The Elkhorn Cabins are 4 cabins built into a quad-plex.  We stayed in cabin # 1, as we were told it afforded the most privacy, and this was correct.  It was one of the few things we were told that was correct.

It's not that they're a horrible place to stay, and if we needed the sleeping arrangement again and they were cheap enough, we'd consider them again.  However, for just the 2 of us, we'll go to Hot Springs Inn.

In the booking process, the price went up considerably, but they honored the original price without any argument, although we had to argue to get the included 2 free passes to the hot springs water park.

A few facts about Cabin #1:

• The units are not air conditioned.  This was not a problem during our fall stay, but someone staying in the summer might want to know it.
   

• The website shows a queen bed with furniture in the master bedroom.  This is incorrect.  It had a king bed, which we prefer, but there was no furniture at all.  There was a wall shelf that we used for clothing, etc.  There was no dresser, night stand -- anything.  The mattress was so hard I literally felt it the first night to see if we were sleeping on the box springs.  A simple mattress pad (<$100) would have made a world of difference.
   

• There were 4 of us.  We had to space our showers so we'd have hot water.  Why they didn't go tankless, or at least larger, is beyond me.
   

• When we arrived, I immediately went to the table and leaned on one of the chairs (I am handicapped and can barely walk).  The chair wobbled, as the lower support structure was broken.  Had I sat in the chair without checking it out, I would have no doubt been on the floor.  With my back (2 spinal surgeries), I would have been in the emergency room.  When I reported this to management the next day, they told me it was the responsibility of the cabin owner, but they'd stop by.  They took the chair and glued it, but it was still too unstable for me.  I would think the legal liability would be tremendous.
   

• All the furniture looks like it was purchased at a garage sale ... a really bad garage sale.  Unlike the pictures on their website, the washer and dryer do not match, and there is no furniture whatsoever in the master bedroom.  I had to lay my watch, phone, etc. on the floor.  (It appears they could rotate the bed 90 degrees and make room for night stands, but I didn't measure it.)
   

• You don't find out until you get there, but they only leave you a very small amount of supplies, such as toilet paper and soap.  It's up to you to replenish these items, even though they charge you the same amount per day until you reach the 7th day.
   

• The website speaks of free passes to the hot springs water park, but they were not there as promised. When I asked, I was told we didn't qualify as we had a discount rate (we paid the rate they quoted in the website), but they finally brought us 2 passes (there were 4 of us).  The water park was great.
   

• The silverware was sparse.  There were only 3 forks.  When I told the management company about it (at the same time as the chair), they said they'd let the owner know, but emphasized it wasn't their responsibility.  We went to the store and bought silverware, as well as a saucepan, as there was none.
   

• There were 3 keys;  there were 4 of us.
   

• The unit was in bad disrepair.  It would take very little to make this a very nice cabin, but it has been neglected.  Even the tile in the master bath was installed incorrectly (it didn't rotate 90 degrees with each tile.)  If that sounds picky, it just shows how carelessly these cabins were constructed (there were large gaps between the tiles, too;  I have installed vinyl tile, and it's not rocket science).  The careless construction has been follow by careless maintenance.
   

• The master bathroom is small, small, small.  The commode is so close to the wall it is difficult for a large person to use.  I didn't see the upstairs bathroom, as I don't do stairs.  Receptacles in the bathroom were insufficient -- another problem that could have been solved by spending a few dollars on a adapter.
   

• Most hotels use a curved shower curtain rod to give more room in the shower.  No such thoughts here.  I fought the shower curtain, but not for long.  I was usually the last to shower, and that mountain water is cold after the hot water heater is depleted.
   

• When we made the reservation, we were told how great and romantic the pellet stove was, and we were looking forward to it.  When we arrived, the instruction booklet said to use the pellet stove instead of the electric heat, except in extreme cold.  We couldn't get the pellet stove to light, even after trying for about an hour, so we used electric heat in spite of their instructions.  When I spoke with the management company the next day, I was told they don't turn on the pellet stove until November (we were there the end of September).
   

• Their very-lengthy instruction manual says no firearms are permitted.  I immediately drove back 15 hours to Texas to put up my pistol which I was legally carrying.  Okay, that was a bit of exaggeration.
   

• Their manual apparently intends to say you can't block anyone's drive and you can't park a commercial vehicle in the parking area.  What it actually says is you can't block anyone's drive unless you're driving a commercial vehicle.  Literacy is apparently lost here.
   

• We had difficulty getting the Wi-Fi to work.  It was very intermittent.  We could occasionally get onto someone else's that was unlocked;  most of the time we used our iPhones.

There were positive aspects to the cabins.  The loft allowed our daughter and son-in-law some privacy (although it is open to the living area for noise), and we had privacy in the master bedroom downstairs.  It was nice to be able to come back to the cabin and cook, in spite of the lack of silverware and cooking utensils.  Having 2 restrooms (such as they were) was nice, too.  The lack of toilet paper didn't bother us, as we always take Charmin with us, but I thought it was rather cheap of them not to provide it ... or soap.

There was a propane grill on the front porch, but we never used it.  This could be such a nice place if a handyman would spend a few hours in the unit, and if the management company gave a rat's rear about the clientele.  It's so annoying because with a very little work and minor concern, this could be a fantastic place to stay.

Unit 1, where we stayed.  It had more privacy than the other units, some of which faced US-550.	Unit 2.  To get to unit 1, one has to drive around the left side of unit 2.
Because of the tight quarters, we parked at the side of unit 2.		Front door view from Unit 1.  The young man who lives in the house (shown) was very friendly, and so was his dog.
Many holes in the walls	When the 99 cent receptacle is broken, you "fix" it by installing a child-proof cap.  (Master bedroom, Unit 1.)
The front door screen (right) was falling off.  It kept hitting me as I tried to open the door.

 

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1425 Black Champ Rd., Waxahachie, TX   75167