Let me first apologize for not meeting your expectation in communicating to your about our policies in regard to booking weekend dates into the future with or without vouchers. My attempt at giving you a quick, but short response simply fell short. Clearly I did such a poor job that it prompted you to spend a good deal of time writing a lengthy review on Trip Advisor. Thank you- too often customers are silent with their concerns. Of course my fear is that any further explanation could simply make matters worse as your review of one star reveals just how frustrating the process must have been for you. I'm so sorry for that and can assure you that we have had lots of great experiences with folks who purchased discount vouchers over the years. However, I'd like to respond since you've chosen to take the issue public and my name and reputation are at stake.

Booking weekend dates: Having kept our preservation project known as the Lumber Baron a contributing member of the community for nearly 20 years has provided many lessons in business. As you know, the Lumber Baron Inn is unique in the marketplace- no other facility in Denver successfully hosts dozens of weddings, over 100 murder mystery dinners while hosting overnight guests in grand B&B fashion- points that align with the positive comments you made in the first part of your review. To stay in business and keep the preservation project alive, we've had to make choices about when we release our rooms for booking. We don't rent weekend rooms more than about two months out because we've found that such reservations can conflict with the successful booking of large events like weddings for instance. By about 60 days out, most weddings have already booked and this is also the window in which the vast majority of folks looking for a murder mystery dinner/overnight room package plan their night out. You're right when you say we're concerned about the bottom line-but we're in this business because we love people and we love the chance to please our guests. Your objection to our policy however I don't think takes into account the unique challenges we have in providing a variety of services to wide market of theater-goers, brides & grooms, and overnight guests. So the policy has nothing to do with the Living Social voucher redemption. I didn't consider putting this in the "fine print" as you suggested because in 18 years I very rarely get a reservation request like yours- six months into the future. Your request is very much the exception. I would hope you could consider these factors in fairness.

Ma & Pa vs. Big Box Hotels: The Lumber Baron Inn has four B&B rooms perfect for a night away, as you pointed out. But that's only four- we're the smallest B&B in Denver. Unlike the big box hotels where literally dozens or even hundreds of rooms go unsold frequently all to provide greater flexibility to the large, faceless corporations that manage the nationwide or even global chains, our four rooms simply don't provide enough wiggle room. Speaking of big- these new electronic coupon hawkers, or deal carriers, are in most of the cases are making better margins than the small business merchants themselves. Stories abound about ma & pa businesses driven under by the deep discounts demanded by this new social media. And as for Pa, well me, you got an email from him/me directly and promptly when you had a problem. That's certainly a sign that I care about you, your concern, and all my customers. I also realize that even though the Lumber Baron may be among the smallest lodging facilities in Denver, we have to play by the same rules as the biggest resorts so long as we're able to do so.

Another chance: I'm so confident that we can deliver you another five star experience, that I would hope you would give us another chance. With the new baby it sounds like you need a getaway and we'd like to be your destination. Because I pride being fair with the policy, I can't book your September date until about 60 days out, but if you'd like to visit sooner, we've got several weekend dates coming up. Thank you for taking the time!

Walter Keller
owner & Innkeeper
Lumber Baron Inn & Gardens

Thanks Jim- we love to hear the positive feedback from folks that visit the Lumber Baron for our Comedy Mystery Dinners. I'll give our in-house chef your compliments on the flank steak- don't forget that we change our menu monthly to take advantage of in-season favorites and add some diversity for our return guests. Thanks again Jim!