Thank you for considering Moosilauke Ravine Lodge for your special event. The Lodge is very close to our hearts and we are honored that you have considered working with us. The original Lodge was built in 1938 and opened in the winter of 1939 as a skiing destination just as skiing began to catch on in the United States. Our new building, completed in the Fall of 2017, operates in the spring, summer and fall and still reflects that basic hearty, rustic, outdoor-focused heritage.
Due to high demand and our dedication to undergraduate use of the space, we are very limited in our ability to accept exclusive-use reservations. Note that the Lodge is not a venue intended for large events, so we have certain limitations and will not be able to accommodate every event request. Here are the basic parameters for use; within these parameters we look forward to working with you to make your event everything you want it to be.
To request exclusive use of the Lodge for your event, please email moosilauke.ravine.lodge@dartmouth.edu with a description of the event, 1-3 potential dates, an estimate of the number of guests expected, and whether it is a Dartmouth-affiliated group or not. If possible, please also mention which meals you would like included for your event and any additional requests or special services.
Our rates are inexpensive compared to many other local facilities and reflect the fact that the Lodge is rustic, and run by a wonderful and ever-changing group of Dartmouth students and recent alums. Minimum rates vary according to season, staffing, and our schedule.
The maximum you will be charged is the total of your room, board, services, linens, tax, and tip (18% for all served meals), or the minimum charge plus tax, whichever is greater. This includes all meals (except bagged lunches), services, and lodging you choose but does not include 9% NH Rooms and Meals Tax. The exclusive use “day” runs from 10:30am to 9:30am the next morning. You may be asked to put down a security and cleaning deposit on top of your regular deposit. Please note that any damage to the facility or additional cleaning required as a result of your event will result in additional fees.
Dartmouth groups can expect different rates than general public groups. A Dartmouth event is one in which at least 90% of the attendees are students or employees of Dartmouth College.
Please reach out to learn more specific details.
Note that the Lodge is not a wedding venue and does not accept reservations for wedding receptions.
The smallest group that can reserve exclusive use is 40 people. If your party is less than 40, you will have an opportunity to meet wonderful new people, one of the highlights of any Lodge visit!
We can serve a seated family-style dinner to 104 people at once in our main room. If we are using buffet service, we can serve up to 104 people. If every bed in the Lodge and bunkhouses is filled, including two people per double bed, we can sleep 110. These really are our maximum numbers. We do not allow camping or pitching a tent of any kind.
For exclusive use, we charge a $1000 deposit no matter the size of the group or whether or not it is a Dartmouth or public group.
Cancellations made more than 6 weeks (43 days or more) in advance will be refunded the entire deposit. Cancellations made between 6 weeks but more than 3 weeks (42 to 21 days) in advance will be refunded half the deposit. Cancellations made less than 3 weeks (fewer than 21 days) in advance will forfeit the deposit.
We will need your final total number of guests the Monday a week or more before your event. This is because we order food on Tuesday (this may change during some times of the year — the manager will let you know when numbers are needed). We order and prepare food carefully to ensure that there is plenty for everyone with as little waste as possible. Please be as accurate as possible.
Because of the tight quarters in our kitchen, we strictly do not allow caterers. Similarly, we do not allow rented china or glassware for space and breakage reasons, with the sole exception being champagne flutes.
Dinners at the lodge always consist of fresh, home-baked bread, homemade soup, a green salad, an entrée, side dish, and homemade dessert with coffee and tea. We can provide a vegetarian option if requested in advance. We have several popular menus for you to choose from and can work to accommodate various dietary needs. Please alert us well in advance of any allergies, especially life-threatening allergies, so that we can take the proper precautions when preparing your meal. Dinner is served at 6:30pm.
Meals are served family style in courses. We start with the fresh bread, followed shortly by the famous tall pot of homemade soup served into individual bowls at each table by the crew. The soup course is followed by salad, served in salad bowls to be shared by each table. Next comes the entrée with a side dish, vegetarian options are often served on individual plates. Once all the guests have finished their meal and the crew has cleared the majority of the dishes, a crew member will welcome everyone to the Lodge, introduce the crew, and run through a few house rules as well as make any necessary announcements. Usually at this point the crew member will give a short talk on a topic of interest, which can be tailored to your group if you would like. This is also a good time to make toasts or short speeches. Directly following this “dinner talk”, dessert is served and coffee, decaf and tea are made available. Following dinner the crew will clear all remaining dishes and set up the main room for the evening program if you have scheduled one. This means asking dinner guests to move downstairs to the library or outside to take the air, so that the crew can move tables and sweep the floor efficiently. For a more formal event the guests can retire to the lounge in the basement for a reception. Please work with us so that we can get things set up as quickly as possibly for you. During this time we will also assist the band to set up and/or set up the speakers, a projection screen, or other requested items for your evening.
