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As summer ends and the leaves begin to change, the draw of Muskoka heightens; it's hard to resist the colours of autumn sweeping across the hills, especially when they are reflected in some of Ontario's favourite lakes. For those looking to escape urban life for a few days, weeks, or even longer, Deerhurst Resort in Huntsville has long offered the sanctuary that many desire. Soon, many more people will be able to enjoy the beauty of this spot and everything it has to offer.
Dating back to 1896, Deerhurst Resort famously welcomed the world's leaders for the 2010 G8 Summit. The event allowed Deerhurst to showcase the huge array of activities and events offered on its grounds. The 1,000 acre Muskoka resort features two award-winning golf courses, two kilometres of shoreline, hotel suites, outdoor and indoor pools, a spa, convention centre, restaurants, live shows, and condominium opportunities. Deerhurst also offers a variety of sports activities including boating, tennis, volleyball, hiking and biking, skiing, dog sledding, horseback riding, paintball, tree-top trekking, off-roading and indoor rock climbing.
Since Skyline International bought the property in 2011, they have had an ambitious plan to further open up Deerhurst to the public. You don't have to be a world leader to stay here, and Deerhurst's vision for the site will ensure that the resort offers something for everyone. The $500 million master plan that Skyline is now steering through the planning approvals process includes a brand new village centre with a main street that overlooks Peninsula Lake and the Deerhurst Lakeside Golf Course. Locally owned shops will line the cobblestone boulevard as patios with live music and entertainment overflow onto the sidewalks.
The Village will also include a central fountain, a farmers' and antique market, skating rink, an anti-aging spa, and new hotel and condominium suites. The priority for Skyline is to use locally sourced building materials throughout the village. The architecture of the village will reflect the local cottage country vernacular, with its abundance of peaked gables and multiple colours. "The village will have a Muskoka feel," said Gil Blutrich, Chairman and President of Skyline International. "We are not trying to create Disneyland or an Italian village in Muskoka."
Businesses along the strip will also be locally owned and operated; large corporations and brands will be avoided so as to keep the village quaint and original. "We don't want to see a McDonald's or Starbucks that you can see in the city," said Blutrich. "You want to come here to really enjoy an authentic Muskoka experience."
Deerhurst Resort is Muskoka's largest employer and Skyline hopes to capitalize on this advantage by attracting more tourists and homebuyers to the area. "Deerhurst is an extension of Huntsville, and Huntsville is Muskoka's capital," said Blutrich. "In order to make Deerhurst sustainable and not depend only on tourists, we are making our services more diverse."
Blutrich's vision is to open up the waterfront so that it can be used by everyone, not just those wealthy enough to own lakeside property in Muskoka. The new village will be built to attract short and long-term visits, including people who want to enjoy some time at Deerhurst and not necessarily stay overnight, though the hotel and array of activities available surely make an overnight stay or two enticing. "Even if you just want to come and have coffee or eat lunch on your way to Algonquin Park, you can stop at Deerhurst," said Blutrich.
The current site of the village is occupied by Deerhurst's horse stables, which will be relocated elsewhere on the resort. A new canoe and kayak dock will sit in the vicinity of the historic steamship docks—docks which once welcomed visitors who travelled along Muskoka's historic waterways before the advent of today's highways.
While the municipal approval on the village plan is sorted out, a new condominium on the Deerhurst waterfront has begun the sales process. Lakeside Lodge, the first and last waterfront condominium opportunity at Deerhurst, rises five storeys above the shores of Peninsula Lake. Units within Lakeside Lodge will start at an affordable $169,900 with initial occupancy scheduled for Fall of 2016.
The units within Lakeside Lodge, like the other condominiums around the property, will participate in Deerhurst's Rental Program. The Program gives owners the opportunity to rent out their units when they are not using them, while receiving a portion of the room revenue. This allows owners to help offset the cost of their resort home while ensuring the suites are enjoyed at all times.
The Richard Wengle Architect-designed building will be located where Deerhurst Lodge currently stands, a building known for its long running live musical shows and in particular as the place Shania Twain got her start. Deerhurst's live shows have now moved into a new state of the art venue known as the Waterhouse Show Room.
Skyline envisions a circa-2024 complete build-out for the Village. Until then, Deerhurst will continue to welcome guests to its impressive accommodations and host a variety of special events that will bring thousands to the area. Particularly notable upcoming events include a Chef Michael Smith weekend in November, the Canadian National Pond Hockey Championships which will return to Deerhurst this coming January, while the 14th race in the Ironman North American series will be held on August 30, 2015 in addition to Muskoka's annual Ironman 70.3 event. The variety of events hosted by Deerhurst is testament that the resort serves as an ideal location for activities of all seasons.
In the short three years that Skyline has owned the property, their ambitious plans have already made a big impact, and they are not planning to stop anytime soon. "We are not there to just build and leave," said Blutrich. "We are there to continuously invest."
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