Oakwood Resort – An Ontario Southwest Coast Playground

I have been making the Oakwood Inn Resort my home whenever I visit Grand Bend, Ontario, for over 15 years.  The resort is definitely an all season playground located in the heart of Ontario’s Southwest Coast along the coast of Lake Huron.

The Oakwood Inn Resort: An Honest Review

There is obviously a reason that I keep coming back to this resort time and time again.  Is it perfect?  Absolutely not!  Is it close to perfect?  Probably not.  What it does offer though is unlimited activities to entertain the entire family during all seasons of the year.  This is what has prompted me to write an honest review of this resort.

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RESERVATIONS

While it is possible to make reservations online, I always prefer to contact the place of lodging directly.  In the past, I have found that this is the way to get the best deals being offered by the resort.  Besides, I am still old school and prefer talking to a live person.

As I usually do, I reserved a deluxe room in the Longhouse.  I have been reserving this same type of room and location for as long as I can remember.  While some may not consider this the best location of the resort, I love it.  It is all one floor.  The parking is right outside of the door.  The fire pit and open space are directly adjacent to the rooms.  There are two patios.  One at the entrance and a second private patio at the rear which backs onto green space. 

And lastly, the rooms have been updated and are a bit more modern than other rooms at the resort.  The Longhouse is the perfect building to stay in if you are travelling with a large group.  The Longhouse is located furthest from the pool, but is closest to Dave’s’ Pub & Grill.  Take a look at the map to determine which building suits your needs and is the perfect location for you.

PACKAGES AND EVENTS

Before making your reservations, check out the Oakwood Resort website to see what packages are available.  At various times of the year, different packages are offered.  The following packages are currently being offered:

• Bed and Breakfast
• Stay and Play (golf package)
• Playhouse Package (theatre package)

In addition to various packages, the Oakwood Resort has many events taking place throughout the year such as, wellness events, dinner theatre, golf lessons, winter activities, making it a true playground along Ontario’s Southwestern coast.  Sign-up for their newsletter to be kept up-to-date on the ever-changing events and activities that take place at this Southwest playground throughout the year.

LOCATION

The Oakwood Resort is located on the outskirts of Grand Bend, set back from Highway 21, the main highway leading into Grand Bend.  It is set back far enough away from the main street of Grand Bend to provide solace from the party atmosphere of the downtown area.

Avid golfers will think they are in heaven and won’t want to leave the resort once they realize that the resort is situated in the middle of a 19 hold golf course.   For all of you golf widows, or golf widowers, you won’t be disappointed, as there is an amazing spa on site for you.  Make sure you book any spa and tee times well in advance of your arrival in order to avoid disappointment.

PARKING

This resort provides ample parking within a short distance of whichever lodge your room is in, but be aware depending on which building your accommodations are located, you may have to walk a short distance.   BONUS:   parking is free of charge.

ROOMS

The Oakwood Resort offers 124 rooms, which include basic deluxe rooms, suites and cottages.  Follow these tips if room type and location of the room matter to you.

Handicapped:  If you are handicapped, or have difficulty climbing stairs (as I do), be aware that there are no elevators in the Pine Lodge, the Main Lodge or the Oak Lodge.   It will be necessary for you to stress that you require a reservation in the Longhouse or the Cedar Lodge, which have the rooms on ground level.  You will not be guaranteed to be assigned one of these rooms, so be VERY specific!  If you are handicapped, and aren’t fortunate enough to be assigned a room in either the Longhouse or the Cedar Lodge, you will be unable to stay at this resort, as not all rooms are 100% handicap friendly.

Location:  If the location of your room is important to you, I highly recommend that you reserve an upgraded room which fronts onto green space or the golf course.  Otherwise, you could find yourself staring at a parking lot.

Room Décor:  Be aware that not all rooms have been updated.  The majority of the rooms still have the pine walls and can be considered to be outdated by some.  If the rustic, cabin feel is your preference, then these rooms are for you.  Be sure to request this type of room when booking.

If location and type of room are not important to you, then any of the rooms and location will suit you just fine.  The rooms are large and clean.  All have refrigerators, coffee makers and either a patio or balcony.

RESTAURANTS

The Oakwood Resort is home to two fantastic restaurants:

The Oak Restaurant:  The Oak Restaurant is open for breakfast, which is served buffet style from 7:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m.  A Bed and Breakfast package can be arranged, or you can choose to pay as you go.  The breakfast provided offers more than enough options to fill you up for a few hours, ranging from continental breakfast items to scrambled eggs and bacon.

Dave’s Pub & Grill:  This is a pub style restaurant, as the name suggests, which is open for lunch and dinner.  Be sure to check out the daily specials from Burger Night to Steak Night.  I can confirm that I have eaten both lunch and dinner at Dave’s Pub & Grill and will vouch for the food.  It is yummy!  There is live music playing on Friday and Saturday nights.  A large outdoor patio overlooks the golf course and the driving range and is a great place to sit back and enjoy a cold one while people watching.

AMENITIES

The Oakwood Resort was definitely designed with families in mind.  It has everything that you could possibly need.  The only problem is that you may not want to leave the resort, as there are many activities to occupy the entire family for days.

• Gated Entrance to Beach on Lake Huron
• Large indoor saltwater pool
• Indoor hot tub
• Sauna and Handicapped Sauna
• Balconies or Patio in every room
• Complimentary Wi-Fi
• Spa
• 2 Restaurants
• 19 Hole Golf Course
• Golf Lessons
• Driving Range
• Playground
• Fire Pit
• Picnic area
• Playground Area
• Fitness room
• Location, Location, Location!

Related:  Explore Beach Towns Ontario

EVALUATION OF THE OAKWOOD INN RESORT

I have always loved the Oakwood Inn Resort and the many amenities and activities it has to offer, especially the food, the quiet beach, and the closeness to nature and the great outdoors.  During my most recent stay, I did encounter some issues with my room (which I won’t go into), but suffice it to say that Micheline Murawsky made sure that I was more than happy for my 2 nights stay.  

I was given a room upgrade to a suite backing onto green space, as well as 2 free buffet breakfasts.  I did not get a room in the Longhouse as requested, but the room I was eventually given was close to the pool, on a lower level with less stairs, making it easier for me to access.  Thank you Micheline!  My stay would not have been the same without your exemplary customer service!

I would like to caution that if you choose to stay at this resort, there may be a possibility that your location request will not be granted.  I was unaware that the rooms were assigned the evening before arrival and the room location could not be guaranteed.  Perhaps this will be an issue addressed by the resort at some point in time, but this could definitely be an issue if you are disabled or handicapped in any way.   Be VERY specific on any physical limitations that you may have, when making your reservation.

OAKWOOD INN RESORT REVIEW: In Conclusion …

Overall, I will not let a few “minor” blips deter me from staying at this year-round Southwestern Ontario playground again next summer, or possibly even again this summer.   The Oakwood Inn Resort is perfect for families and/or large groups and I highly recommend a stay at the Oakwood Resort whenever you are visiting the beautiful town of Grand Bend!

ENJOY YOUR STAY 🙂