Elmhirst's Resort in Peterborough & the Kawarthas: A Historic Ontario Resort Worth Visiting!
Elmhirst’s Resort, nestled on the shores of Rice Lake in Peterborough & the Kawarthas, is a mecca for lovers of the outdoors, while also providing comfortable accommodation options, delicious, locally sourced food, and a whole lot more.
A rainbow shining over Rice Like from the beach area at Elmhirst’s Resort at sunset.
I’m constantly in awe of all the seemingly well-kept secrets in this province that, once discovered, feel like truly remarkable finds. Perhaps it’s my overactive imagination, but I do sometimes feel like a pearl diver, seeking out the next treasure in Ontario travel to share with readers like yourself.
Suffice to say, with Elmhirst’s Resort I know that Bri and I both felt as if we were fortunate to stumble across something great—a special pearl, if you will. Since we moved back to Ontario, we’ve been diligently exploring this province. From its southernmost point on Pelee Island, to famous destinations like Niagara Falls and everything in between, we’ve certainly seen our fair share.
From the moment we arrived at Elmhirst’s, Bri and I were both a little overcome by the notion that Elmhirst’s Resort wasn’t on our radar earlier, largely because it deserved to be.
I’d be lying if I said that every trip we’ve taken in this province has been incredible. Sometimes we arrive in a place and simply have to quickly conclude that the experience won’t be one worth conveying to readers on any of our sites.
In this case though, at Elmhirst’s Resort, Bri and I both had precisely the opposite feeling—that we couldn’t wait to share this experience with others so that they could visit, too. We’ve since had the privilege of returning to Elmhirst’s on multiple visits, and we’re pleased to report that this resort just keeps getting better.
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The History of Elmhirst’s Resort
Sunrise over Rice Lake on a winter getaway to Elmhirst’s Resort.
There are historic Ontario resorts, and there are historic Ontario resorts. When I learned the history of Elmhirst’s Resort, I half turned to Bri to ask if this could really be the history. The answer is a resounding yes.
The story starts back in 1818, when King George IV granted Phillip James Elmhirst, a notable lieutenant in the Royal Navy, 1000 acres of Crown Land on the North Shore of Rice Lake. This land was given to him as a thank you for his efforts against Napoleon at the Battle of Trafalgar (no big deal, right?).
Philip packed his bags and headed to what was then known as Upper Canada, landing at Port Hope. Eventually, he established himself just north of Villiers, in what we now call Ontario.
Fast forward to 1903, when Frank Elmhirst bought a new property which was then known as “The Walker Farm.” The land was 340 acres in size and had 1.6 kilometres of scenic shoreline. This is actually the site of Elmhirst’s Resort today. Frank built cabins and started to rent them out to fishermen, and the seeds of what we now know as Elmhirst’s Resort were planted.
Frank’s son, Arthur, made further changes after returning from WWII, where he was a pilot (honestly, this family needs a movie made about them). Quickly, the makeshift cabins became cottages, and what was seemingly a passion became a full-time profession for Arthur and his family.
After Peter, Arthur’s son, graduated from Ryerson’s Hotel and Resort Administration program in 1965, he and his wife Anne Marshall helped turn Elmhirst into a year round Ontario resort. Their son, Greg (who we got to know in the Elmhirst wine cellar), then took the helm alongside his wife Martina, who actually operates the spa. Their son Henry is now the director of sales and finance, too.
During our visit in 2021, we got to know their other son Steve, and were fortunate enough to be taken on one of his sightseeing flights over Rice Lake and the surrounding areas. He was an absolutely wonderful guy, so we were gutted to learn of his sudden passing in 2022.
Returning to Elmhirst’s after Steve’s passing was a reminder of how truly family-oriented this resort is. Steve’s absence has left a hole in the hearts of everyone who is a part of the Elmhirst Resort family, and it’s clear they keep his memory in all that they do here.
All in all, that’s 6 generations of history, with 3 generations living on site today at Elmhirst’s Resort. All members of the family work towards making this place the best it can be—and they’re doing a mighty fine job.
Accommodation Options at Elmhirst’s Resort
Accommodation at Elmhirst’s consists of several different styles of cottages. Many are rustic, but there are always updates and renovations happening to keep the cabins up to snuff for the next generations of guests.
