Willow Valley Inn & Suites

Summer sneak peak…

kbarnett — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 21:16:45 +0000

My favorite time of year is here! The flowers are blooming and we are getting ready for our busy summer season. I snuck into a few marketing planning sessions recently and overheard discussion about some awesome packages for this summer.

Looks like we are bringing back your favorites: Hersheypark^® and Dutch Wonderland packages as well as Thomas the Tank (coming June 16-24). But I’m really excited about the new Covered Bridge Package, Amish Experience Package and the new getaway packages including Jonah at Sight and Sound! Click here for reservations, available directly through Sight & Sound.

Check your mailboxes the end of this month for our spring newsletter with details about all these budget stretching spring/summer getaway packages and some special coupons!

~Will
will@willowval.com

An unexpected guest…

kbarnett — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 17:18:41 +0000

The excitement never ends here in Lancaster! Earlier this week, a trio of deer visited our Inn to the delight of guests. They traveled around the pond and enjoyed themselves. Then one buck, a six pointer, decided a rest was in order so he went into room 209 as housekeeping was still cleaning. Early check-in was not approved.

The housekeeper escaped, but Mr. Buck made himself “comfortable”, until he saw himself in the mirror. Upon seeing this “other” deer in the mirror, Mr. Buck went bizerk.

He thrashed around, broke the mirror and cut himself. Our front desk rescue team responded to an excited housekeepers call for help.

First responder on the scene, Jason, reported seeing three deer; Mr. Buck’s two friends were just outside the room waiting. By this time, Mr. Buck had had enough and checked-out of room 209 crossing route 222 along with his buddies. The three deer then split up, each going different directions.

We gathered plenty of DNA evidence and he shed his antlers at the scene so we’ll be able to contact him regarding the damages. No guests or Team Members were harmed during this event and Mr. Buck and friends departed with only minor scrapes. Perhaps we should mount his antlers in 209 and rename it, Buck Room???

Interested in staying in our Buck Room? Let me know!

~Will
will@willowval.com

I’m ready for Spring!

kbarnett — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 19:28:35 +0000

Our winter fest was AWESOME!!! I had so much fun at the dive in movie, jumping on the giant inflatables and singing at our karaoke dance party last night! Now it’s time to think spring. According to Punxsutawney Phil, we have a few weeks left of winter, but that doesn’t dampen my spring spirit.

Check out our Breakfast with the Easter Bunny event on Good Friday and plan you getaway around your favorite springtime activities with our Spring Break activity calendar. Here are some “must-do” Lancaster County activities:

Check back soon for some great overnight packages, details on our traditional Easter Feast and more!

~Will
will@willowval.com

Mud…Mud Bath..Mud Sale

kbarnett — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 20:27:31 +0000

First off…winter fest is almost here…I can hardly stand it! I’m super excited for the dive in moving on Sunday during the splash party. I L-O-V-E the movie “Dolphin Tale”! Not to mention the carnival, karaoke party (I’m practicing Five Little Ducks), chair massages, dad’s den and wine tasting! Families are going to have a B-L-A-S-T next week.

So today, I was out enjoying the beautiful weather this afternoon, and when I got home I realized how muddy I was! Boy, did I need a bath ASAP. As I washed away all that mud, I remembered about all the great mud sales here the next couple of months…appropriately named I think!

Read more about our traditional mud sales on the Lancaster Visitor’s Bureau website where you check dates and plan your next getaway…just don’t forget your rain boots!

Hope you had a great Valentine’s Day (Emma and I enjoyed fish by the pond), and Happy President’s Day!

~ Will
Will@WillowVal.com

Love is in the air!

kbarnett — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 16:18:52 +0000

Love is in the air at Willow Valley! That’s me and my girlfriend, Emma. We met here at the pond a few months ago and I can’t wait to treat her to some Willow Valley chocolates this Valentine’s Day!

Come getaway and treat your significant other to a Valentine’s Day worth remembering! I have details on some great packages available at both of Willow Valley’s great hotels and I can help you show your loved one just how you feel…I would suggest one of our luxurious DoubleTree suites or Jacuzzi rooms or one of our cozy Willow Valley Inn & Suites guest rooms.

Marco Polo might not be the epitome of romance, but our indoor pools and Jacuzzis are a must visit in February. What I can suggest for romance is dining in on of our charming restaurants – Cafe 24 Hundred, that overlooks our golf course and pond and Willow Tree Restaurant & Smorgasbord that overlooks the home of yours truly!

