Oil and gas, mining, and hydroelectric projects have brought unprecedented prosperity to Newfoundland and Labrador, including the Avalon Peninsula region of the province. Couple that with the influx of buyers from other provinces due to the COVID-19 pandemic and you’ve got a booming real estate market. Locals have traditionally looked for cabins on “ponds” (lakes). A number of these are concentrated along Route 90, known as the Salmonier Line, running southwest from St. John’s. Rudimentary cabins can still be found and are relatively affordable. Oceanfront is another story. There’s high demand for older saltbox dwellings on the water. Demand has also spurred new cottage development.
There are popular beaches around Bay Roberts and Carbonear, on Conception Bay, although icebergs in the spring discourage swimming until later in the season. If beaches are not a priority, there are cheaper properties or plots of land farther south on the Avalon in communities such as Trepassey or St. Bride’s. Heading north, the Avalon’s spectacular coastal cliffs resemble some of Ireland’s most dramatic coastline. Irish tradition runs strong here, with accordion and fiddle music frequently heard at impromptu kitchen parties.
Looking back over 40 years ago, when Kevin Phillips was a young man growing up on Kashwakamak Lake, in North Frontenac, Ont., an hour and a half drive north of Kingston, there were 20 to 22 resorts in the area. Today, there’s only one: Fernleigh Lodge. And it seems even its time has come.
Phillips is the current owner and can trace the lodge’s history back to 1905 when John Ahr from Buffalo, N.Y., bought the land for a fly-in fishing camp. To build the main lodge and cabins, trees were cut by hand and floated down to the 10-acre plot on Kashwakamak’s northern shore. Many of these buildings still stand today—with some upgrades. Ahr opened the lodge to guests in the early 1920s.
Photo Courtesy of Fernleigh Lodge
“Fernleigh Lodge was the first of its kind in the area and a popular one at that,” Phillips writes on the lodge’s website.
Guests could fly in by floatplane or traverse a gruelling drive from Cloyne, Ont., along a one-lane dirt road. At the time, the lodge didn’t have electricity or indoor plumbing, and there was only one motorboat—with a two-horsepower motor. When heading out fishing, the lodge’s guides would tie the boats together in a long chain, letting the motorized boat pull them all down the lake.
Initially, the lodge was open to men only, but by the 1940s, women were allowed to accompany their husbands. Even with this early prohibition, from the day John Ahr first bought the land, Fernleigh always had a strong female presence, coming from Ahr’s wife, Girt, who managed the kitchen and cleaning staff.
“She was a tough but fair boss, and everything ran like clockwork,” Phillips writes.
Photo Courtesy of Fernleigh Lodge
In 1961, Ahr died. Girt struggled to manage the lodge and passed it on to her nephew, John Green. It was during this time that Phillips and his parents, Lois and Arthur, started travelling north from their home in Ohio to vacation at Fernleigh Lodge each summer.
Around 1981, Green died in a plane crash, and Phillips, who was 25 at the time, and his parents, bought the lodge and moved to Ontario permanently. Over Phillips’ 40 years running Fernleigh, he says he’s accumulated a lot of good memories, but one stands out:
“My mom found out that my wife and I kind of eloped and wanted to be by ourselves and get married,” he says. “But she was sick when she found out about it, and she knew she was gonna pass, so she said, ‘You’re having a wedding at the lodge.’ And I walked her down the aisle here, so that was a pretty precious moment.”
Photo Courtesy of Fernleigh Lodge
Phillips’ father died in 1995 and his mother in 2004. He and his wife, Melissa, have been running the lodge themselves for nearly 20 years. But the pandemic hit them hard. Before the border closed, American guests were their main source of revenue. In 2020 and 2021, they had to overhaul their business strategy.
“We did fill up with Canadians, and I’m very proud of it,” Phillips says. But the lodge wasn’t generating nearly as much revenue as it had before the pandemic. And new costs associated with disinfecting the cabins and lodge, plus keeping all 24 staff members employed took its toll. Phillips struggled to pay the lodge’s $15,000 per month mortgage.
“We went into debt,” he says.
The government covered 50 per cent of employees’ wages and provided the lodge with approximately $38,000 in grants, but Phillips says it hasn’t been enough to keep the business operating.
A number of other businesses in the area that were around since Phillips first started coming to Fernleigh Lodge in the 60s have already fallen victim to the pandemic, shuttering for good.
