Situated on the Nova Scotia South Shore, the River Ridge Lodge is centrally located near several touristic draws, including Mahone Bay, Oak Island (Curse of Oak Island Show), and Lunenburg, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The lodge has been owned and operated by Frauke and Mike since 2017. The establishment takes on a historic farmhouse character, considering the fact that the building dates back over 120 years ago. Visitors who previously stayed at the establishment have also commented on the "peaceful" atmosphere being a notable element of the property, as mentioned by Frauke. Rural land encompasses a considerable portion of the surrounding environment of the bed and breakfast. Workshops, retreats, and events are occasionally hosted at the property, including an annual Christmas Wreath Workshop, and guests are welcome to sign up for it.
The River Ridge Lodge is located in Nova Scotia on an almost ten-acre expanse. One of the owners of the property, Frauke, describes the establishment as a "historic farmhouse" with a "modern interior." She further explains that the inside of the building is "modernly furnished," without antiques or other similar vintage items. The bed and breakfast currently offers three units that can accommodate up to eight people in total. Of the three units, one of the guestrooms can be found on the first level of the two-story building, while the other two units are upstairs. Additionally, on the first level is what is known as the guest lounge. Visitors can utilize the provided card games, fridge, kettle, coffee maker, maps, table, dishes, and cutlery.
Amenities in each of the three units include TVs with Netflix and Prime, kettles, an ironing board, a desk, ensuite bathrooms, a fridge, air conditioning, and fiber-optic Wi-Fi. On the first floor, the unit known as the Deluxe Queen contains a queen-size bed and several windows that can be opened. One of the guestrooms on the second story is a two-bedroom unit with a king-size bed in one bedroom and two twins in the other. The Deluxe King, on the other hand, has a king bed and several windows. Beyond the amenities in each guestroom, the owners also provide patrons complimentary beach towels, snowshoes, and bikes for those interested in outdoor recreation.
A customizable German-inspired breakfast is optional and is served at River Ridge Lodge as an add-on for an additional fee. Regarding food allergies, Frauke remarks that they are "very flexible" and can accommodate such dietary restrictions, especially if patrons let her know in advance. Guests who choose to purchase breakfast are given the option to have their breakfast served between 8:30 and 9:15 a.m.
One of the River Ridge Lodge's most unique elements is the expanse of the property bordering nature and that Frauke and Mike keep a dog and a cat on the property. The cat is a black and white tuxedo cat that goes by the name of Max. As for the dog, Charlie, Frauke and Mike mention on their website that he "loves children" and "is a very gentle giant."
Outside the confines of the home, a fair amount of spatial areas constitute the acreage, which guests are free to roam at their leisure. Picnic tables are available on the premises, as well as a gazebo. As the property is located on Martins River, Frauke mentions that there is a dock in close proximity at the bottom of the property and close to the bed and breakfast that visitors can access. Several flower fields and rural areas also encompass the land within the boundaries of the grounds.
Several attractions can be found near River Ridge Lodge, many of which entail outdoor activities. Frauke and Mike, the two owners of the bed and breakfast, recommend their guests visit Lunenburg, Petite Rivière, Rum Runners Trail, and Gaff Point. With regard to nearby restaurants, the owners tend to direct their visitors to the local restaurants in Mahone Bay, including Mateus Bistro, Oh My Cod, Rebecca's Restaurant, and Betty's at the Kitch'Inn. Frauke comments that she can make reservations for restaurants for those who are interested, as well as other activities.
The River Ridge Lodge is typically open year-round, but it should be noted that the business occasionally closes for a couple of months during the slower seasons of operation, such as January and December. More recently, the peak season for the property has occurred from June to early October. However, the owners anticipate that July to September may become the busiest time of year for the bed and breakfast.
The River Ridge Lodge enforces a few notable policies that patrons must abide by during their stay. Concerning smoking, visitors are welcome to do so outside "as long as they don't disturb anyone," Frauke, one of the owners, says; however, smoking is strictly prohibited inside the building. Furthermore, pets are not permitted to stay at the bed and breakfast due to some guests having pet allergies and the dog and cat that the owners keep on the grounds. Kids are welcome to stay at the River Ridge Lodge, as Frauke remarks that their property is "one of the only bed and breakfasts in town that has a family suite."
Eco-friendly practices are important to Frauke and Mike, the other property owners, and they strive to implement such manners as innkeepers. One example of their efforts is the 32 solar panels that were added to the barn roof of the establishment. According to the River Ridge Lodge's website, "Almost all landscape lighting is solar powered." Inside each guestroom, there are blue recycling boxes for guest use. The owners also avoid mowing some fields where wildflowers grow for the bees on the property and encourage the bee population. Several other environmental-friendly practices are listed on the bed and breakfast's website.
Frauke and Mike want their guests to feel welcome and relaxed during their time at the property. They both strive to create a "homey" atmosphere that can "make everybody feel welcome." Frauke remarks that she strives to "always be friendly and kind." She also mentions that several visitors who previously stayed at the River Ridge Lodge have made positive comments in reviews about the environment of the general area. One visitor made remarks about the service that was provided by the innkeepers, saying, "Frauke is a warm and friendly host, offering plenty of insights on how to enjoy the area and treating her guests like special friends. She made us a dinner reservation at one of her favorite restaurants when we arrived to make sure we had a chance to have dinner. The rooms are clean and well-appointed." Frauke interacts with her guests frequently.
Some of the efforts Frauke has made, such as applying for programs that focus primarily on online advertising, have aided in the overall success of her business. She further explains that she has done "networking in town," which has helped her as a property owner. Many of the online platforms that the River Ridge Lodge is a part of, including Booking.com, Expedia, Airbnb, and the bed and breakfast's website, have contributed to the success of her business, according to Frauke.
A barn currently resides on the premises of the River Ridge Lodge and is occasionally utilized as an event center. Some of the events that the property has hosted, or is planning to host, include a Christmas wreath-making workshop, a watercolor painting workshop, a yoga retreat, and an annual barn party, to name a few.
The original owners of the current River Ridge Lodge property and farmhouse were a French family. At that time, the property covered nearly 100 acres of farmland. For several years until 15 years before the current owners purchased the property, it was a bed and breakfast and llama farm. Many local people who remembered this earlier history of the property used to call the property "the old llama farm," according to Frauke. Eventually, the house became run down, and the current owners extensively renovated the home and property and re-established it as a bed and breakfast. It wasn't until May of 2018 that Frauke and Mike completed the majority of renovations and opened the bed and breakfast to the public. One of Frauke's favorite parts of her job as an innkeeper is "meeting people;" she mentions that her husband, Mike, "loves tending to the land."
River Ridge Lodge has been owned and operated by Frauke and Mike since September 2017; however, the building dates back to 1905 and is now almost 120 years old. The barn that can currently be found on the grounds dates back over 150 years ago. Since the current innkeepers gained ownership of the property, the establishment has undergone a considerable number of renovations. As Frauke mentioned, such renovations entailed fixing the roof, changing the oil furnace to a "modern Boderus furnace," fixing ceilings, removing rot in various areas, adding solar panels to the barn roof, adding heat pumps into all of the bed and breakfast's rooms, and painting the interior and exterior of the building. Beyond the previously listed repairs, the property has had several other renovations throughout the time of Frauke and Mike's ownership.
28 Silver Point Road
Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia B0J 2E0
Canada
Bed and Breakfast
Frauke and Mike
