Ridge
Top Village At Shawnee/Ridge Top SummitRidge
Top Village At Shawnee/Ridge Top SummitLatest update 3/5/05
Per Shawnee Realty resort description: This village is built in clusters of villas which are surrounded by unspoiled forest areas which are the home of deer, turkeys and an occasional black bear. The village is a short shuttle drive from the Shawnee Inn which features both indoor and outdoor pools, tennis courts, miniature golf and the world-class Shawnee Inn Golf Course. Guests can also enjoy challenging downhill skiing, snowboarding and snow tubing at the Shawnee Mountain Ski Area in the winter months and enjoy the family-friendly Shawnee Place Water and Play Park in the summer. Ridge Top Village consists of one hundred-seventy-six two-bedroom, two bath villas. Ridge Top villas occupy approximately 1,125 square fee. Each villa has two color televisions and cable service which includes HBO. The full kitchen includes a microwave and there is a washer/dryer in each villa. Ridge Top villas feature a wood-burning fireplace. There is one parking space per villa with overflow parking nearby. The village terrain is moderate with stairs to each villa. Check-in is Sunday at 4 p.m. and check-out is Sunday at 9 a.m. For guest convenience, there is a Shawnee Shuttle Bus operating hourly.
Per Shawnee Owners Web Site: All units in Shawnee Ridge Top Village are air conditioned and have screened-in porches and fireplaces. Units are multi-level and have both interior and exterior stairs. This village has NO handicapped accessibility.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
The most bizarre is the new bathroom on the main floor. This is a BIG, handicapped- accessible bath with sit-down shower, so it takes up at least 25% of the living room space (living room in older units is much bigger, but no ground floor bath). Yet, the unit itself is not handicapped-accessible, since there are 15 outside steps to get to the unit! If you need a H-A unit, be sure to get very specific when making reservations...
I would love to know what "great restaurants" the previous reviewer was referring to, and would love someone to list some recommendations,.. This is our second year at Shawnee, and we found only bad-to-mediocre food. Alaska Pete's is the nearest "decent" restaurant, basic american fare, not inexpensive, not great but ok.
We have only been in winter, there is not much to do but ski at Shawnee, or Camelback is a 20 minute drive. Shawnee is more for the beginner skiier, and is overrun by beginners during busy times. Private lessons are difficult/impossible to schedule when it's busy, priority is given to group lessons. They also ran short of snowboard instructors this year, so the kids snowboard program was limited to beginners only. Camelback is bigger and more crowded, seemed to have a higher "bonehead factor" than "beginner factor," but hey have some high speed lifts and more variety in trails. There is some good outlet shopping (and maybe more restaurants?) near Camelback.
There is supposed to be free wireless internet at the Shawnee Mountain lodge, but it was down several days in a row. The dial-up from the villa was pathetically slow, and the "high speed" connection in the rec center is a plug-in via cable in the lobby. No desk, just a bench to sit on with your lap top in your lap. Also, there is no cell phone service at all in the rec center due to the metal roof, very frustrating. The rec center offers lots of stuff for the kids (video games, basketball, pool), but is very crowded during busy times as it is used by many villas. We had good cell phone reception at both Shawnee Mountain and Camelback.
Check-in was fine, check-out was very annoying as they have a 9 AM checkout. We asked for a later checkout and were told "no way" so we left the night before. Beware there is no automated checkout and you have to check out at the rec center before 11 pm.
We would still consider returning if we got a bonus week, but would probably stay for less than a week. This wouldn't be an exchange at all comparable to our Marriott on Hilton Head.
Based on the above, I would rate the resort a 7 (a 6 for the older units).
Didn't like that the windows downstairs did not open the only one was the kitchen area. We had to leave the porch door open all the time. Not that many steps to this unit about 10 all together. Washer and dryer small. Dishwasher was LOUD (I think it was on its way out)
Rate: 7
A lot of people seemed to be having a good time at Shawnee. I found the facilities lacking for me and my family. Nothing for younger children. Older kids were having fun playing basketball, in the game room, etc.
I wouldn't return as there isn't much to do once you've been there.
I'm glad it was only a bonus week as I would have been disappointed if
it was my primary vacation.
8/14/02 - Date of Visit: 5/02
We (2 couples) stayed in an older unit that badly needs refirbishing.
It was *relatively* clean when we arrived but smelled terribly of smoke
that lasted until our departure. The deck wasn't screened so we suffered
mosquitos whenever we sat out. Weather was *shirtsleeve* in late May. We
saw wildlife all around, including many deer and a 300# black bear rummaging
through the garbage near our unit. We didn't find enough to interest us
for an entire week. Highlights were a day in Philadelphia at the liberty
bell and other historic sites. Bushkill Falls is a must see! Outlet mall
near Tannersville was worth a couple or hours shopping. Otherwise, we lazed
around most of the time. We didn't find the resort facilities attractive,
so didn't use them. Of the six resorts we have stayed at in the last couple
of years, this was the worst. We will not return. Rating, all things considered,
about a 2.
7/4/02 - Date of Visit: 6/23/02
We stayed at Ridge Top Village for a week beginning 6/23/02. I rate
this resort a 3. We stayed in Unit 94 which is not too, too long of a walk
from the newish recrecreation center.