“I do not want to sell this place. It’s my life,” Phillips says. “But I’ve done everything I can.”
The lodge, which is currently listed with Royal LePage for $7.9 million, has already received some interest. One party even claims to be buying up old lodges around Canada to save them from being demolished.
If they do end up selling, Phillips says he hopes to stay on for a few years to make sure Fernleigh continues as a lodge and is run properly.
Want to make money renting out your cottage? You’re going to need impeccable reviews. Because higher ranked listings are more visible on rental platforms, hosts need to create a near-flawless experience for every guest. “The reviews are the most important thing,” says Jenna Toms, whose family has been renting out their cottage in the Kawarthas since 2018. Toms has picked up her own tricks since becoming a host. As a result, their listing has a flawless five-star rating. She shared a few secrets to her success:
1. Make it spotless
Keeping your cottage clean and presentable between guests can feel like a full-time job. But, there’s no quicker path to a poor review than a messy space. First, Toms removed many of the family’s personal items to make cleaning the space easier. And, while many hosts use a cleaning service, Toms was determined to do the work herself.
“I go in and make sure it’s done to my liking,” she says. “Putting that trust in someone else allows for some things to fall through the cracks.” To help make her cottage squeaky clean, Toms follows Instagram accounts—like Go Clean Co—to learn tips and tricks for cleaning properly and quickly.
2. Set clear expectations
It’s difficult to land five-star ratings if your guests are expecting something different.
“I put myself in their shoes and consider what I’d want to know and be prepared for,” says Toms. For example, summer in the Kawarthas means mosquitoes, so she tells guests to come prepared, or they’ll be eaten alive. And in the spring, people driving up from Toronto may be surprised that there’s still snow on the ground. “Just little things like that so people know what to expect when they arrive. I tell everyone we don’t have air conditioning, but there’s a fan in every room.”
3. Add amenities
For prospective renters, a visit to your cottage is more than a place to sleep — they want the full vacation experience. On rental platforms, travellers often filter their searches by their desired amenities. Some luxury amenities—a hot tub, for example—aren’t so easy to add. But guests will appreciate extras like games, beach supplies, fire pits, and barbecues.
“Over the last few years, we’ve been able to add some things to help accommodate families with young children,” says Toms. “We’ve also added some water toys and fun floaties that are great for the lake. We’d love to get to the point where we can add kayaks and canoes.”
4. Stay in communication
All the DVDs and welcome baskets in the world won’t make up for poor communication. If you want that five-star review, rental platforms typically recommend that hosts respond quickly, check in during the stay, and maintain professional communication throughout. Toms says she responds to all inquiries as soon as she can, even if just to say she’ll get back to them in full detail in a few hours. She’ll also check in once during their stay and again the morning they depart to remind them how to check out. “On most of the platforms, you can set up that information automatically. But I like to keep it casual and get to know my guests on a more personal level.”
Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic sent city dwellers rushing towards cottage country, cottage prices have been soaring. It’s why many buyers decide to rent out their cottage to balance the cost of the investment.
“Many more buyers are interested in renting out their cottage,” says Catharine Inniss, a realtor who’s been selling real estate in Muskoka for 16 years. “Some clients think they’ll use it themselves a little bit while they rent it out for a few years, and then eventually, they’ll use it solely as their own cottage or they’ll move up here.” Here are five things to look for in a cottage if you plan to rent it out.
“The rules can change from township to township,” Inniss points out. “People really need to use a local realtor who knows what the rules are. It would be a shock if you were counting on that money and then you weren’t allowed to rent out your place.” Even if short-term rentals are allowed, you may need to spend money on a short-term rentals licence. Research the rules before you buy.
2. Location
If you’re going to be depending on that rental income, you’ll need to determine just how much you can charge for rent. Some of the biggest factors are the area and nearby amenities.
“Are there activities around that people are going to want to participate in?” Inniss asks. “If you’re coming up for a week or two, you might want to go to a local fair or somewhere for lunch.” She adds that prospective buyers should do a bit of research to see how popular the area is for renters or how much comparable cottages in the area are being rented for.
3. Accessibility
A water-access cottage might be more affordable, but will also be less desirable for some renters? The same is true for a cabin that’s deep in the woods, less accessible in the winter, or simply too far from more populated areas. Before pulling the trigger on a cottage, consider whether renters will want to tackle the challenge of getting there.
