The Historic Brookdale Lodge, Santa Cruz Mountains

Hotels
8.3 (818 reviews)
11570 Highway 9 , Brookdale , us

listing image 1
Show all photos
Free
Children allowed
Pets allowed

Facilities

Offsite parking discounted rates available
Non-smoking rooms
Air conditioning
Restaurant
Terrace
Pets allowed
Luggage storage
Fax/photocopying
Facilities for disabled guests
Karaoke
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Historical charm
Great location
Friendly staff
Good food
Cons:
Cleanliness issues
Management service complaints
Ongoing renovations

Categories

Cleanliness
6.2
Several reviews mentioned dirty towels and a broken bathroom door, indicating poor cleanliness.
Service
8
Mixed experiences; while some staff were friendly, management's response was criticized.
Location
9.2
Located in a beautiful area with historical significance, praised in multiple reviews.
Room Quality
8.2
Rooms are spacious and updated, but some noted issues with odors and bathroom conditions.
Amenities
8.7
Good amenities noted such as the restaurant and cafe, but construction could affect experience.
Value for Money
8.7
Generally seen as good value considering the unique offerings of the property.
Food and Beverage
8.7
Good food options highlighted in reviews, especially at the on-site restaurant.
Overall Experience
8.7
Despite some negative points, the overall experience was enjoyable for many guests.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2025-12-11 23:14

Property Description

Charming 3-Star Accommodation in Brookdale

Historic Charm: Nestled in the picturesque Brookdale, The Historic Brookdale Lodge offers a unique stay with private balconies and a cozy bar for unwinding after a day of exploration.

Modern Comforts: The air-conditioned rooms are equipped with free WiFi, flat-screen TVs, and private bathrooms. Guests can enjoy entertainment with karaoke or seek assistance from the 24-hour front desk for a seamless stay.

Convenient Amenities: Each room features a desk and a fridge, ensuring convenience for guests throughout their visit.

Experience the allure of The Historic Brookdale Lodge in the serene Santa Cruz Mountains. Book your stay now for a memorable getaway.

Important information:

Guests are required to show a photo ID and credit card upon check-in. Please note that all Special Requests are subject to availability and additional charges may apply.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 11:00 AM

Property Policies

  • Parking

    Free public parking is possible on site (reservation is not needed).

  • Pets

    Pets are allowed on request. Charges may be applicable.

  • Internet

    WiFi is available in all areas and is free of charge.

  • Children and extra bed policy

    Children of any age are allowed.
    Children up to and including 0 years old stay for free when using an available cot.
    Children up to and including 12 years old stay for free when using an existing bed.
    People no matter the age stay for US$20 per person per night when using an available extra bed.
    You haven't added any cots.
    Any type of extra bed or child's cot/crib is upon request and needs to be confirmed by management.
    Supplements are not calculated automatically in the total costs and will have to be paid for separately during your stay.

Location

Guest Reviews

8.3
Based on 818 reviews
Cleanliness: 6.2
Service: 8
Location: 9.2
Room Quality: 8.2
Amenities: 8.7
Value for Money: 8.7
Food and Beverage: 8.7
Overall Experience: 8.7
D
Dianne • couple • us
9
Pros:

Great location. Friendly staff. Onsite live music. Great breakfast.

2026-02-10 • via Nuitee
V
Venkateshmurthy • couple • us
7
Very nice & relaxing
Pros:

Location & access to big basin

Cons:

Did not see elevator

2026-01-31 • via Nuitee
D
Deborah • couple • us
6
We would definitely stay here again.
Pros:

I like the history behind it
I loved that the diner was right there there they were very sweet and friendly.
They put a candle in our food and sang happy birthday to us!
Being surrounded by the trees is beautiful.

Cons:

The mattress was hard.
Getting to and from the property winding through narrow canyons.
Pot holes throughout the driveway.
I wish you had more of a souvenir shop. We would love to see the brook that runs through. That should be a key feature of restoration.

2026-01-27 • via Nuitee
R
Robert • couple • us
10
We always enjoyed our time here and the staff were very friendly and helpful
Pros:

Beautiful scenery and very well taken care of

Cons:

We loved everything

2026-01-25 • via Nuitee
A
Ashley • couple • us
8
2026-01-19 • via Nuitee
K
Katalin • couple • us
8
Pros:

Nice roomy space

Cons:

Everytime someone is walking around the building the walls creek. And with active people at night makes it unbearable to sleep

2026-01-19 • via Nuitee
C
Casey • extended_group • us
8
Pros:

Beautiful location and well kept facilities. The room was very spacious for what the pictures showed.

Cons:

The pool and brook room being under renovation was a real bummer.

2026-01-19 • via Nuitee
M
Marc • couple • us
10
2026-01-19 • via Nuitee
C
Caree • couple • us
9
Pros:

Nice comfortable room with good sized bathroom.

2026-01-15 • via Nuitee
M
Malika • family_with_children • us
10
Am gonna visit it again.
Pros:

They have on site diner. Great food. Diner had good coffee, food and friendly people. Property was really good. They have on site market, diner and bar. Bar has planned activities every night. Friday evening was too much fun with live music and lot of people dancing to the tunes. Dancing with locals was fun.

