Herblenny

iTrader: (13)

As you all know, Nantahala Village (NVNC) had new owner/management. They were opened less than a week before we arrived.. which means we were the first customers at NVNC this year.

I personally thought they service was much better than before with minor mishaps such as no water for car wash on Saturday, not enough chairs at the banquet, etc.

Please tell me what issues you might of had @ Nantahala Village so I can pass on the information to the new owner so that they can fix some of the issues for the next year (10th annual DGRR 2014).

Every info will help so don't hesitate to state your issue, improvements that might help, or the good things you saw.

Thanks!

Phil

R-R-Rx7

iTrader: (24)

Other than the delay in the food serving everything was ok

A prank was planned for mr goodfella and it went wrong(no need for the details haha). Their response was immediate even though it had nothing to do them. So overall a very happy customer over here

MOBEONER

iTrader: (18)

Was all good for my wife and I, no complaints here!

GoodfellaFD3S

iTrader: (213)

I wish I had two more hands, so that I could give them four thumbs up!

Herblenny

iTrader: (13)

How slow was the food?
Also how many of you lack TV and cable??

Rotr8

iTrader: (2)

No complaints here. Even though they had just taken over it seemed like they were already well under way with some improvements and some new landscaping.
- the food taking time issue, the first night we arrived(Wednesday) we sat right down to eat at the dinning room ordered and our food came out within about 10 mins., it was only two of us at the time and the restaurant was sparsely filled(8pm). the next evening we had a much larger party(8 people) during rush hour and the food took about an hour. I imagine that with our club being the first large group they were overwhelmed but this is a minor issue and will probably take care of itself over time.

CloudPump

iTrader: (2)

I didn't stay there, however when speaking with one person who was a guest (I won't mention any names) they did complain that the cable wasn't working in their room and that the wifi didn't connect.

-Geoff

David Hayes

iTrader: (6)

From my short time around the resort, things seemed to be improved from years past. The restaurant was good and service quick enough. Looks like some new improvements on the way as well.

My however on this Phil is, from my experience running large annual events with my software company, I believe the event has outgrown the facilities. I was one of the first to register (did it 5 minutes after you opened up the website) yet I was unable to book a cabin as they were all taken by vendors. There were two rooms still available but we (father-in-law and I) passed on these to leave them for someone else. And add to it the resort no longer handles bookings for the cabins across the road, the result is regular attendees (read non-vendors) are left with little to no options.

So, 30 of us ended up at the Mircotel. I was happy to get group rates for us and really enjoyed hanging out with the crowd there (crazy Canadians!!) but it just isn't quite the same as all being together.

For next year, I'd highly recommend the Fontana Village:

Fontana Village Resort. Your Great Smoky Mountain Destination. Fontana Dam, NC

I believe you tried there several years ago and had a bad experience but the owners say to give them another shot and you won't be displeased. I was fortunate (or not) to break down there this year (damn tweakit idler pulley disintegrated) so my father-in-law and I hung out while waiting on AAA to tow us. Had dinner in the casual restaurant and it was good. They also have a fancy place and plenty of good amenities like a pool, putt putt, beach volley ball, and a store. Their parking lot is ideal for us and would hold serval hundred cars with no issues, they have 200 regular rooms and over 30 cabins as well. And the best part is they are much closer to the Tail and the Cherohala Skyway. All in all, seems to be ideal and a no brainer to move there.

I'd be happy to go over for you and talk to them if you'd like.

rwatson5651

iTrader: (5)

This sounds like something we should seriously consider. I try to be easy going and refuse to complain about Nantahala Village, but have to admit this sounds like a very attractive alternative, hell they have putt-putt, who can beat that??

Herblenny

iTrader: (13)

Let me make this clear to those who thinks Fontana is an answer to ALL..

David, Fontana is not an answer and other BIG groups are also debating about leaving Fontana. I have conversed with couple of groups larger than us and they are not happy with Fontana.. Just as I haven't been happy in the past.

Problem is this.. Unless you actually dealt with them running the event or trying to organize it, you wouldn't understand. They are not some metropolitan resort managers but people who know they have the biggest facility closest to US129. For instance, I ran at Fontana first 4 years. Location might be closer to US129, but everything else is much farther away. Unless DGRR is 1000+, we could be bumped and have to share the facility with other groups... or even no facility to do anything. We also have to pay for facilities and any organized meal will be crappiest food you will ever have. Just imagine this... 400 people trying to order food within the same hour slot. You think NVNC is bad, you could potentially wait 3 hours. Closest place to eat is 30 mins one way.. If you decide to eat other than Fontana for 3 meals, you will spend 3 hours just driving around. Trust me, I have dealt with this and HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT THIS!!!!! Having the option 5-15 minutes by NVNC is far wiser and people seems to be happier. Again, this is close to 10 years of my experience doing this...

I have now been Nantahala Village for the past 5 years and no one really complained. And this year was definitely not the biggest year. Also, seems like some people also didn't care about car show gathering and prefer going else where during the show and number was way down. Dam gathering was much bigger than at NVNC.