4. Cell phone reception and internet access
To some renters, Netflix may be just as important to their holiday as the sunset. But reliable internet service in cottage country can be costly, if it’s even available at all.
“It’s a huge factor,” says Inniss, about cottages having phone and internet access. “Yes, some people want to disconnect, but others might need to work a day or two but want to come up with their family.” Reliable internet will also be important when guests need to communicate with you during their stay.
5. Appealing to the broadest group
If you’re planning to rent out your cottage, your personal tastes may not be the first priority, Inniss says. Appealing to more potential renters means seeking out things like ample sleeping capacity, a winterized cottage for year-round use, parking for multiple cars and privacy from neighbouring properties.
“Even something being kid-friendly,” Inniss says. “Is it on a cliff, or are there a lot of stairs down to the water? That’s something you’d want to think about before renting.”
If you’re looking for a place to stay, consider one of these affordable rentals. All six are within a few hours drive of Halifax and offer nearby beaches, extensive hiking trails, and the opportunity to catch a glimpse of local wildlife, including whales, eagles, and seals.
Photo by Phil/VRBO
Owls Head Island Cottage
Photo by Phil/VRBO
Owls Head Island Cottage
Photo by Phil/VRBO
Owls Head Island Cottage
Photo by Phil/VRBO
Owls Head Island Cottage
Photo by Phil/VRBO
Owls Head Island Cottage
Photo by Phil/VRBO
Owls Head Island Cottage
One of eight properties on Owls Head Island, this four-bedroom, Nova Scotian cottage offers breathtaking views of St. Margaret’s Bay. Start your day wildlife watching with a coffee on the cottage deck.
A luxurious couple’s getaway, take advantage of this one-bedroom cottage’s proximity to Mahone Bay harbour with a stroll along the waterfront or head to the nearby Settlers Museum and Lunenburg Art Gallery to soak in some Nova Scotian culture.
Overlooking St. Margaret’s Bay, this Nova Scotia cottage has 60 feet of oceanfront along with a dock and boathouse. Take the kayak or snorkeling gear out to explore the surrounding waters, or relax dockside with a drink in one hand and a fishing rod in the other.
Location: Hacketts Cove, N.S.
Price: Averages $238 per night
Sleeps: 2
Bedrooms: 1
Notes:
Oceanfront property
35 minutes from Halifax
Internet included
Kayaks and paddle board available for use
Six minutes away you can buy fresh lobster from Ryer Seafood Ltd.
Inspired by traditional fishing stages, this Nova Scotian cottage has a 500-sq. ft. upper deck and a 300-sq. ft. lower deck. Relax in the upper deck’s daybed overlooking Creaser Cove, or rinse off beneath a blue sky in the cottage’s outdoor shower.
This seven-acre property, hand-built by the owner, features a cathedral ceiling, pine beams, and cedar shingles finished in classic Cape Breton style. Surrounded by walking trails and stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean, the cottage is two minutes from Chimney Corner Beach.
With a beach across the road, this Nova Scotian cottage offers the perfect vantage point to catch a glimpse of porpoise, seals, or even a Minke whale. And if you want to try your hand at cooking, the owners are willing to provide an outdoor lobster pot.
Extending 70 km east of Yellowknife, the Ingraham Trail runs alongside rivers, waterfalls, and a network of lakes. It literally is the end of the road for locals and the start of the temporary winter route made reality-TV famous by Ice Road Truckers. But it’s not diamond mines that draw cottagers (and year-rounders) here: it’s the scenery of granite hills, the canoe routes, and the Jack pine forests.
Popular cabin lakes include Prelude, with its many islands, and the expansive Prosperous Lake. Cottages here are all off-grid, from a few that are one-room cabins with woodstoves to fully-equipped houses with solar power, propane heat, and diesel generators. What else do they have in common? They’re hard to come by. Unresolved land claims have halted land development along the Ingraham Trail, so what has already been built on federally leased land is in short supply. Tip: get a realtor who will alert you when something comes on the market, or cozy up to a local for a private sale.
