About the Muskoka Region

The Muskoka region of Ontario’s “cottage country” has been voted number one on National Geographic Traveler’s list of the top 10 places for summer trips in 2011!

“Cottage Country”, in eastern Canada is lightly defined as any lake destination within easy driving distance for that quick weekend getaway. It presents an unplugged environment that can seem worlds away from the hyperactive city of Toronto.

The acclaimed destination of the Muskoka district is conveniently close to Toronto about two hours north via Highways 400 and 11. However, some lucky cottagers can shave off driving time by residing in areas such as Gravenhurst, which is 90 minutes away.

Muskoka displays decades of Canadian perspective in its numerous historic towns and villages with about 2,500 square miles of a natural playground, 8,699 miles of shoreline, and countless waterfalls and lakes all highlighted by the granite peaks of Algonquin Provincial Park.

To sum it up, Muskoka offers something for everyone, from zip-lining, mountain biking, horseback riding, golfing, boutique and antique shopping, to some of the finest scenery, trails and wilderness in the world.

Discover our history, our artists, our attractions and our great outdoors. Muskoka has the best backyard!

About the Gravenhurst Region

Gravenhurst’s heritage runs deep, dating back to the 19th century. With lumber being high in demand, settlers began coming to Muskoka for the bountiful forests. Lumberyards and railways were built around 1875 to transport lumber to other parts of the province. Locally, lumber was transported by water and by horse. Land grants were plentiful, but agriculture was not profitable due to the rocky terrain. People changed their occupations and began providing meat and food for the lumberjacks and grain for horses.

Eventually, lumber mills were flourishing along the shorelines of the lake, and the railway started carrying passengers traveling into Gravenhurst and Muskoka to enjoy the tranquil lakes and forests of the region. Hotels and resorts were built throughout the lakes and a booming tourist trade developed. To transfer guests to and from these resorts, a huge boat building industry began.

In 1887, fire destroyed most of Gravenhurst’s buildings in the center of town. Most of the older buildings that remain today were built after this time. In the same year, Gravenhurst was incorporated as a town. A plaque, listing all the reeves and 24 mayors of Gravenhurst since incorporation, is mounted on a large granite boulder in the Mayor’s Garden at the current municipal office building. In 1896, Gravenhurst became a haven for tuberculosis patients. As doctors prescribed plenty of fresh air and quiet relaxation, several hospitals and sanatoriums were built along the shore of Lake Muskoka.

The Calydor Sanitorium was converted to a POW camp during WWII, and the grounds are now preserved parkland. Remains of the early uses of the property are still evident throughout the park, and a restored stone fish tank greets visitors at the entrance. On the grounds of the Ontario Fire College remains the F.R. Scott Memorial Hall. Originally the Massey Hall, built in 1915 by funds donated by the famous farm implement family, it was used as a patients’ recreation facility as part of the Muskoka Free Hospital.

Learn more about Muskoka Wharf and full ownership condominiums by filling out the form above and to the right.