Whatever you’re looking for, it’s likely there’s something at Elmhirst’s that will suit your needs. Feel free to click here to book your next stay at Elmhirst’s.
1 & 2 Bedroom Cottages
The 1 Bedroom Deluxe Cottage features “a king-size bed with a view to the gas fireplace, large washroom with soaker tub and shower. It has a private dock, a lakefront deck, and a BBQ.”
There are 2 Bedroom Deluxe Cottages that come in a variety of layouts. One is wheelchair accessible, for example, another has a sunken living room, and two others are duplexes with large living rooms. All have the lakefront deck, private dock and BBQ, though - that tends to be a standard of Elmhirst’s cottages.
The Superior 2 Bedroom Cottage is located close to the outdoor pool wand waterski dock, has an open-concept kitchen and living room, as well as a whirlpool tub.
3 Bedroom Cottages
The 3 Bedroom Deluxe Cottages come in a variety of layouts, most with a kitchen behind a railing that looks over a sunken living room. Bri and I stayed in a cottage just like that (pictured above), and it was nice and spacious.
The 3 Bedroom Superior Cottages are very popular at Elmhirst and have an open content kitchen and living room (and, of course, the deck, dock BBQ, fireplace etc.)
The 3 Bedroom Freespirit Cottage is a modern cottage that has a room on the ground floor, and then two additional bedrooms and bathrooms on the second floor. They’re gorgeous!
4 Bedroom Cottages
The Deluxe 4 Bedroom Cottages are your best bet if you’ve got a larger group or a family gathering. You’ve got a beautiful lake view, and two floors with two bedroom and a full bathroom on each level.
5 Bedroom Cottages
The 5 Bedroom Cottages are centrally located on the property, which means that they’re nice and close to the pools and playground. You’ll find 3 king beds here to go along with two twins, as well as two large washrooms. This would be the go-to if you had an even larger family fathering or group and needed some extra space above and beyond the 4 Bedroom Cottage.
Free Spirit Cottages
There are 2 Free Spirit Cottages available to book at Elmhirst’s Resort, which are both located on the westernmost part of the resort. The cottages each have 3 bedrooms (a king bedroom, two doubles and one twin bed), and 3 bathrooms.
Each cottage also has a private dock, a lakefront patio and deck, a BBQ and an electric fireplace.
These cottages are fully accessible, with ramps at either entrance, a completely accessible main floor bathroom, complete with ample space, accessibility handles, and a completely accessible shower with a shower bench.
Whether you’re in need of the accessibility options or not, the Free Spirit Cottages are an excellent option for a larger family, or multiple families, couples, or a group of friends sharing the same space. Since the cottages have a bathroom for every bedroom, guests will truly feel like they have their own little corner for privacy and peace in the layout of these cottages. Not to mention that each room in the cottages have beautifully updated interiors, and large windows that let in a lot of light and overlook the lake.
Elmhirst’s also offers different overnight stay packages that are tethered to activities and themes for your stay. Make sure you check the latest and up-to-date packages on their website, but here are a few examples of the types of packages they offer:
Couch Potato Package: from September to May, you can book this package for a 2 night stay, daily breakfasts and dinner and access to all the facilities on the resort.
Kids Stay Free in March: book a stay in March for the whole family or extended family, and there’s no charge for any guests who are 12 and under.
March Getaway: for the month of March, you can book a 2-night stay and get the third night for half the price.
Celebrating 60+: if you are 60+ and stay mid week, you can take 20% off of the weekday daily rate price for cabins.
Dining at Elmhirst’s
Both Bri and I feel the dining opportunities at Elmhirst’s Resort are delightful. There are two onsite restaurants, the Hearthside Dining Room, as well as The Wild Blue Yonder Pub and Patio.
One thing that’s worth noting is when you look at their menus, you’ll notice that some items that are noted as “Elmhirst’s Own.” This refers to animals and produce that’s from the large working farm on the property. What isn’t from their own land, they aim to source locally through partnerships with nearby suppliers and farmers. It shows, to be honest. Their food is both fresh and flavourful.
They also have a healthy wine list to choose from, thanks in large part to their extensive wine cellar collection, and some nice local beers on tap, which I’m always happy to see.