All I'm going to say at this point I have done Fontana and also tried again before (4 years ago) with same results. No way I would go back when other groups are having exact same problems as of last year. Being close to US129 shouldn't be #1 priority and I like the people at NVNC. If your goal is to run the dragon and not car about the car show or saturday morning gathering, than best place to stay will be Motorcycle lodge or Topoco lodge. They are the closest to the US129. Surrounding NVNC has far more lodging options and 5-15 drive to NVNC for gathering is much more do able.

Bottomline, FONTANA IS NOT OPTION!!!!!

Herblenny

iTrader: (13)

That being said,

This thread is not about switching out of NVNC but more so, what did go wrong at NVNC regarding facility and service they provided. I would greatly appreciate it if topic at hand is addressed and Not advising me how to run an event that I been doing for the past 10 years. I consider myself to be fairly thoughtful and I also understand not everyone will be happy with my decisions... Hope those will respect that and stay on topic.

Thanks!

Phil

David Hayes

iTrader: (6)

You've got mail

To continue with NVNC, then I'd say make sure they have their act together on room reservations so what happened this year does not repeat. Also, if they can figure out a way to handle reservations for the cabins across the street that would be very helpful as we'd have plenty of room options then.

Thanks for doing what you do.

R-R-Rx7

iTrader: (24)

anything closer to the us129 also means zero phone reception. NVNC phone reception was fine... i couldnt get reception anything from 10 miles away from NVNC until the dragon which can be a pain in the **** with family, emergencies etc...

Herblenny

iTrader: (13)

Email received and responded.

Regarding to reservation, the entire NVNC wasn't book til at least 1 week after. some of the key lodge rooms and cabins were booked 1st day. But they had several rooms and cabins available til a week.

Cabin across the street is owned by individuals and managed by a different group(s). So, that might be something they might work it out in the future, but again, its about new ownership.

Don't want to compare Fontana but that is correct. Fontana far as I know still have poor cell service. That was also the reason I moved to NVNC. Cell service and event LTE on my verizon. When wifi was poor, I was still able to use my cell to do some work.

ray green

iTrader: (14)

I like the spot where we were. We got one of those cabins across the street, it even had an eagle.

scaly

The staff was great as was the restaurant and bar. Only complaints were the ice machine did not work very well and that all the cable channels listed as choices by the lodge did not work.

Cookboy

iTrader: (10)

I stayed at the Microtel, but had some drinks/apps at the Lodge bar. As a chef/restauranteur with 35 years experience I am always watching critically. I think they were doing pretty well (restaurant) with minimal tuning and management. That's all I can offer but to say that as a first time attendee I thought the event was all I'd hoped, and a little more.

R-R-Rx7

iTrader: (24)

Input needed for nvnc, not microtel

rwatson5651

iTrader: (5)

The Lodge he is talking about is at NVNC.

GoodfellaFD3S

iTrader: (213)

Phil, you've done a great job the past decade of holding the event at the venue which offers the best benefit to attendees IMO

I believe NVNC to be the best choice, especially when you factor in the River's Inn and Burger Joint down the road, and close proximity to the Bryson City/Microtel area.

If there is any way to drum up more parking spots, that would go a long way. Easier said than done though

R-R-Rx7

iTrader: (24)

you're right, i missed that ...

GoodfellaFD3S

iTrader: (213)

You'll have to excuse Costas, the fumes from the Magic Mushroom Factories in PA may have scrambled his brain a bit

Uleepera

iTrader: (9)

I'll preface this reply by saying I had an awesome time at the event as a whole, its' my first one so I don't have much to compare it to but awesome time none the less.

That said, here are my suggestions:
1. The restaurant shouldn't' be closed by 9:30 on a Saturday (IMHO)
2. I share the suggestion that more rooms are needed, while I found Microtel to be "decent" I definitely would have preferred to stay at the lodge with everyone else. That said if a larger location with more rooms isn't an option due to poor experience then either encouraging the lodge to work out a deal with this other company across the street or working out our own deal with them so you can register with either place.

Now for some compliments
1. I thought the food at the restaurant was great! Anyone who's seen my FB page knows I like to eat and travel and travel to eat. They even had a home brew dirty blonde that was phenomenal!
2. The two women at the front desk, can't remember their names, one had braces and the other had long blonde hair were awesome. I wasn't even staying at the lodge but the Microtel's "business" area was dysfunctional and had no ink in the printer. They went out of their was to help me with a spec sheet for my car and printed out multiple copies.

Parking was an issue but we didn't seem to have any problems using the lot on the other side of the street.

Cell reception is also worth a lot to me, so if moving meant losing that I'd rather take my chances of getting a room at the Lodge or the Microtel.

rwatson5651

iTrader: (5)

I dont really have any real complaints, I come to this event every year with a hugh grin on my face that doesnt go away till I get home, the only suggestions I can think of would be more rooms for attendees at the lodge and a louder pa system at the banquet, and those are so very minor I only mentioned them cause you asked!!!!!

Thanks for all you do!!!!

GoodfellaFD3S

iTrader: (213)

Next year I'd love to have some kind of setup rigged so that the winning raffle ticket # is displayed in large red numbers on a huge sign board