I’m looking forward for a romantic getaway with Emma and meeting all of you! Check out these Romance, and family, package getaways and as always, contact me if you have any questions!

~Will
will@willowval.com

Willow Valley Romance Package

Overnight accommodations including indoor entrance and coffee maker
Early check in at 2 pm and late check out at 2 pm
Two dinner smorgasbords night of arrival at Willow Tree
Two breakfast smorgasbords morning of departure at Willow Tree
Welcome box of assorted locally made chocolates
Complimentary bottle of champagne
Use of our on-site indoor pool, Jacuzzi and sauna
Access to amenities at our sister property, DoubleTree Resort by Hilton, including indoor pool, Jacuzzi and fitness center
Available February 1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 9, 13, 14, 15 and 16, 2012
$139 per night, per couple
For reservations, call 800-444-1714

DoubleTree Sweetheart Getaway

Overnight accommodations
Bottle of sparkling wine or cider
Box of deluxe chocolates from a Lancaster County chocolatier
Breakfast for two in Cafe 24 Hundred
Available February 3 – 29, 2012
Rates from $156
For reservations, call 888-251-4379

DoubleTree Family Package

Overnight accommodations
Hershey Valentine’s chocolate assortment
Do-it-yourself Valentines’ Day craft for kids
Willow Tree breakfast smorgasbord for two adults and two children (restaurant located at our sister property, Willow Valley Inn & Suites)
Available February 3 – 29, 2012
Rates from $157
For reservations, call 888-251-4379

Why hibernate when you can celebrate?

kbarnett — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 13:51:44 +0000

Happy New Year everyone! I’m exhausted from the holidays and festivities so I asked my DoubleTree friend, Miss Annie, to write this week’s blog.

Why hibernate when you can celebrate? That’s what we’re asking our guests this year at Willow Valley Resorts! To help families celebrate, we’re having our second annual Winter Family Fun Fest, an event that you certainly don’t want to miss! Join us February 19-22 for four fun days of activities, such as an indoor carnival, a dive-in movie party, karaoke night and more!

Here’s a break-down of the day-to-day activities…

02/19: Splash party at our and Dive-in Movie located in our indoor pool.

02/20-21: Indoor fun fest carnival, Dad’s Den and special activities just for mom.

**The indoor carnival includes the following activities…

Spin Art
Photo Booth
Sponge Bob Moon Bounce
Speed Pitch
7 Element Obstacle Course
ABC Obstacle Course
Carnival Games
Balloon Artist
Face Painter
Sno Cones, Hot Dogs, Popcorn and more!

02/22: Karaoke and Dance Party

In addition to the exciting activities mentioned above, several other amenities that our hotel offers are an indoor pool, an indoor kids water play area, a restaurant and lounge that are both contemporary and kid-friendly, a full fitness center and Jacuzzi…just to name a few. So, what’s the cost you might ask? Well, since we know that this is a family event, we’re trying to keep your family budget in mind. To get a rate for DoubleTree Lancaster, call 1-888-251-4379 or click here to make reservations with one of our team members. Interested in staying at Willow Valley Inn & Suites? Click here for reservations or call 800-444-1714 to speak with our reservations team.

Trust us, it’s an event that you truly don’t want to miss!

See you next month!

~ Miss Annie

Thanks Miss Annie! Do you have questions? Let me know: will@willowval.com

Come on 2012!

kbarnett — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 21:22:16 +0000

Happy holidays everyone! What did you get for Christmas this year? I woke up this past weekend under one of our beautifully decorated Christmas trees here at Willow Valley and shared some warm sticky buns with my family before we opened presents. Guess what I got…a dozen DoubleTree chocolate chip and walnut cookies! That might not be much to my non webbed-footed friends, but to a duck, it doesn’t get much better than chocolate chip cookies!

This week there is so much going on! The hotel is buzzing with families eager to enjoy our Big Bingo, indoor carnival and most of all, the tropical themed New Year’s Eve party! I’ve got a brand new grass skirt I’m excited to wear this weekend. Are you staying with us NYE? Check out our delicious smorgasbord menu and be sure to pick up a NewsWILLer at the desk so you have all the activity times and details.