Hearthside Dining Room
This dining room faces the lake, and is where all of the dinner and breakfast service takes place. If you’ve booked a package that includes breakfasts and dinners, like we did, then chances are you’ll take all of these meals in the Hearthside Dining Room.
The views from the Hearthside Dining Room are exquisite, with panoramic views across the shoreline of the property and Rice Lake as far as the eye can see. We were more than satisfied with the portion sizes for our meals here, as well as the variety of menu items that they offer.
I would be doing a grave disservice to you, dear reader, if I didn’t mention the Saturday All You Can Eat Roast Beef Dinner. It was so good that I recommended my parents make a reservation to go and try it. You’ll need reservations whether you’re staying there or not, so be sure to lock that in.
It happens every Saturday in the Hearthside Dining Room, and it’s served family style (large platters), which is precisely the way that Bri and I have come to enjoy eating over the years.
The meal includes green salad, roast beef, mashed potatoes, roasted seasonal vegetables, horseradish, red wine gravy, freshly baked rolls and butter, as well as dessert of the day. I am not exaggerating when I say that Bri and I look back upon that meal as, quite literally, one of the best roast beef dinners we’ve ever had. Not to mention, for the price it’s an absolute steal.
Another dining experience I’d recommend you try during your stay is the Sunday Best. It’s a prix fixe lunch menu that’s filled with farm fresh ingredients, and will afford you that chance to order the mimosa you’ve been craving for oh so long. Seating is available from 10:30am to 2:30pm, and once again, I’d suggest that you call ahead to book this lunch.
As I noted above, you’re best to call ahead to make a reservation for both the Roast Beef Dinner and the Sunday Best. You can do so at 1-855-928-0684.
The Wild Blue Yonder Pub and Patio
The Wild Blue Yonder Pub is also located in “The Landing”, which is the same building that the Hearthside Dining Room is in, but it’s more of a casual and cozy atmosphere. It’s the perfect place to come for a laidback meal, or to meetup with other friends or family on the resort for a drink or night-cap before or after dinner.
The pub has recently been renovated to bring the Elmhirst family’s aviation history to life. The whole pub is tastefully decorated with historic model airplanes, propellers and beautiful framed art depicting the family’s 1950’s Cessna 172 sea plane, along with notable accolades of the pilots in the family.
The space also has ample seating, a cozy fireplace, and several TV’s running to keep you up-to-date on the latest sports scores and plays. Their menu offers some of the same items as the Hearthside Dining Room, with an emphasis on cozy classics and pub staples. Simply put, we were impressed over and over again by the menus and dining experiences at Elmhirst’s.
Activities In and Around the Resort
We were busy during our stay at Elmhirst’s Resort, but in a way that provided some structure and purpose to our visit, as opposed to being a stressor. Both Bri and I appreciate having free time to do what we’d like (and we didn’t have a shortage of that), but it’s also quite nice to wake up in the morning and have something scheduled to anchor the day.
One look at their list of potential activities at this Ontario resort, and it’s safe to say that you won’t be bored during your stay here.
Enjoy in a Wine Tasting in Elmhirst’s Wine Cellar
Whether you’re a novice wine taster, or you have a lot of experience sampling wines from around the world under your belt, it’s definitely worth taking a tutored wine tasting in the Elmhirst cellar during your visit.
Both Peter and Greg Elmhirst have an extensive knowledge of wines from across the province, country and around the world. Their underground wine cellar houses is stocked with wines specifically from Ontario, as they do their best to showcase wines from across our province at the resort. This makes the wine list at their restaurants a real showcase of Ontario flavours.
Bri and I had a tasting with Greg during our most recent visit to the resort. He thinks of his tutored wine tastings as more of a “wine chat”, and I can attest to this fact. Honestly, I’ve been getting a better grasp on my own palette and sampling wine from different wine regions around the world like Georgia, South Africa, Argentina, Tuscany, and here in Ontario.
Despite all of the tastings I’ve done and wines I’ve tried, Greg led his tasting in a much more comprehensive, approachable and step-by-step way than I’ve seen done in many other places.
The experience included tastings from three bottles of wine in Elmhirst’s cellar. With each bottle, Greg made sure he hid the bottle and information about the label, and he’d talk through what we tasted before revealing the wine we’d sampled. He covered the process for how to taste and identify wines, including the flavour, body and nose.
