Barnsley Gardens Resort

This place is beautiful.  The map makes it look huge, but from the mansion to the pool is about 300 yards.  Despite the proximity of the other guest cottages, the landscaping made our cottage feel secluded.  There are a variety of activities, and our experience there was spotty at best.  
Some great things and some really disappointing things as well.  
1.  Cell Phone service: I have Sprint and my phone had no service while at the resort, except at high points on the golf course and at the shooting course.  My boyfriend has AT&T and he had full bars throughout.  
2.  The in-room, free wi-fi signal was very weak in our suite and non-existent while out of the cottage.  If college campuses can be completely internet accessible, so should this resort OR they should be very up-front about the lack of connectivity.  
3.  Pets: We brought an 85 pound dog and she was welcome everywhere except the pool and restaurants.  It would be nice if there was a fenced dog play area where the pooches could be off leash.  After three days, the dog definitely had cabin fever.  If you are bringing a dog, you must book a suite.
4.  The four  fire pits are a nice gathering space and s'more fixings are available at 6pm every night.  The staff will even start the fire for you before 9pm.
5.  The service was spotty, the staff was either pleasant or standoffish.  No-one was excellent.  IMO the key to excellent customer service is flexibility.  As a customer, I don't like hearing "no" and as a Disney employee I was trained to not tell a guest no, unless it was a safety issue.  
     A 20% gratuity was included in every bill, even the pool snack bar and was not adjustable.  Additionally, an $18.00/day/person resort fee applied.
6.  Food was disappointing.  It is a remote resort, and we are a captive audience so I would expect variety and flexibility in the kitchen.  They don't make pizza on property.  The closest delivery place is 45 minutes away and it is Pizza Hut.  They also won't make a club sandwich, even though the kitchen has bread, a toaster, sliced turkey, bacon, mayo and lettuce.  They don't have any quick grab options, so if you want to eat before your 9:30 tee time plan to sit down at the grill no later than 8:15, or order room service by the same time.  
7.  Our suite was clean and had wood floors, a front and back porch and a standard bed.  The linens would also be found in a Holiday Inn Express or Econo Lodge.  The shower was large, with plenty of hot water and adjustable water pressure.  

Overall, a nice place to spend a few days with a variety of activities but the service and accommodations are not on par with the prices.

I visited Barnsley for the first time Memorial Day weekend and was overwhelmed by the beauty and peacefulness of the resort. I loved that all of the accommodations where in cottages. Our cottage has four entrances/ four larger than normal hotel sized, very nice appointed rooms, and a very large bath. We loved just relaxing in the rocking chairs on the front porch enjoying the lush greenery. We took a little hike, had a drink in the beer garden, watched the families playing on the green. I cannot say enough good things about the Woodland Grill where we had dinner. Although it had a bit of an upscale feel to it, we did not dress up and did not feel odd. Our meal was simply top notch. We started sharing the fried lobster tail, then split a salad. For our entree both of us got the blackened redfish served on a bed of the creamiest, to-die-for rice with asparagus. It was heaven. Somehow we also made room for bread pudding, which while good, was not the best I've had. It was a pricey meal, but we both thought worth it.  That evening we enjoyed the benefit of a band that was playing for a wedding there. The next day we had lunch at the grill as well. The food was adequate, but service very lacking that occasion. Then we explored the gardens and ruins before leaving, which had been closed the previous day due to the wedding. No the resort it not cheap, but nor do I think it should be. Can't wait to go back.

Our first visit to Barnsley Gardens and we found the history is unique and curious, the cottages and landscape are charming.

Barnsley gets 3 stars, it is charging "Preferred" prices and delivering lack-luster product and service.  The staff are all nice, however not trained in proper hospitality service.  On top of this a 20% service charge is added to every meal and drink tab.  Why be exceptional when you get tipped regardless of performance!

The food is good, but certainly not at the level they are charging for.  Wine list is weak and very overpriced.

Sad to say but this resort looks like the owners have not kept it up. All cottagess are in need of paint and a good cleaning, gardens are in shambles, stables are a sad sight. But the golf course looked inviting. The Spa, train the staff to care for the client, again overpriced and a  20% adder, why bother? We returned to the cottage to find that housekeeping had left the trash on the floor in the foyer and had not refreshed the bath supplies.

I hope to encourage the owners to bring this unique property back to what it certainly once was.