Fourwinds Resort & Marina

Had our New Years Eve dinner there last year and it was great, when we called for reservations this year we asked what the menu was for the buffet, ie. salmon, prime rib ect. After goting throught the buffet half the items were not there, the prime rib was passable but the side dishes were unforgivable, undercooked items, cold items that should have been hot and when we complained to the wait staff we were told that there is nothing they could do about it. NEVER GOING AGAIN TO THE RESTUARANT!!!

Came here for 2 year anniversary. Loved the view and being on the lake. 1^st night ate at Wind Jammers food was okay and service was good. 2^nd night we sat for 15 minutes before asking the guy cleaning tables if we could get some menus. Our server Theresa finally came to take our order 30 minutes into our wait. She had walked by us several times seeing we had no menus. She was cleaning tables instead. Food was really good this night, service was horrible! Hotel could have been cleaner. Cricket in the room. No free breakfast. It cost $ 7.95 for breakfast which was the same as regular hotel breakfasts. Ice bucket in the room but no ice machine. Pool was beautiful aside from the green stuff on the rocks. Horrible tv quality, no channel guide. Front desk young girl Sara was the sweetest employee we came into contact with.
Stayed September 2013

Initially, we were extremely pleased with our stay here. Then, it turned very quickly. The ice machines (there are only 3 in the entire resort) never had ice in them. The air conditioning in our room did not cool very well. When we went to turn in our ticket to get reimbursed for parking (because you have to enter the State Park to get to the resort) they told us we needed to turn it in the first day and there was nothing they could do about it. So we did not get reimbursed for our parking. There are buckets throughout the resort collecting the water that is dripping from the ceiling. Although they off free WiFi, there is no reason to try to use it ad it does not get any signal. The staff did not try to resolve these problems at all.

We had reservations and arrived an hour + after check in time. There was a line of people waiting & disgruntled people milling around the lobby, as their rooms were not ready. We got our room keys right away but when we unlocked the room, other people’s things were already in the room! They were booked or overbooked and clearly unprepared to accommodate a full house. There were housekeeping staff scattered throughout the hallways, in rooms cleaning, etc and this was well after 5pm. We asked for our money back and left– we had the sense that it wasn’t going to be a good situation even if they found us an unoccupied room. Also the beach was closed due to high water. Pool was very small. Might be a nice place if managed better and more efficiently. Very disappointing for our kids who were looking forward to a few days at the lake.

This is my first time EVER writing a review for anything, but I feel compelled in hopes of informing customers and possible inspiring a change for the restaurant!
We had a family reunion here. We had 5 rooms, 12 people total. We loved the grounds, lake, pool and the rooms were great! BUT, the restaurant is really bad. It is the service! Our family hasn’t seen each other in years and we wanted to sit and eat together at one table. The first night we got there at 8 pm (they close at 9pm), we had to move tables and chairs ourselves. Then, it took 10 min before waitress came to our table to get drink orders, they were out of an ingredient for a drink my sister wanted from bar, so she changed her order, no big deal. It took another 25 min to receive our drinks, we then placed food orders.
I know it was 12 people and one waitress, but by the time she took orders we were ready for another drink. But we didnt dare order because we knee it would b a struggle. There were other waitresses nearby just stocking tables, and maybe only 4 other customers in there at the time.
Our food came about 9 – 915. My cheese fries were burnt to a crisp, the waitress offered to take them back, i didnt want to wait again and initially said no, but my family said send it back, it was inedible. She said no problem, but she came back and said «the kitchen said no, they turned off frier», she did take it off my bill,
By 9:25, they were now hurrying us out
Because they were closing! Ugghh!
This was our first night there, we could have made them soo much money, we would have all drank many drinks there. We just wanted to sit and socialize and eat and drink the whole weekend.
We went back the following day and they wouldnt sit us together, and service was just as bad! I spoke to manager, Harry, he just brought out a copy of reciept and said it had only been 20 min since «the order was put in», actually it was 50 min that we waited for our food before I complained! He obviously didnt care, no one is in a hurry to do anything,! He said it was a «big party», excuses, excuses!
Our weekend would have been perfect if they had better service!
It also took 3 trips to front desk for pillows that night! They told us they were out of pillows, but front desk clerk finally went to another room and got some for us!
If you go, it might be worth taking your own food and drinks to avoid this frustration!

It’s an okay place. Here for a business meeting and not much of a water person. Tried to use the restroom near the lobby and the floor was flooded from kids running in and out of the restroom from the nearby pool. The food was a little over cooked, but the service crew was friendly. My room could have been a little bit cleaner which caused me to clean the table tops before I set anything on them. The bed was questionable, feeling a little bit itchy.
At 3:30 in the afternoon, fellow coworker was not able to get into him room (it wasn’t ready yet). Another fellow coworkers room was given away and there were no other rooms available.
You only get one chance to make that 1^st impression, and they’ve failed at the little things. It’s those little things that lead to bigger ones causing me to never return here again.