Not only did we discuss how to identify different types of wine, but Greg brought out his wine aroma kit, which he used to help us determine which aromas we picked up in each taste. It was such a wonderful experience, and well worth booking if you’re at all interested in learning more about Ontario wines, and wine in general.
If you’re visiting Elmhirst’s with a larger group, it’s also possible to schedule a private tasting for a group of 4 to 12 people in the Hearthside Dining Room.
Pamper Yourself at the Spa
Elmhirst’s Spa is a mighty operation located in The Landing. It offers several treatment rooms, lake views, and an exhaustive list of relaxing services to choose from.
Greg’s wife, Martina, operates the spa and has a 4-year diploma in Traditional Chinese Medicine from the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Pharmacology Canada and the Institute of Traditional Medicine. Her expertise allows the spa to offer services ranging from facials and pedicures to Tui Na massage and acupuncture.
During our most recent stay, we opted to experience their two-night Spa Getaway Package. This package includes breakfast and dinner for every day we were there, along with a 60 minute aromatherapy massage, which was extremely relaxing. It also includes your choice of a facial, pedicure or manicure.
Considering everything that this package includes, it’s definitely worth exploring this option or one of their other “Pamper” packages during your stay at Elmhirst’s, or simply booking a spa treatment during your visit.
Prepare a Local Farm-To-Table Meal at Your Cottage
Our freshly cooked, farm-to-table dinner basket feast put together by Nikki from N2 Adventures.
Seeing as Elmhirst’s is in Keene, Ontario, it makes for the perfect place to source local ingredients for a meal in at your cottage.
First off, Elmhirst’s offers several convenient farm-fresh ingredients in their to-go fridge located at reception in The Landing. They have products like Elmhirst’s Own farm gate eggs, along with local bacon, sausage and other grocery items. This makes cooking hyper local, farm-fresh ingredients in your cottage a breeze during your stay on the resort.
On top of the local offerings at Elmhirst’s, there are several farmers and caterers in the area who can also help you take the guesswork out of planning and preparing a delicious and memorable meal in your cottage. N2 Adventures is a local agrotourism company that can offer prepared meal baskets for you to cook at your cottage. Owner Nikki is a local chef, farmer and farm-to-table enthusiast who can create a custom basket filled with delicious menu items that are ready to easily cook and/or BBQ at Elmhirst’s.
To contact Nikki for a farm-to-table basket when you visit Elmhirst’s you can find out more on her website.
Go Back to Basics at The Mane Intent
The headquarters for The Mane Intent is actually a piece of land about 15 minutes northeast of Elmhirst’s Resort. It’s difficult to sum up succinctly all that The Mane Intent encompasses, but I think the easiest way to put it would be to say that Jennifer Garland, the owner of The Mane Intent, facilitates an opportunity for you to better acquaint yourself with her horses, so that you can ultimately have the chance to better understand yourself.
Jennifer has this incredible story of her buying a horse after years of teetering on burnout from a hectic work life, and, through that horse, ultimately becoming much more aware of her own presence, and what she actually needed out of life. She talked about that horse “becoming her best coach,” which, quite honestly, sounded like a stretch to me at first, but now I totally understand what she means.
We did a number of activities that entirely altered the way that I understand and relate to horses now. I hadn’t realized all the signals I was sending unconsciously to these hyper perceptive animals in the past.
Horses sense anxiety or trepidation, and it becomes clear when you’re considering what you’re projecting to these wonderful animals that, as human beings, we’re always projecting something to others whether we want to or not. It made me more conscious of what signals I’m sending out into the world, even when I’m just walking down the street.
I don’t want to give too much away, but all I can point to is the potential transformative effect of something like this. My only advice would be that if you do decide to give it a whirl (you can talk to the front desk at Elmhirst’s Resort or head directly to Jennifer’s website), go into it with an open mind and buy into the process.
I’ve never really been good with horses, largely because I think was always sending off a bit of a hyperactive vibe without knowing it, and not standing in the right position to let the horses understand and assess me before I approached them.
Well, at the end of this session, I had a horse, Sunny, come and nuzzle me before I said goodbye. How’s that for progress?
