Germantown Country Inn & Suites snakes 'all over this property'
GERMANTOWN, Wis. - Seeing a snake on a plane doesn’t make for a smooth flight, and snakes in a hotel don't make for a good night's sleep.
The unwanted guests were found at the Country Inn & Suites by Radisson in Germantown.
"We're not staying here," said Michelle Griese. "There are snakes all over this property."
Griese said she stays at the Country Inn & Suites by Radisson often when she and her son are visiting family. On Saturday, Aug. 12, her go-to hotel became a no-go for her.
Germantown Country Inn & Suites snakes
"I went up to the pool area, and there was a snake in the pool, in the hot tub, actually, and it was just swimming around, and that was just one of many snakes I was yet to see," said Griese.
She said she saw one in the hot tub, a bigger one in the pool area and another in the hotel hallway.
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"We were set to stay on the first door, and after seeing a snake slither under someone else’s door, I decided that this stay wasn’t really for me," said Griese.
Germantown Country Inn & Suites snakes
She said she saw hotel employees picking up the snakes and taking them outside.
"They just told me, ‘It’s by a marsh. It happens,' and I was like, ‘No. That’s not normal. I’ve never stayed at a hotel with snakes before.’"
She decided to contact the health department.
According to the health department reports, an inspector did go inside the hotel Tuesday and found snakeskin but no snakes.
Germantown Country Inn & Suites snakes
The report says the hotel manager said that snakes have been an issue, and the hotel is working with a pest control company to fix it.
"The fact that they had this huge, ongoing issue somewhere where they serve food, somewhere that families come to swim and spend time and did nothing about it is really sad to me," said Griese.
Griese said she immediately asked for a refund. She said the hotel offered her 50% off her $225 bill, and she would have to reach out to management if she wanted more.
Germantown Country Inn & Suites
The Country Inn & Suites in Germantown is is independently owned and operated. FOX6 News reached out to their offices for comment on the snake issue Wednesday, and we have not heard back.
Statement from Country Inn & Suites management
"We are aware of an incident involving a snake or potentially multiple snakes in our pool area on Saturday 8/12/23. While this is certainly an unfortunate occurrence, it was an isolated event. Furthermore, we want to assure the public that the safety and security of our guests is and always has been our number one priority. We had and will continue to have a service agreement in place with a reputable pest control company to minimize the possibility for similar incidents in the future. We also want the public to know that it is our understanding the species of the snake(s), represented no imminent danger or threat of harm to our guests. As stated in the public Washington County Health Department report, it is believed the snake(s) entered our pool area through a set of Emergency Doors that had been propped open by a guest. We have taken additional operational steps in an effort to reduce the likelihood of a similar incident in the future. Since Saturday 8/12/23, we have had no snake related incidents within our building. Thank you to our loyal guests for your support and understanding with this matter."