I’ve been going to the Fourwinds since I was a child. A beautiful location with so many opportunities to be the best place in town. I was pretty excited to visit last night after being absent for awhile. First, my cheeseburger was delivered on a hoagie bun. Who does that right? A perfectly good burger ruined by a huge bun with a different shape. Next, the band is way back in some conference room set up on the floor. Who wants to keep walking back to the bar to get a drink? We stayed about 1 hour before we had had enough. I felt sorry for the band. Hopefully, this venue can once again rise to the glory of yesteryear but for now, please get a real bun for the cheeseburger.

Restaurant Review: We eat here often enough to know that sometimes the service is pretty good, and sometimes it’s downright awful. More recently though, the food has been great– that’s what really matters right? Most recently, upon walking in and seeing folks we knew, right off the bat they told us it was an extremely slow night. We grumbled a bit and the 4 of us and sat down anyway. After waiting for water/​pops for 15 – 20 minutes, we had to say something. To make a long story short, Harry stepped in and saved the day for us and took our table over. Because of him, we didn’t walk out after sitting for 15 minutes w/​o menus and go over to Eagle Pointe like our other 6 friends did who came in shortly after us did. The food was great; but looking around we noticed many other tables that sat and sat and sat without attention. I have extensive experience in this business. Harry was their shining star that night. Hopefully with better customer service training they’ll ALL be ready for the high season once the boaters start coming out.

Don’t bother trying to use the wi-​fi, it’s slower than dialup, and open as well. Hotel isn’t to bad for a crappy old school park hotel. Lot’s of old people. Get a room that faces the lake, otherwise don’t stay here. Also DO NOT eat the the restaurant it’s complete garbage, complete mismanagement and the servers are the worst. The food is off the charts bad, so bad they mess up breakfast, seriously how do you mess up breakfast

Loved this place! We had the best time. Our room was clean and spacious, the beach, pool and marina are also very clean. We opted to rent a boat and tube and I think it was the best thing we did! The staff are friendly and accommodating, always asking if we are having fun. They have a good thing going! Keep up the great work

The resort is the perfect family location, close to downtown Bloomington. There is so much to do that you really don’t need to leave the property. Our stay was great!, from the easy, no wait, courteous check in to the welcoming and accommodating marina staff.
The housekeeper, I didn’t get her name, was very funny and friendly, to find a friendly face in the resort is always a +.
We mostly enjoyed the beach on site, took in the beautiful grounds, and hung out by the grotto looking pool (i loved the pool).and snacked on the great nachos from the bar.
We spent a day fishing on the lake, which was fun, didn’t catch anything
We had a wonderful time and will return soon and often!

On a whim, we drove to Fourwinds (we live in Bloomington) about 3 weeks before Valentines weekend to check it out and see if we should «invest» in the Valentines package. I had been here years before — but only to rent boats from the Marina. I believe the hotel portion was closed during those visits.
We were certainly surprised when the young man at the front desk not only took our reservation, but also offered to let us see the selection of room types as well as ask us what floor (top, 3^rd) and view (lake view, of course) we preferred.
When you enter, you find a welcoming lobby with comfy leather furniture, fireplace and a great view of the lake and marina. It reminded me of a nice state park lodge with the dark wood and the wooden beams accenting the high ceilings.
So, based upon our inspection of the amenities and the rooms on our initial visit we decided to splurge on the Valentine’s special, which was overnight accommodations and a breakfast buffet the next morning.
Upon arrival Valentine’s evening, the two young ladies working the front desk were cheerful and helpful — — good start!
The walk to the rooms takes you down a corridor with dark wood room doors, and an almost a hip «retro» vibe (check out the hall carpet).
Our room was as requested — top floor (3^rd) and lakeview. The lakeview rooms each have a balcony with a table, 2 chairs and are semi-​private with a privacy screen between you and the next door neighbors.
The king size room offers a microwave, small refrigerator & private safe. My favorite parts of the room — river rock accent wall, the dark wood crown moulding, and of course the balcony overlooking the lake. Not to mention lots of water pressure!
The best surprise of our stay was the Trade Winds restaurant. Our waitress, while obviously busy, was attentive. Kudos to the kitchen as well. Our waitress shared with us that during their first hour of Valentines dinner service they served as many dinners as they had in total since the Trade Winds opened in late September 2013… Even with that challenge, the kitchen was still getting food out hot and in a timely manner.
Onto the food…
Yum, Round 1 — a complimentary bread basket of rosemary infused rolls and grain & sun-​dried tomato rolls.
Yum, Round 2 — our appetizer choice was fried green tomatoes on a bed of greens with tomato/​basil bruschetta and an avocado «whip» to dress the tomatoes. Off to a great start!
OK, Round 3 — salads. I had the house (mixed greens + dressing). Eric had the caesar. Not anything special other than the 2 slices of homemade pickle on my house salad… so maybe ¹⁄₃ of a Yum on the salads.
YUM *4!, Round 4 — Dinner was entrée + choice of 2 sides. I chose the scallops with a bacon butter sauce + the cheesy asparagus risotto + mixed vegetables (broccoli, mushrooms, yellow squash). Eric chose the filet + the cheesy asparagus risotto + garlic smashed potatoes. The scallops were cooked perfect and the bacon butter sauce was not overwhelming, but a lovely addition. Eric mentioned his filet was as nice as what you would be served at St. Elmos… now that is a compliment!
Round 5 — we could not even fathom ordering dessert. We could not even finish our entrees!
Total price for all of this food + a Bell’s Two Hearted & a decent glass of wine was $ 77 + tip. We could have easily spent this much or more at a decent restaurant in downtown Bloomington and not received the great service, nor the quality of food, nor the amount of food.
Good luck to Fourwinds & Trade Winds and thank you for a fantastic Valentines!

