Reviews
Stayed here in the newly renovated campground section C. Hiking good. Many wildlife. Golf course, The General looked healthy and well maintained. Also disc golf, beach area under renovation, boat rentals and cruises at the marina, marina, lodge and restaurant. We had a good time, All people we interacted with were friendly.
This state park is very relaxing to come to. My family and I love coming here. The rooms are spacious & clean, the beds are comfortable. The staff is welcoming and friendly. They have a great pool. I've been coming here since I was a child. I love the docks that you can walk to as well as the swing set. You can get beautiful pictures of sunsets here. Also great place to see birds. There are so many that build nests at the lodge. It is so cute to see them! The lodge has a great restaurant. I love the Wheeler burger. Their Easter buffet is amazing and had such a huge selection of items. The gift shop in the restaurant is also fun. I found some cute crystals. Definitely worth checking this location out and spending the night. I love it here! Very peaceful! They also offer cabin rentals on the lake. The new cabins look beautiful right on the lake. I remember staying at the older cabins when I was younger. There is a fun little old fashion play ground that is great to see still around.
We started going to Joe Wheeler state park about 6 yrs ago with our collegiate fishing team and stayed in cabin #4. It was beautiful and had the best of flatware, linens, etc. And furnished like a 5 start hotel. I wrote the management there telling them how nice it was, but, at that time the dock had nails around the edge and my grandson damaged his boat extensively after he tied up to it. Since then we have gone back 3-4 times as we love the beautiful lake and get a room overlooking the pool. However, I noticed this time the lodge is in great need of an update as it just is not as nice and does not meet the standards for a $150 night hotel. Two of the fabric bottom chairs were stained excessively and I put a towel over each to sit in. The kitchen was so dark with two ceiling lights but obviously very low wattage bulbs I had to move the floor lamp from the bedroom to the kitchen. There was a minimum of flatware, there was only one SMALL TRASH CAN IN THE KITCHEN so that it overflowed and one small in the bathroom, which is expected, but most hotels have a large trash can in the kitchen, and there was NO TRASH CAN IN THE LARGE BEDROOM AREA. We are 85 yrs old and have difficult walking so making a trip to another room for a trash can was a big deal for us. The wall in the toilet area was all banged up and paint peeling back. And the vanity area had messy grout showing that looked like an amateur had done it. Both tacky and an eye sore. Also, the check out time was not posted anywhere in the room as most hotels have on the back of the door. I could not figure out how to use the phone as there was no directions on it so I dialed 0 thinking i would get the operator but I did not. Finally, I called the office on my cell phone having to look up the number. It just seemed this trip things were more difficult even calling the office to ask departure time. Even when I went to a neighboring town jewelry store, when I told her we were staying at the Lodge, she said "they really need to update that place". That they would not be going back until it was updated and we feel the same way. The dining room staff was friendly but the Thursday salad bar was skimpy with not much choice as no bell peppers, etc the slaw was almost all mayo. The wall in the bathroom was so banged up with paint coming off and was an eye sore. Lamp hangers were still in the ceiling from the 1960's hanging lamps, but no lamps. The air conditioner was leaking water on to the patio with dead bugs in it as we had to step by to use the patio. There was not a little table as most places offer to set our coffee on so I had to take a kitchen chair to the patio to use as a table. Either bending to get the cup up from the floor or toting the chair to the patio both were painful for me. Things just were not as nice and comfortable as they were in the past. I really wish the State of AL would spend some money to make it more desirable, as Pickwick Lake did a couple years ago. Again, the staff is wonderful as one of the maintenance men saw me struggling to get my bag out of our truck car and he jumped right in to help me. Cindy, a housekeeper, saw me again struggling with luggage as we were leaving and came immediately to help me realizing we were an elderly handicapped people. It seems things that most hotels do or provide,you did not this time, making it difficult for us . Perhaps because our health is poor now and everything is more difficult. Thank you.
Nice boat ride. Many bird sightings. Will visit again for foliage.
This review is for the picnic and swimming area. First we had to pay to get in, which would've been fine but then come to find out it looks nothing like the photos. There was trash everywhere and even though pets aren't supposed to be allowed on the beach there were mounds of dog poop everywhere. You couldn't even swim because of how gross everything was. I do not recommend swimming or having a get together here.
I simply love this place. Great for relaxing and spending time with family. Lots to do in the wildlife and on the water
Absolutely beautiful...I live in center star Alabama, but when I go to this place it's like being on vacation...we absolutely love Joe Wheeler state park.
Hotel is a little older but makes up for it with the service,comfortable beds and balcony with lakeside view. It is very quiet and quaint with no loud traffic or music. There is a nice restaurant in the lodge next to the harbor to enjoy breakfast or dinner. Bring your swimsuit and fishing pole,bikes or kayak too they have a great pool and a whole lake connected to the Tennessee River. Lots of hiking trails as well. You won't go wrong staying here it was very relaxing and wish I'd had more time to explore
Nice, quiet state park. My family and I had a great few days. There is a marina, cottages, cabins across the river, Lodge rooms, onsite dining, pool, hiking, frisby golf, and camping. We stayed in the lodge but we want to come back to the camp ground
Great hiking trails for those who have never been holy to those who are hard core hikers. Path were marked clearly. We had the Prime rib buffet which was Good. What the food lacked the staff was excellent
