The Omni Homestead Resort

The Omni Homestead is truly a piece of history and we enjoyed exploring the grounds and the architecture. This is not a new place by any means so do keep that in mind if you are looking for a "fresh and new" sort of place. We were on the 10th floor which is actually below the lobby level. Our suite had a tub/shower combo and a pedestal sink which was to be shared with 5 people. There was a living room in our suite but no door to close off to the bedroom (warning for families with kids). I would caution families traveling with kids to reach out to the hotel in advance to check their current kid-friendly activities and amenities, as many were unavailable- expect to pay for activities you choose to do. The bowling lanes were completely closed while we were there and the arcade can barely be called one (you do have to pay to play, unlike some other resorts that provide this as complimentary). Many of the games were broken and/or empty of prizes(claw machines) and looked like they hadn't been refilled or serviced in quite some time. The prize machine for the tickets you win was also broken. While the bowling/arcade was not a major reason for going, it was something we were counting on to do between other activities. The zip lines/rope climbing were both closed and the concierge told me the rope climbing hadn't been available in months(seemed as though it was not going to return to opening). We did enjoy pickleball($), archery($), putt-putt($), the pools, and yard games. -They recommend you reserve a court for pickleball but we were the only ones ever playing when we went (there are several courts). -The toddler pool is not heated but has fun water activities, the lazy river/main pool are both heated. The lazy river has 3 slides total- two which slide into a small pool where you can choose to get out of slide down a new slide directly into the lazy river. -For mid June, the pools were not overly busy and the poolside food and service were both fantastic. We spent most of our time at the pools! -All restaurants had great food options that did not repeat each other-including the kids menus. -We enjoyed the social/cocktail hour 3-4PM where you can have drinks and cake and enjoy a pianist playing -Movie night each night in the theater @ 6:30- kid friendly and @ 8:30- adults, the Omni provides complimentary water and popcorn. While we enjoyed our time, I can't say it is on my top "I want to return to" list. It is an easy choice and driving distance to us, so we will keep it in mind for those reasons. We have stayed at other top resorts that typically include many of the activities we had to pay for (putt-putt, arcade, archery, s'mores), but also know it is par for the course when staying at a resort that holds many of its own activities.

“Resort” amenities not up to par / expectations. Warm beers, cocktails not made properly, inattentive staff. Food was ok but main restaurant only had a buffet one night.

There were some positive aspects of our stay, particularly the courteous staff at the Serenity Garden and Jefferson’s Restaurant. Unfortunately, the overall experience was undermined by poor communication and disorganization. I paid extra for a noon early check-in, but the room was not ready until nearly 3:00 p.m., and no one contacted us as promised. The fee was removed only after I requested it. Our room was also not serviced the following day, even though we had not declined housekeeping. The late-checkout process was even more concerning. While we were still occupying the room before our approved 3:00 p.m. checkout time, a bellman entered with a master key and placed the next guests’ luggage inside. Later, the hotel called to say that we had left luggage behind, even though it belonged to those incoming guests. The early check-in and late-checkout system does not appear to be communicated effectively among hotel departments. The Serenity Garden experience was generally enjoyable, but rules regarding cellphones, food, and pool use were not consistently enforced. The entrance flooring also needs repair. At Jefferson’s Restaurant, the service was good, although the Cornish hen was underseasoned and the crème brûlée was warm, thin, and over-caramelized. The bed and pillows also lacked adequate support, and a wedge-pillow option would be helpful. Overall, several employees were courteous and professional, but the hotel needs to improve communication, housekeeping consistency, room-access procedures, and coordination between departments.

Bellman John was extremely helpful. First class place with activities for everyone. Would highly recommend a visit. Great place to relax.

I was extremely disappointed with the overall experience, particularly the food and beverage service, operational issues, and resort amenities. Our frustrations began upon arrival. We waited approximately 25 minutes just to pull in and unload our car because other guests were loading their vehicles and occupying the unloading area. Staff should have directed those vehicles to pull forward so arriving guests could access the area and keep traffic moving. It created unnecessary congestion and set a poor first impression. Service was consistently poor throughout the property, including the pool, Woody’s, the new café, and Alleghany Café. We experienced multiple incorrect orders and excessive wait times, often exceeding an hour. When food did arrive, the quality and taste were consistently below expectations. Our experience at Woody’s was especially frustrating. Our order was entered incorrectly three separate times, resulting in significant delays. The manager was exceptionally rude and appeared inconvenienced when, after an extended wait, I finally said, “Just give me whatever that is and we’ll eat it.” One of my children had low blood sugar and had already been waiting more than 90 minutes for food, yet even then the correct meal was still not provided. The lack of urgency, empathy, and customer service in that situation was unacceptable. The pool bar was equally disappointing. The frozen drinks were poorly made, and for several consecutive days only margarita and mango options were available because the resort was out of piña colada mix and several other ingredients. It was frustrating to see so many menu items unavailable for such an extended period. The pool facilities were another major disappointment. The lazy river was visibly dirty and was closed at 3:00 p.m. due to insufficient staffing. This is unacceptable during the summer season, especially at a resort filled with families and children who specifically come to enjoy amenities like the lazy river. Whether it was a weekend or weekday is irrelevant—you had paying guests on property who expected access to the amenities being advertised. The hot tub was equally dirty, raising concerns about the overall maintenance and cleanliness of the pool facilities. In addition, numerous amenities were out of service during our stay. The game room was partially unavailable, including major attractions such as the bowling alley and the prize redemption area. Several elevators were also out of service, and the main elevators repeatedly stopped on the 15th floor for two to three minutes with guests inside before continuing. While the grounds and recent upgrades are beautiful, those improvements are overshadowed by poor food quality, inadequate staffing, inventory shortages, cleanliness concerns, and consistently poor service. The overall experience did not meet the standards of a premium resort, and guests should not be expected to pay these prices for such subpar food, service, and amenities. Unless these issues are addressed, I do not see how the resort will retain returning guests.