Honestly, that happening after I listened to Jennifer about how to approach these animals was profound for me. I learned a lot, and I think you will too if you decide to take part.
Escape the Maze
Bri and I having a little fun during Escape the Maze!
“Escape the Maze” is basically Elmhirst’s Resorts’ outdoor escape room.
It’s an ideal way to familiarize yourself with the beautiful grounds of the resort while learning about the history. We actually found that our experience was richer at the resort after having some of the historical context that this game provided. I don’t think we realized just how far back the history of the resort stretched!
The whole experience will probably take the average family about an hour to complete, and it takes some thinking, but there are plenty of clues to guess that are kid-friendly, which would make this a fun family event if that’s what you’re looking for.
Reservations are required (you can call the resort or talk to the front desk), and the experience is available from 11:30am onwards.
Take a Sightseeing Flight
Note: Bri and I experienced a sightseeing flight at Elmhirst’s with Steve Elmhirst; five short months before his sudden passing. Flight experiences continue to be offered at Elmhirst’s, but are operated by different members of the family.
We wanted to keep this section in the article exactly as it was written in September 2021, as a way to remember Steve, his positive energy, and his legacy that remains for future visitors to Elmhirst’s.
Views of the Trent Severn Waterway from our Cessna 172
Taking off from the water in a Cessna 172 off of the second biggest lake in the Kawarthas—well, it’s the experience of a lifetime.
Steve Elmhirst has flying in his blood, and he honestly seems as if he was made to be in the sky. He was as comfortable as could be in the pilot’s seat, and during the flight he regaled us with stories of the land, the resort, and everything in between. It was a tremendously special experience for Bri and I that I don’t think we’ll ever forget.
The fall foliage was gorgeous, and we also did a fly-by over Peterborough, with stunning views of the Trent Severn Waterway throughout.
The flight that we had the absolute pleasure of taking with Steve will go down as one of the big highlights for me in recent memory. Steve actually teaches pilots in this plane, so he even let me take the wheel on the co-pilot side for a brief moment, and I swear I can still feel my heart beating through my chest. In reality, he was still at the helm, of course, but just to even have the chance to be beside him in the cockpit and to have my own yoke/control column in my hands was exhilarating.
It was, in a word, unforgettable, and if there’s availability, you should absolutely reserve a sightseeing flight during a stay at Elmhirst’s.
It’s $80 per person per flight (which is around 15 minutes) but, to me, getting the chance to be in childlike awe for 15 minutes is worth a heck of a lot more than that. I want to briefly note here that sightseeing flights are offered in the Spring, Summer and Fall seasons, and are subject to availability.
There are several amenities on the resort too, like an indoor pool and a sauna, plus there are boat rentals, there’s fishing, there’s nearby golf, cycling and hiking opportunities, outdoor art galleries and there’s a whole lot more. The experiences listed here are the ones we’ve enjoyed during our visits to Elmhirst’s, which we’d highly recommend!
An Historic Ontario Resort with a Bright Future
If I haven’t convinced you yet, let me just make it very clear now: visiting this family-owned resort at Elmhirst’s is an absolutely lovely way to spend a few days in Ontario. You get a little bit of everything: stunning access to nature, delicious, locally prepared menus, opportunities for wellness escapes and pampering opportunities, plus the ability to be close to one of the largest lakes in the Kawarthas.
I’ve spoken candidly many times about the fact that Ontario is huge, and we could all spend a literal lifetime trying to see and do everything that there is to do, and we’d still come up short (though, I’m trying!)
You don’t need to spend a fortune on a vacation to a faraway place to create lifelong memories in the world of travel. The flight that we took, the roast beef dinner we had—these things aren’t any less special because they happened on Ontario soil. In fact, they’re more special.
In recent times I’ve started to jokingly say to people that “it’s okay to have a vacation…within your own nation.” It’s met with a knowing smile, most of the time.
If you’re looking for a little vacation or escape yourself, I do honestly believe Elmhirst’s Resort is a good bet. From the staff to the food, the accommodation to the activities available, they’ve created something special at Elmhirst’s that we should all hope continues for many, many more generations.
I want to humbly thank Peterborough & the Kawarthas for hosting Bri and I as media. All opinions are completely my own.
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