Kohl’s Ranch Lodge

Kohl’s Ranch Lodge has rustic decor and a relaxed atmosphere that's enhanced by its remote mountain location. The main lodge/lobby area has high ceilings, a mix of brown leather seating and wood furniture, a large stone fireplace, and walls full of art (including paintings of 20th-century Western author Zane Grey). There's also free coffee, tea, and hot chocolate available. A Wild West vibe filters through the on-site restaurant, Zane Grey Steakhouse and Saloon, which has wagon wheel light fixtures, wooden walls, and tan leather booths. Saddles, lanterns, bridles, and a large stuffed bear also adorn the space and add to the Western feel. The bar area is covered in wood, with antique light fixtures, a stone fireplace, and gray carpet, and includes modern flat-screen TVs and a pool table. The grounds are well maintained and have swinging wood bench seats as well as barbecue and picnic areas that look out over Tonto Creek. Note that there is limited cell phone reception due to the remote location.

Kohl’s Ranch Lodge is right on Tonto Creek, in the largest ponderosa pine forest in the world and right at the base of the Mogollon Rim. Tonto Creek Fish Hatchery is a 12-minute drive away, while Payson’s city center takes 20 minutes to reach. Staircase Waterfall, Tonto Natural Bridge, and Payson Golf Course are all around 25 minutes from the property, but the closest airport, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, is an hour and 45 minutes away.

Kohl's offers a variety of rooms, from hotel-style studios to private cabins with two bedrooms. Wood dining tables plus patterned couches and armchairs decorate the living areas, as do flat-screen TVs, DVD players, iPod docks, and phones; some rooms also have stone fireplaces. The rustic design continues with wood bed frames and furniture, reddish carpet, green or brown bed runners, and Western art in the air-conditioned bedrooms. All units have kitchens or kitchenettes with coffeemakers, microwaves, mini-fridges, and toasters, although Efficiency Rooms lack sinks and proper counter areas in the kitchenettes, which are really just grouped-together appliances. Upgraded rooms also have washer/dryers, sinks, dishwashers, and stoves. Bathrooms are small and have tan walls with wood or gray floors; the toilets/showers are separated from the sinks by a door. All come with large showerheads and Terra Green toiletries, and while many of the bathrooms have shower/tub combos, some have walk-in showers and jetted tubs. All rooms/cabins have patios or decks with seating, some with hot tubs that look directly out over Tonto Creek. Only weekly housekeeping is available at this property.

The hotel's outdoor kidney-shaped pool and adjacent hot tub are open year round, and are surrounded by tan chairs and cement benches. The on-site restaurant/bar, Zane Grey Steakhouse and Saloon, serves American cuisine for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but past guests have rated the food as mediocre. Sports courts including tennis, basketball, volleyball, and shuffleboard are kid-friendly and surrounded by greenery, and there's a putting green, a ping-pong table, and a horseshoe pit. There’s also a colorful playground with slides and climbing equipment. 

The fitness center has cardio machines and free weights and there is a business center with a copier and printer. Only those over 18 can use the fitness center and basketball, volleyball, and tennis share one court with a moveable net. Kohl’s Ranch Lodge is pet-friendly, with kennels and horse corrals on-site, but only club members/owners can bring pets and there are a limited number of pet rooms/cabins; pets also incur fees. Additionally, a mandatory resort fee is tacked on to all rooms, and it covers Wi-Fi, pool and fitness center access, and nationwide calls from in-room phones.