The backstory: Philip Preville’s fondest childhood memories are of skiing on the slopes of Quebec and Alberta, where he grew up. “Getting up early on a cold winter morning and grabbing my skis is part of who I am,” says the 53-year-old freelance writer and Cottage Life contributor. Philip introduced his beloved sport to his wife, Lynn, a 46-year-old surgeon, and their three sons: 15-year-old, Luke and 12-year-old twins, Noel and Ivor. Skiing became the family’s favourite winter pastime, with the boys all joining racing programs from an early age. After the family moved from Toronto to Peterborough, Ont., in 2011, they became season’s pass holders at Devil’s Elbow, a local ski resort. But when Devil’s Elbow closed in 2018, the family needed a new place to ski. Friends invited them to the Muskoka Ski Club, operating out of Hidden Valley Highlands, near Huntsville, Ont., which is about two hours north of Peterborough. The family rented an Airbnb in 2018 and fell in love with Hidden Valley’s picturesque peaks and tight-knit community. And while ski club family memberships can cost upwards of $70,000 in Ontario, the Muskoka Ski Club’s membership was about $11,000. Instead of continuing to rent Airbnbs, Philip and Lynn decided to buy a Huntsville cottage to use as a permanent homebase during ski season. “Unlike most people seeking a summer getaway, we were looking for something with winter specifically in mind,” says Philip.
The search: In the fall of 2019, the family began looking to buy a three-bedroom cottage. “A waterfront property was also on our checklist, but it wasn’t a must-have,” says Philip. “The priority was finding something as close as possible to Hidden Valley.” They hoped to spend less than $500,000 on their new cottage, but quickly realized they were priced out from any waterfront properties, which were listed at $750,000 and above. The family shifted their search to more affordable inland cottages. That October, they toured a three-bed, two-bath cottage that was a 10-minute drive from Hidden Valley. Part of a recently built subdivision on the outskirts of Huntsville, the one-storey home sat on a 15,000-sq. ft. wooded lot that backed onto Deerhurst Highlands Golf Course. Though the interior has a good amount of living space, “At 1,500 sq. ft, there isn’t a lot of room for guests,” says Philip. The cottage was listed for slightly higher than their $500,000 ceiling, but the couple still made an offer. The sellers accepted, and the family took possession in November, just in time for the 2019-2020 ski season.
The silver lining: That winter, the family spent most weekends and Christmas at their new inland cottage. Despite sporadic COVID-related closures at their ski hill in the two years since, the family continues to savour their weekly winter escape. When they’re not skiing, they enjoy hiking the nearby woods and cozying up together for movie nights. They also mountain bike in the summer. “Skiing transforms your entire experience of winter,” says Philip. “You can socialize and have fun, no matter how cold it is outside. That’s why it’s worth making the long drive every weekend, without a doubt.”
Philip’s reasons to consider an inland cottage
1. Water activities aren’t your main priority
If your passion happens to be skiing, cycling, hiking, or even bird-watching, Philip cautions that a waterfront cottage may go unused and become a superfluous perk. “Why pay for premium waterfront when you might never be on the water?” he says.
2. You get more of a plug-and-play cottage experience
Philip’s inland cottage is hooked up to municipal water and hydro on a road that also has services such as garbage pickup and snow plowing. Those conveniences eliminate much of the work that comes with roughing it in more isolated waterfront cottages.
3. There are always other ways to access the water
This past summer, Philip made a habit of biking three kilometres from his Huntsville cottage to a public beach on nearby Peninsula Lake for a morning swim. “We don’t have our own private waterfront,” he says, “but there’s plenty of rivers, marinas, and beaches close by.”
Did you recently buy a cottage in a non-traditional way? We’d love to hear about it! Email alysha@cottagelife.com.
The backstory: Philip Preville’s fondest childhood memories are of skiing on the slopes of Quebec and Alberta, where he grew up. “Getting up early on a cold winter morning and grabbing my skis is part of who I am,” says the 53-year-old freelance writer and Cottage Life contributor. Philip introduced his beloved sport to his wife, Lynn, a 46-year-old surgeon, and their three sons: 15-year-old, Luke and 12-year-old twins, Noel and Ivor. Skiing became the family’s favourite winter pastime, with the boys all joining racing programs from an early age. After the family moved from Toronto to Peterborough, Ont., in 2011, they became season’s pass holders at Devil’s Elbow, a local ski resort. But when Devil’s Elbow closed in 2018, the family needed a new place to ski. Friends invited them to the Muskoka Ski Club, operating out of Hidden Valley Highlands, near Huntsville, Ont., which is about two hours north of Peterborough. The family rented an Airbnb in 2018 and fell in love with Hidden Valley’s picturesque peaks and tight-knit community. And while ski club family memberships can cost upwards of $70,000 in Ontario, the Muskoka Ski Club’s membership was about $11,000. Instead of continuing to rent Airbnbs, Philip and Lynn decided to buy a Huntsville cottage to use as a permanent homebase during ski season. “Unlike most people seeking a summer getaway, we were looking for something with winter specifically in mind,” says Philip.