Cons:

Nothing

2026-01-11 • via Nuitee
T
Teheimata • couple • pf
7
Nous n’y avons passé une seule nuit mais c’était très chouette
Pros:

La chambre était spacieuse et suffisamment chauffée ; le personnel était agréable

Cons:

Les coussins😅pas super confortable les coussins

2026-01-06 • via Nuitee
M
MDS • couple • us
3
There are few choices in the area, so we accepted the condition.
Pros:

It is in a central location.

Cons:

The room smelled musty. So we took the cover off the AC. It was caked with dirt inside that we had to clean out. The shower handle was very touchy--it went from the temp I wanted to scalding at the slightest of pressure.

2026-01-05 • via Nuitee
C
Carmen • couple • us
10
It was a quick check in, and easy to find my room.
Pros:

It was easy to find and clean.

Cons:

Parking in the back at night felt unsafe. The restaurant was closed at ten am.

2025-12-31 • via Nuitee
L
Lemmon • couple • us
3
Pros:

Room size good.

Cons:

No heat no hot water no light. Cold. When power came back heater did not work. No backup power.

2025-12-29 • via Nuitee
J
Jill • solo_traveller • us
9
I liked it and would return.
Pros:

The location is beautiful and conveniently located as I have relatives in town.

Cons:

Restaurant was closed. A lot of the area was closed off.

2025-12-25 • via Nuitee
G
Gina • family_with_children • us
7
Nice
Pros:

I loved rhe location, although the winding road getting there can be a bit scary after dark. Its peaceful. I loved the band in the lounge. Woodmill has a good vibe. I dont recommend the diner. I order a biscuit and gravy and a side of bacon since they were out of sausage. The biscuit was hard as a rock and the "country gravy" was cream of chicken soup with a very tiny apronlong of sausage. I really triwdto eat it because I was hungry, but ut was disgusting and i gave up halfway through. It took 30 minutes for an order that shouldn't have taken more than 10. I won't eat there again. On a high note, there are some great restaurants nearby. I highly recommend The Sawmill. The fish and chips with sweet potato fries were amazing and the staff is great! Thanks so much!

Cons:

The horrible food in the diner. The crappy parking i. The back side as there is no access to the rooms from the front of the lodge. The first desk clerk i talked with in the morning was very nice and helpful. The desk clerk when I he ked in was rus and acted like he was doing me a favor checking me in. Hello!! Who do you think pays your wages??? The customers staying in the lodge! Get a clue buddy!

2025-12-14 • via Nuitee
B
Breanna • couple • us
10
Pros:

Gorgeous property, well maintained

Cons:

N/A

2025-12-13 • via Nuitee
J
Jill • couple • us
9
Charming , unique spot that was long ago a draw to the rich and famous . Can’t beat amsaty in the beautiful redwoods . N
Pros:

Historical spot with a cool vibe. New owners revitalizing to bring back the original grandeur. Great spot in the Redwoods a bit down the road from Felton. Rooms have been updated , spacious, clean and comfortable . Great fifties style cafe with surprising great breakfast , generous portions and stylishly plated . Glad we chose to eat there instead of drive into town. Staff were all great - adorable host/ waitress “Nariah” so friendly and sweet. We
Want to repeat this stay and bring friends !

Cons:

Older property -
Outside in the middle
Of renovations and some building non accessible . Can’t wait to see what it becomes …

2025-11-22 • via Nuitee
T
Thomas • couple • us
1
Very disappointing when dealing with the short man who was the self-proclaimed manager on Saturday night Sunday morning
Pros:

We have been going to this property for years and while the event was great the hotel and staff were not.

Cons:

Dirty towels, broken bathroom door. Short man who stated that he was manager told me Saturday night that because of the broken door and the dirty towels that we would be comped someway, but they couldn’t put us in another room because they were fully booked. When I came down to check out, I asked the short self-proclaimed manager about a discount of some sort. He smirked in a condescending way stated that since he provided clean towels and that they were going to eventually fix the bathroom door that there was no issues and that he did not need to discount anything. That idiot needs to take a class of customer service. I wasn’t asking for a free room but it’s a simple ask for when you first come in to have a working bathroom door and clean towels. How the hell am I supposed to know that anything else in that room was clean if they can’t get something basic as clean towels, right. I got multiple reviews on different sites and sent a message to the hotel itself and it has fallen on deaf ears so the owners either don’t care or the short man who is a self proclaimed manager, saw my message and deleted it. Don’t stay here even if there’s a part on the property itself stay somewhere else.

2025-11-21 • via Nuitee
S
Sandra • couple • us
9
Pros:

I had a very good experience at the historic Brookdale Lodge. Check-in was smooth and pleasant, thanks to the friendly staff. The on-site restaurant was also a highlight, with welcoming employees and very good food. I also appreciated the convenient little market on the premises.

The location in the Santa Cruz Mountains is amazing, and my room was spacious and clean. My only complaint is that the carpet had a very strong, unpleasant odor.

Overall, it was a nice stay, and I enjoyed the atmosphere and setting.

2025-11-18 • via Nuitee