Our unit was not well maintained. The furniture was run down and dirty- no holes in it, just dirty. The first thing I did was get the spare sheets and cover the sofa and love seat. The kitchen was small and there was damage to the cabinets and counter. There is not much room at all for food in the cabinets. There was a sign in the kitchen warning of ants and spiders. We did not see any in our unit. We did, however, find a silverfish in our bed. There were many ant traps located in the unit. There was only enough dishwasher detergent for one load of dishes. There was no detergent for handwashing dishes. There was no shampoo. The bathroom in the master bedroom smelled like a sewer. We did not use this bathroom and kept the door closed. It didn't appear dirty, it just smelled.
The setup of this unit is bizarre. The "master" bedroom has a queen bed, but no TV. The master bathroom (just a very, very small stall shower with a curtain) was located in this bedroom. The "guest" bedroom had two full sized beds and a TV and phone. The other bathroom had a weird bathtub that was really like a barrel. If you've stayed there you know what I mean. You can't lie in it. It is about the size of a large garbage pail standing upright. The shower was way, way too small. Ladies you can't shave your legs in this shower. There is a shower curtain (moldy on the bottom) that doesn't really protect the floor from becoming wet. If you are a large sized person I can't imagine fitting in this shower or the guest shower. There is no bathroom on the first floor but there was a decent screened in porch.
The ammenities at this resort were OK. There are indoor and outdoor pools. HOWEVER, when they even think it MIGHT thunder, they close ALL the pools. This includes the indoor pool. No pool towels are provided. There were activities for families, kids and adults. We played BINGO and attended Kareoke (spelling?) night. There was babysitting for this event (small fee) but the ratio was 36 kids to 3 staff members. Way, way too high.
I was disappointed when the bonfire was canceled due to rain and not rescheduled.
I am happy to answer questions about this resort.
11/21/01 - Date of Visit: 5/01
Lovely timeshare in great PA Poconos. TUG photos quite representative
of interior of facility. Kitchen well equipped and facility quite near
to a lot of area amenities. Few problems other than faucet water pressure
which was low. Rate 8 of ten without reservation.
6/8/00 - Date of Visit: 4/16/00
(Shawnee Ridgetop Village) Not a bad resort overall. Large unit
with well equipped kitchen. Furnishings are somewhat dated. New clubhouse
and pool complex under construction was supposed to be open by our visit,
but wasn't. The old pool in the Shawnee Inn is VERY dated and we didn't
even go in due to overwhelming chlorine smell. The recreation staff does
a good job of trying to schedule many activities to keep you entertained.
During our visit, it rained almost every day putting a real damper on our
experience. If you go in the shoulder/spring break season you take your
chances. Many of the outdoor activities are either not open at all or only
open during weekends. The advertised local theater is only open during
"high" season (Winter and Summer) The golf course (27 holes) is fun, well
maintained and affordable if you clip coupons from the local paper. Summer
prices go up to typical resort course pricing.
Many planned activities, all day, M-F. The only downside to that was most of the activities are held at the old Shawnee Inn which needs work. Stay away from the indoor pool. The locker rooms inside and outside the Inn were dilapidated. However, Shawnee is building a new activities center and will discontinue use of the old Shawnee Inn when the new center is completed. Many activities at resort, including Pools,playgrounds, mini golf, a 27 hole PGA golf course ($40 discounted fee!), game room, canoeing & rafting on the Delaware, Skiing, water park, horseback riding, outdoor tennis & basketball courts, roller rink, ice skating rink, restaurants, fishing. Many other restaurants and other activities nearby such as outlet shopping, winery, orchards, skiing, fishing, boating, playhouses, racquetball.
Shawnee is a nice family resort and we thoroughly enjoyed our stay.
Check in and out was easy and fast.
7/30/98 - Date of Visit: 2/1/98
I purchased a two bedroom unit as a resale last December for interval
#45, but stayed a bonus week last February. I was very disappointed with
the unit. The furniture needed updating. There were no supplies in the
kitchen. (i.e. detergent). The register in the kitchen floor was filthy.
There were no end tables in the bedrooms, nor a clock. The master bedroom
had a queen-size bed and the second bedroom had two double beds. There
was a pullout sofa in the living room. There were two bathrooms, one of
which had a Jacuzzi. The second bathroom had a stall shower. All units
have fireplaces and a rear porch. Check-in was great. There were no delays.
All of the activities are located a distance from the units and must be
traveled to by car or shuttle. The shuttle stops at each section of townhouses.
The swimming pool in is the main bldg.( Shawnee Inn) It is a good size
and has a lifeguard. The locker room is too far from the swimming area
and is a disgrace. I had to try several lockers before finding one that
could be used success fully. The health club is located several miles from
Shawnee. Shawnee guests can go for free. A new recreation center is to
be built. It is badly needed. Roller skating is available for a fee, but
it is in a building that is rather old. I took 4 children with me. They
did enjoy the stay. A better game room facility is needed for older children.
It is much too small with only a few games. We did enjoy the new snowtubing
located at Shawnee Mt. Shawnee needs to update its facility a.s.a.p.
Area Index || Reviews Index || TUG Home
Timeshare Users Group © 1999 - 2003
PO Box 1442
Orange Park, Fl 32067
Phone: (904) 298-3185
Send comments/feedback: 