Bass Lake Park and Retreat Center

This venue was spectacular! The scenery was beautiful as it was the fall season. Our pictures are wonderful! The clubhouse is not very big but our wedding of approximately 80 people did fit, we moved tables to create dance space when we were ready for that part of the reception.

This venue was stunningly beautiful, and the perfect place for our wedding. They were pretty flexible on most things, and we had a great time. The only things that were difficult was getting someone on the phone... In order to ask a question, you had to drive there and go into the office, and on the night of the reception, we couldn't get the lights to stay down... We wanted to set the mood to dance and have a good time, but someone would keep cranking them back up to as bright as they would go!Other than that, this venue is ideal, and we enjoyed having our wedding there!

It is a very beautiful location!!! Prices are reasonable. The staff are the most pleasant and they are not very good at picking up the phone and/or returning phone calls. Emails, don't even try. The best way to get answers is to go in person, but then you may even wait a bit to be helped.

Dealing with Bass Lake was easy in the beginning, as it was winter and they didn't have their summer staff there. As our event neared and we were finalizing things, that's when the bugs in the system started showing up. We talked to a summer staff person when we called for a walk through with our event planner, and she wasn't interested in making friends, or learning customer service.Just a few things we learned after the contract was signed: All music is to stop at 11:00 p.m., which is not really spelled out in the initial meeting you have, no flames on the deck, (no candles regardless of container), no smoking (not really an issue with us, but definitely with some of the guests), very small kitchen that had other peoples stuff in the refrigerator, you can't move any of the outside tables to accomodate a large group, (we did it anyway, and just moved them back) and one exterior plug for the whole outside venue. If you are serving beer and wine you have to hire an off duty police officer who wants paid in cash and leaves at the stroke of 11. For the wedding reception, the main room was to be totally empty of all tables and chairs, as we rented our own, and the caterers had to remove the Bass Lake things, and then set up for our wedding. We were told Bass Lake staff would take care of this, and the contract states that we get one set up and one break down. NO FLEXIBILITY - and unknown to us, the park closes at 6, so if you want your evening wedding to go on past that, you have to hire park workers to stay. All of this is not made clear until you sign the contract, and then go home and read it thoroughly. Even then, some things are open to interpretation.Basically, if it not been for an outstanding event planning company, (Premiere Catering, who totally stepped up to the plate and took over making things nice), the reception would have stressed everybody out considerably. Overall, we made it a point to be compliant and obey all of their rules, but we had to be very innovative and flexible.The setting is beautiful, and is kept spotlessly clean. The photos all turned out well, but maybe not the best place for an evening party.

the park and reatreat center was a little pricy to reserve, and had several rules about smoking and liquor that may not be suited to some brides. I personally chose the location for sentimental reasons, and I am happy with the decision I made. the staff were very helpful in planning for the actual day, and lent a hand day-of whenever they could. The deck, which I used for my ceremony, was decorated with beautiful hanging plants and potted plants, so my decoration costs could have been lower than I planned for. the kitchen and indoor area seated 75 people for dinner comfortably, and we had access to the entire site with plenty of time to get things ready and clean up.