Breakfast at the Lodge is a patented anti-Atkins formula to keep you hiking all day. We start off with applesauce and steel-cut oatmeal with lots of raisins and brown sugar for your sprinkling pleasure. Hot breakfast food alternates between a) Scrambled eggs, a bread, muffin, or coffee cake and a breakfast meat; and b) Pancakes and a breakfast meat. And of course there is plenty of coffee, tea, hot chocolate, orange juice and milk. Breakfast is served at 7:30am.
Other services such as bagged or buffet lunches, coffee breaks, and receptions can be arranged on request.
We welcome you to decorate the Lodge and grounds. Poster-sized high school graduation pictures are great for a 50th birthday party, and potted flowers or balloons out at the turn off to the Ravine Road reassure guests they are on the right track. We do not recommend table decorations because of the size of the tables, but flowers and other decorations look great on the windowsills, side tables and fireplace mantel. We do not allow candles owing to the fire hazard. Please do not forget to take your decorations with you when you go.
Guests are welcome to bring beer or wine to enjoy with their meal; however, the Lodge does not have a liquor license and the crew cannot serve alcoholic beverages. You are welcome to arrange for a bartender and we will work with him or her to set up a serving area. In accordance with campus policy, hard alcohol is not permitted at the Lodge. All visitors, groups, and events must comply with New Hampshire state law concerning alcohol. All Dartmouth students and student groups must comply with the College's alcohol and other drugs policy. Drinking games are not permitted in the Lodge, bunkhouses, or on the adjacent grounds. All guests are expected to behave in an appropriate manner at the Lodge. Violation of any of these policies could result in a guest being asked to leave, a call to the local police, and/or, for students, a report to their dean.
We strongly recommend that if you have not stayed at the Lodge before, you spend an overnight with us to make sure our accommodations will work for your group, especially if you are bringing elderly people or small children. We have comfortable single, double and triple bunks, rooms of from 2 to 12 beds, and central shared bathrooms with showers. Rooms are unheated and have electricity but not plumbing. Bunks come with a mattress pad, pillow, fresh pillowcase, and blanket. Sleeping bags are available for rent for $8, or many people choose to bring their own linens or sleeping bag.
Dogs are welcome at the Ravine Lodge. Owners are responsible for dogs at all times and waste should be cleaned up immediately. Because of food service regulations, they may not be in the main room during food service. Please be aware that because of the room configurations, you should plan to book an entire room for your party so that no other guests are surprised to be sharing a room with your four-legged friend.
The Lodge is a popular starting point for hikes and passers-by often stop to fill up water bottles, use the restroom, or look at a map. During your exclusive use event signs can be posted informing people to use the lower entrance at your request.
The Lodge has a large projection screen for slides or movies, an amplifier, two large speakers, and at least one microphone that you are welcome to use to play live or canned music. We do not have a stereo for your use so please bring a device of your own with a rca stereo cord (the one that splits into two plugs, one red, one white); these can include iPods, MP3 players, compact disc players. etc. A digital projector may be available for guest use. We also have a piano for your tinkling enjoyment. We are happy to suggest bands, particularly contradance bands and callers. Since the crew lives in the Lodge, we ask that you wrap up your evening’s activity by 11pm, so they can get some sleep and cook you a good breakfast. Please speak with the manager if you would like to make other arrangements. We are full of ideas for great evening programming. Perhaps your group would like to hear the Lodge’s own ghost story told (although we do not recommend this for anyone of a feeble or weak constitution), learn more about the forest history of Mount Moosilauke, or have a sing-along.
Any guests visiting the Ravine Lodge may be charged a cleaning fee for excessive mess left behind or replacement of damaged property. Please be respectful of our space, which is a home to many students, alumni, and community members.
