HotelChatter

Given the number of thumbs-down reviews on Tripadvisor, we are in a huge minority just for thinking this place has some redeeming value. Ok, the rooms weren't great. But it was just for a night.

We picked this place because it's just five miles to the entrance of Crater Lake National Park. It's also exactly like going back in time. "Doesn't this remind you of camp?" I asked my husband, as we observed cabins in the woods, tents, kids running all over the place, rickety motor boats and paddle boats parked along the docks in the lake, the clean chill of the air, the down-to-earth basics.

A long time ago, this place must have been the bomb. But it's clearly weather-beaten, and in need of an upgrade. You're paying (relatively little - we paid $79.99) not for "style," but to be with the whole family, to be outside, all day; to swim, go boating, ride bikes around the lake, read a book in your RV, or whatever.

This is about letting the kids run off screaming to do whatever they want, and not have to worry. Fishing, horseback riding, bumper boats, board games and puzzles in the lobby, comic books in the general store - it's all right there. That, and the most beautiful, pristine, splendid waterfalls just down the road, which we did, in fact, see.

I admit, the mattresses were awful. The walls were thin. The lobby smelled funny. The lake had gnats (Can you imagine! Gnats at a lake!!) Clearly, we were experiencing a rather bumpy transition from the luxuries of Sisters to the no-phone-in-the-room spareness and little plain soaps of Diamond Lake.

We were most excited about the laundry facilities - again, very basic. The machines worked. No, they weren't state of the art. Yes, they were grungy. But we had clean, warm clothes by the end.

But nothing prepared us for the dinner we were about to have. We opted for the dining room as opposed to the cafe, and were ushered to a table in what looked like it could be a ballroom, surrounded by glass, with the lake all around, and not a whole lot of diners. Our waiter actually discouraged us from ordering a special ("It's not very good, the chicken is dried out").

He then brought us a sumptuous, hot, fresh loaf of bread on a cutting board, which we gobbled up. Next came the salad, and finally our entrees, which turned out to be exceptional. My husband had an aromatic steak, and I had damn fine chicken marsala.

We had steeled ourselves with low expectations, yet the meal was awesome, the wine was good, and our waiter got a hefty tip from us for telling the truth.

After dinner, we walked out to the docks. For miles and miles around us, there was nothing but trees and wild. Up in the sky was a celestial heaven, the Milky Way clearly visible, a shooting star, and a billion twinkles. No wonder they call it Diamond Lake - the night was glimmering.