Didn’t book your reservations yet? We have just a handful of rooms left, I suggest you call immediately and reserve your NYE room: 800-444-1714.

Looking forward to meeting so many of you this week! Happy Holiday!

~Will
will@willowval.com

Willow Valley Hibernation

kbarnett — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 21:17:32 +0000

January is so cold and quiet around Willow Valley. The hustle and bustle of the holidays is over and we flip our calendars to snowy January pictures. The shopping malls feel empty, restaurants are lonely and our hotels long for the warm spring days to celebrate family vacations again. This is a perfect time for Willow Valley to complete some much needed maintenance and prepare for 2012.

Temporarily, Willow Valley Inn & Suites and Willow Tree Restaurant & Smorgasbord will be closing the first two weeks in January. In order to complete the necessary maintenance tasks, many parts of our building will be without heat and/or water throughout this time therefore all of Willow Valley Inn & Suites and Willow Tree will be closed. Please see below for specific dates and times for all our outlets:

Willow Tree Restaurant
CLOSED January 2 @ 11 am. Reopening: January 13 @ 11 am

Willow Tree Smorgasbord
CLOSED January 2. Reopening: January 13 @ 5 pm

Willow Valley Gift Shop
CLOSED January 2. Reopening: January 13 @ 3 pm

Willow Valley Bakery will remain open throughout this time.
January 2 – January 12: 6 am – 2 pm
January 13 the bakery will return to normal operating hours, daily 6 am – 8 pm.

During this time, we encourage you to visit our sister property, DoubleTree Lancaster. Cafe 24 Hundred will be offering breakfast specials and features nightly dinner specials including “2 for $25” and “buy one get one free entrée” nights!

We wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas, prosperous New Year and look forward to serving you throughout 2012.

~Will and your Willow Valley Family
Will@WillowVal.com

200,000 Twinkling Lights…and Santa Claus

kbarnett — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 21:13:14 +0000

November 30, 2011

It’s finally December and the countdown to Santa’s arrival is on! Oh wait…he is already here for breakfast! Click here for details on our popular Breakfast with Santa event.

Our property management team has done an awesome job decorating our hotels for the season!

Since the middle of October, with only a short break for snow removal, our team has been setting up over 4,000 strands of twinkling lights! Plug all those in together and you get 18 miles of lights…which is just about the distance from Willow Valley to the Maryland border. Go figure…maybe on my next adventure I’ll leave Christmas lights instead of breadcrumbs…

Our deer family is back, with Bucky, Beauty and Bambi and our team has set up two manger scenes. My pond is decorated with a large arbor of stars and large twinkling tree and the topiary bells are up at all the light posts. Just this week, our team finished all the indoor decorating including:

80 poinsettias
18 Christmas trees
Christmas sleigh display
Countless other decorations in the common areas

Willow Valley is truly a sight to see at Christmastime! Hope to see you soon!

~Will
Will@willowval.com

A Warm Day Leads to Holiday Thinking…

kbarnett — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 21:12:49 +0000

November 15, 2011

It’s 60˚ here today at Willow Valley but that’s not stopping me from getting in the holiday spirit! Decorations are going up, turkey day prep is in and I’ve even started my Christmas shopping list – Willow Valley gift card for mom and dad, golf membership for my brother, Cafe 24 Hundred gift certificate for my neighbor and a reservation for Breakfast with Santa for me…I want to personally give him my Christmas wish list!

In just 9 short days, we will serve over 2,800 guests more than 1,600 lbs. of turkey, 250+ pumpkin pies and 1,200 lbs. of delicious, homemade, buttery mashed potatoes. Imagine getting up Thanksgiving morning to cook over 100 turkeys!

I’m betting your least favorite part of Thanksgiving dinner is the clean up. Am I right? Surprise…I have a solution for you that doesn’t involve bribing the kids. Make reservations for one of Willow Valley’s delicious Thanksgiving feasts. Check out the menu for Willow Tree Smorgasbord and Palm Court, then call today for reservations. Not many left, but we’ll find a time that’s perfect for your family. The best part, when you done with dinner, go home to your clean house with a clean kitchen and take a nap!

Looking to start a new family tradition? We recommend spending a few days with us next week…there is lots to do! Check out some great reasons to spend a few nights with us!

Can’t wait to see you next week! And as always, email me with questions. I’m happy to help!

~Will
will@willowval.com