Big Cedar Lodge

[Mom2BAH]

My family and I are coming to Branson next weekend and I was wondering if Big Cedar Lodge is really worth the price.....??? Is it really as nice and pretty as the pictures show? And how does it fit in with Dogwood Canyon? Can you access DCanyon free if you're staying at Big Cedar? I'm thinking of staying at a much more affordable hotel and then just going over to Dogwood Canyon or is the ambiance of Big Cedar worth the price? Any thoughts/ideas would be most appreciated! Thanks much!

[okie78]

Big Cedar lodge is very beautiful! We've stayed there twice. Once at Christmas time and once in the late summer. We didn't use all the amenities offered since we just stayed long weekends. Both times we went we used family members timeshare!! I say it really depends on what kind of vacation you want. BCL is quite a commute from the hustle n bustle of Branson attractions. If I were going to pay those prices to stay there I would spend most of my time there. Just wanted to say it's as beautiful as the pictures show! Good luck making a decision!

[NotJLB]

Big Cedar is one of those places people like to stick a pin in, to say they stayed there.

Yes, it is nice, still heads a shoulders above all the rest in these parts.

Dogwood Canyon is a ways away, out our way on 86 HWY west of 13. Having done the drive from here to Big Cedar many times, I would give it 1/2 hour. DC is 10000 beautiful acres of historic countryside.

[ggh]

I cannot imagine being disappointed at Big Cedar -but it's not next door to Dogwood Canyon... and it's about 10 minutes from the Branson Landing. If I had the money to stay there, I'd do it - but if you're looking to save some money while you're in the area, there are many nice/clean places to stay in the Branson are w/o the ambience of Big Cedar.

[tkite]

It is by far the best. The whole experience is just awesome.

[Branson Junkie]

Stayed there once because the timeshare we own has BC rentals. It's nice, but we won't stay there again since it's about 10 minutes from the Branson activity and we want to be closer. I would stay there if I was the type to utilize all the amenities available at the site. Otherwise I think you could get something as good for less. Restaurants there are good ones. DC is a ways fromt he resort. Don't know if BC offers shuttles to it or not, but you might ask.

[fordarama]

With the gas prices, I would have to think hard about the drive back and forth to the strip and attractions like silver dollar city.
The hills and traffic can make you use alot of fuel...
There are some nice cabins right off of the strip...
www.thecabinsatgreenmountain.com
And chateau on the lake is closer and is super nice as well.
www.chateauonthelake.com/

[fritzie]

Originally Posted by Mom2BAH

My family and I are coming to Branson next weekend and I was wondering if Big Cedar Lodge is really worth the price.....??? Is it really as nice and pretty as the pictures show?

The have a great location and landscaping. Value of the lodging, stayed there many times before we moved to the lake, depends on where you stay. Cabind and Falls Lodge is OK, but not Knotty Pines or Valley View where you may get a room with no view at all.

[Mom2BAH]

Thank you all so much for all your input! It has helped a lot and is very much appreciated!! I think we'll stay closer to the hubbub of Branson.....and take a trip out to BCL and DC one day. Thanks again!!!

[MNtraveler]

Originally Posted by Mom2BAH

Thank you all so much for all your input! It has helped a lot and is very much appreciated!! I think we'll stay closer to the hubbub of Branson.....and take a trip out to BCL and DC one day. Thanks again!!!

Hope you have a great trip. If you spend almost all of your time in Branson that makes sense.

We usually stay at Big Cedar when we go to Branson, but we consider the resort itself a major part of our trip. It is truly the most beautiful resort we've ever stayed at, and we have stayed at many WDW resorts costing over twice as much per night.

Some of Big Cedar's rooms are very expensive, but you can also get more standard rooms for $100-$150 at the Valley View Lodge and the Spring View Lodge. We enjoy staying at the Spring View Lodge because it is right next door to the swimming pool, the Devil's Pool restaurant and the Buzzard Bar.

The standard rooms at the Spring View are nothing special -- they are not much larger than your typical Super 8 room. But for a relatively low room price you still have access to all the great facilities at Big Cedar.

We enjoy golfing at Top of the Rock golf course (a Big Cedar amenity) and dining at Top of the Rock restaurant. The views from the golf course are spectacular with many of the holes overlooking Table Rock Lake. The food at the restaurant is very good, the atmosphere is casual and it is not nearly as pricey as the Devil's Pool restaurant which is truly a gourmet restaurant. We also enjoy the Buzzard Bar which has live entertainment every evening.

Dogwood Canyon is not free, and Big Cedar guests don't even get a discount. I never thought that was quite right so we haven't been there. It seems expensive compared to so many other activities in the area.

Overall I would really recommend Big Cedar if you have time to spend enjoying some of the facilities there. The rooms are priced pretty well if you are satisfied staying in their less expensive ones. Our first time at Big Cedar we stayed in the Falls Lodge with a Jacuzzi suite and the whole deal. It was very fun but more than I would typically want to spend. Every time since then we've stayed in the Spring View Lodge and enjoyed the great Big Cedar facilities at a lower cost.