Review of Riverside Hot Springs Inn & Spa 3*

We were driving across Wyoming in late March when my son smartly decided that we needed to stay in another a corporate motel/hotel like we needed a hole in the head. So he got on his iPhone and started looking for hot springs. He's bright, he knew he was going to have to get mom to sign off on this side-trip, so he found and suggested an old hotel with some historic charm. Once he started to read the reviews out loud, we almost decided against making a reservation. That would have been a mistake! We enjoyed our stay a great deal. We were there in the off-season, everything was charming and slow, and maybe that helped to make it fun. We had lovely conversations with the entire staff, the owner Gail, and the chef (who is well trained, I am sorry I have forgotten his name). Is the building old? Yes. That's the point! It's an historic old building and it has its charms — — and shame on the people that stay there and don't find them! If you are looking for the Waldorf; well, you are not going to find that. But if you realize this is Idaho, and you are looking for an interesting place in an interesting little town with some bonus hot springs thrown in, this place will work just fine. We did eat in the hotel dining room. The review about 'the worst food' is three years old (and I cannot imagine the current chef worked there then). Yes, the menu can seem a bit pricey in these little boutique places but it is part of the experience. We bumped into the chef, we discussed the menu, he made recommendations and they were all very good. The owner filled in for someone that needed the night off and it was fun to talk to her about the hotel. She recommended a nice regional whiskey for me at the end of the meal. In peak season, when the place is full, they probably need to adhere to a stricter level of discipline; but we had arrived late, settled in late, and ate dinner late. They graciously extended their "soaking" hours for us so that we could enjoy the hot springs as long as we did so quietly. We appreciated the personalized give and take that occurred. So if you have reasonable expectations and prefer things charming and interesting rather than perfect, I think you will like this place. We sure did. I should also mention that our dog was welcomed as well and we would happily stay here again.