sunday and they randomly changed their hours and the menu without notice (they switched to only small bites and no entrees), so that was frustrating. The ice cream was delicious. We loved the park in general and can't wait to go back and would definitely stay here again.

The front desk staff, Navi and Mr Augelle, were most helpful in accommodating our special needs. The new kitchen manager is successfully working to bring improvements to the cafeteria. Plenty of shower water and clean rooms with working air conditioner. Interesting borax museum exhibit and displays. Well-decorated and maintained grounds and interesting art on every wall. Not as fancy as The Inn, located 1/2 mile South, but a better value.

While I respect the situations of all that have left sorta negative reviews, mine won't be. We went out late April after boondocking in Beatty for a night. I've spent many moons in Death Valley having lived in Vegas for years. However I'd never spent any time in Furnace Creek. This year my and my fiancee decided to play. We aren't rich. We have a tiny camper, with which we stayed in Fiddler's Campground for three nights. It was absolutely wonderful with bathrooms, garbage, and a commercial sink right behind our campsite (1207...get it!). On day 4 we decided to splurge and get a room. Yes it's terrible expensive, yes you feel like you're in an airport buying stuff. But you're in Death Valley. You drove there....you know how far stuff has to go to get there. Everything is is twice the price. So plan ahead. I'll leave the unbelievable beauty of the Valley to another post. The stay was fantastic. And the isolation within the Oasis is a bonus. No one bugs you, harasses you....if you need help ask for it. The pool and open area near thereby is fantastic. The ice cream parlor was a treat, the food in the restaurant was great (from what I remember), everything was clean and cleaned reliably, and there was a variety of different people there (mostly French in April). I can't recommend people on a massive budget to take advantage of the hotel offerings...the campground however is great ($30/night). But if you are willing to splurge, it's otherworldly. I'm not one to review anything, but this old friend really put a smile on my face. Thank you.

Death Valley is wonderful. The question is whether staying at a lodge inside the park is worth the money. It's definitely worth it at Yosemite Valley Lodge, Zion National Park Lodge, and the Grand Canyon. To stay outside the park at these places and then schlep in and out makes the experience much less wonderful. However, Death Valley National Park is huge. You're going to need to drive to get to most of the scenic places, such as Zabriskie Point, Artist's Palette, Golden Canyon trail, and the dunes. So staying in Stovepipe Wells, about a half hour away, isn't such a big deal and the food choices are a lot better. Location is not a reason to stay at the Ranch. That said, it's an attractive lodge with a wonderful view. The breakfasts at the other lodge, the fancier one, the Inn at Death Valley, are not that expensive and are very good indeed. We didn't want to spring for the very expensive dinner there. The buffet at The Last Kind Words Saloon was pretty good, especially if you like to be able to eat a lot. But you pay a lot as well. Another great feature of the Ranch is the lovely swimming pool with a great view. The water in May, however, was bathtub warm, hardly refreshing. We drove to Stovepipe Wells for one dinner, and made use of the General Store for two lunches and one dinner. That's not a bad option. The beds at the Lodge are comfortable and the room is large. But the toilet paper holder was missing a rod and that never got fixed, despite my telling the front desk and a mail. There's only one chair on the veranda, despite it being a double room. The wifi is surprisingly good. We're glad we came but if we were to come back, we'd probably stay in a motel in Stovepipe Wells for half the price.