The Fourwinds Resort and Marina is a super spot to spend the weekend. It’s quiet, relaxing and peaceful. I stayed on a friends’ parents houseboat and we had a blast.

Quiet and definitely off the beaten path. Rooms are typical, nothing fancy but totally fine. Nice view of the lake. Didn’t try the restaurant, make the drive to Scenic View for a great brunch!

The resort looks nice but we didn’t stay there.
We were on a boat at the lake and decided to have lunch at the Wind Jammer restaurant. It was a beautiful day so we say outside. To our surprise, if sitting outside of the restaurant you have to order takeout from the restaurant and have no server.
The takeout service was horrible, waited 30 minutes to place and order then another 30 for the order to come up.
They really need to address this otherwise it’s a great spot with a beautiful view

We chose to stay at Fourwinds because we bought a Groupon that allowed us to stay there at a significant discount. The resort is undergoing a series of renovations, plus it’s off-​season, so I’m guessing the discounts were to just get guests there while they move forward toward summer.
Here’s the rundown:
Our suite was spacious and thought out well. The rooms were all renovated in the past year, so it was still shiny and new. The kitchenette included sink, microwave, dishwasher, oven, and refrigerator, plus dishes and flatware to use during our stay. The bar style counter and high-​seated chairs made for a nice little breakfast nook. Next to the kitchenette lies a lounge area with TV, couch, chair, coffee table, lamps, and plenty of room. This area was basic but comfortable with a classy look that includes lots of wooden surfaces and textures. The faux fireplace didn’t work at first glance, but we didn’t really mess with it much or ask about it, so it may well have worked if we knew what to do. Past the living area is a deck with some chairs and a table, perfect for a relaxing breakfast, evening dining, etc., with a beautiful lakeside view. The other half of the suite is a bedroom and large bathroom. Sliding doors come out of the wall to separate the two halves of the suite, if needed. Another chair sits by the bed, plus another TV and dresser, plus a pretty decent closet all round it out. The roomy bathroom includes two sinks and a large bathtub/​shower with nice marble-​style floors, plus the standard toilet tucked away in a corner — again, well-​thought.
The suite as a whole seems like it would be a pretty decent deal for the standard cost. A family could easily stay there and use an air mattress or two, the couch, perhaps a cot or rollaway beds, and with the kitchenette might save some $$ on meals.
The pool has a nice faux-​rock surrounding with plenty of deck chairs. An enclosure keeps the area warm enough in chilly weather but can be removed for warmer times, and it looks out over the lake.
The restaurant was under renovation while we were there, so we didn’t see it. The dining opportunities were available in the lounge/​bar. The breakfast seems pretty decent and included some hot foods (eggs, hash browns, biscuits and gravy, bacon) along with pretty standard continental choices and a waffle-​maker. We didn’t stop by for any other meals since part of our reason for choosing the location was to sample the many great restaurants in Bloomington. We did receive some dining vouchers, so we used them a little for breakfast and mostly at the bar (for hard cider to take home with us more than anything else). The bar hours were erratic. The first night we wanted to visit it just to check it out, but they had closed around 9, we were told, and we were informed that they do that if it isn’t busy. The next night, they had a bunch of conference attendees around, so they were open until well after 9, which is when we visited. The person behind the bar (not an actual bartender) didn’t know how to make a Manhattan, so that tells you the type of bar it is – mostly just playing on the resort theme with basic (watered-​down, we noticed) drinks. The next night, the bar was closed before even 8, and we couldn’t have ordered food at that point, either. Our guess is that they were just winging the whole situation because of the off-​season, but a sign on the bar explaining the situation would have been really nice and thoughtful toward guests who may have decided to not spend every waking moment at the hotel. I’m sure they’ll have more standard hours and such by the summertime.
The location itself — inside a state park, lakes on two sides, absolutely gorgeous with deer all over the place. Bloomington — with amazing restaurants, plenty of arts and culture, and of course the university — sits only about a 20 – 25 minute drive away. We found the location quite perfect for us.
Overall, my wife and I enjoyed visiting a place that was pretty good and seems well on the way to getting better. We’re already hoping to visit again some summer.

Awesome marina, but I just love water. Looks good from the outside. Inside the 2 rooms I saw were old and everything showed its wear and tear. First room smelled overwhelming of ammonia. In second room you could not get enough hot water to use the shower — it has a third valve to operate the shower, but you could not turn it so that all the hot water would stop coming out the tub faucet, but the cold water would flow out the shower! I expected more for $ 119 a night.