The search: In the fall of 2019, the family began looking to buy a three-bedroom cottage. “A waterfront property was also on our checklist, but it wasn’t a must-have,” says Philip. “The priority was finding something as close as possible to Hidden Valley.” They hoped to spend less than $500,000 on their new cottage, but quickly realized they were priced out from any waterfront properties, which were listed at $750,000 and above. The family shifted their search to more affordable inland cottages. That October, they toured a three-bed, two-bath cottage that was a 10-minute drive from Hidden Valley. Part of a recently built subdivision on the outskirts of Huntsville, the one-storey home sat on a 15,000-sq. ft. wooded lot that backed onto Deerhurst Highlands Golf Course. Though the interior has a good amount of living space, “At 1,500 sq. ft, there isn’t a lot of room for guests,” says Philip. The cottage was listed for slightly higher than their $500,000 ceiling, but the couple still made an offer. The sellers accepted, and the family took possession in November, just in time for the 2019-2020 ski season.
The silver lining: That winter, the family spent most weekends and Christmas at their new inland cottage. Despite sporadic COVID-related closures at their ski hill in the two years since, the family continues to savour their weekly winter escape. When they’re not skiing, they enjoy hiking the nearby woods and cozying up together for movie nights. They also mountain bike in the summer. “Skiing transforms your entire experience of winter,” says Philip. “You can socialize and have fun, no matter how cold it is outside. That’s why it’s worth making the long drive every weekend, without a doubt.”
Philip’s reasons to consider an inland cottage
1. Water activities aren’t your main priority
If your passion happens to be skiing, cycling, hiking, or even bird-watching, Philip cautions that a waterfront cottage may go unused and become a superfluous perk. “Why pay for premium waterfront when you might never be on the water?” he says.
2. You get more of a plug-and-play cottage experience
Philip’s inland cottage is hooked up to municipal water and hydro on a road that also has services such as garbage pickup and snow plowing. Those conveniences eliminate much of the work that comes with roughing it in more isolated waterfront cottages.
3. There are always other ways to access the water
This past summer, Philip made a habit of biking three kilometres from his Huntsville cottage to a public beach on nearby Peninsula Lake for a morning swim. “We don’t have our own private waterfront,” he says, “but there’s plenty of rivers, marinas, and beaches close by.”
Did you recently buy a cottage in a non-traditional way? We’d love to hear about it! Email alysha@cottagelife.com.
The Group of Seven were among the first to publicize the sublime beauty of Georgian Bay’s Thirty Thousand Islands, a vast paradise of blue water, wind-bent pines, and undulating pink granite islands stretching from Severn Sound to the French River. It didn’t take long for cottagers to see the area’s potential, especially in the mix of protected water next to open stretches of Georgian Bay. Boating options range from sea kayaking or canoeing among tiny islands to big-water cruising, although low water levels have made some cottage docks inaccessible to large boats. An endless vista looking west across the bay has made sunset cruising a favourite pastime here.
As highways 400 and 69 are widened, cottagers have been coming here in increasing numbers and pushing prices up, especially as the area takes in spillover cottagers from Muskoka. Attractive shoreline abounds since so many cottages are on islands—but getting to these cottages in winter can be challenging.
Related Story Tour this off-grid, multi-generational cabin in Georgian Bay
The Group of Seven were among the first to publicize the sublime beauty of Georgian Bay’s Thirty Thousand Islands, a vast paradise of blue water, wind-bent pines, and undulating pink granite islands stretching from Severn Sound to the French River. It didn’t take long for cottagers to see the area’s potential, especially in the mix of protected water next to open stretches of Georgian Bay. Boating options range from sea kayaking or canoeing among tiny islands to big-water cruising, although low water levels have made some cottage docks inaccessible to large boats. An endless vista looking west across the bay has made sunset cruising a favourite pastime here.
As highways 400 and 69 are widened, cottagers have been coming here in increasing numbers and pushing prices up, especially as the area takes in spillover cottagers from Muskoka. Attractive shoreline abounds since so many cottages are on islands—but getting to these cottages in winter can be challenging.
Related Story Tour this off-grid, multi-generational cabin in Georgian Bay
