The Township of Lake of Bays has purchased the Logging Chain Lodge for $3.1 million, and now the municipality must figure out how the property will be incorporated into the public realm.
At the September 9, 2025, Lake of Bays Council meeting, Scott MacKinnon, Director of Parks & Facilities, summarized the vision behind the purchase of the 6.86-acre property with frontage along Hwy. 60 and Dwight Beach Road.
“In Spring of 2025, The Logging Chain Lodge was introduced to the Real Estate Market for sale. Staff realized the potential for the “Lodge” to fit into the many of the Strategic Plans accepted by Council for land use in Lake of Bays.
“The property was reviewed by the Township’s broker of record, for appraisals and profile. Through a secured debenture the funds were available, repayment is based on a 10-year amortization schedule and payments supported through reserves and future budgets.
“As per Council’s direction, staff moved forward with negotiations for the property and staff were successful in securing the property at a fair market value,” he stated in his report.
MacKinnon was seeking approval to engage a design consultant in the third quarter of 2026, with final designs planned to be presented to council in 2027.
Councillor Bob Lacroix questioned whether the property could be enjoyed before 2027. He suggested that perhaps the Township could at least remove some of the fencing and put in an entrance so that people could at the very least use the front of the property along Dwight Beach Road.
“Our hope is that as we proceed forward, we want to wait for the design to come out before we make any big drastic changes… but we are hoping to open up the front green space and allow people to use the front green space maybe with some picnic tables, etc.,” said MacKinnon, adding that the intent is to delineate the property so that while the municipality is dealing with the structures on the property, the front space remains separate.
Prompted by a question from Councillor George Anderson, MacKinnon said there are approximately seven cabins, the main lodge, a pump house and an old barn.
Councillor Jacqueline Godard asked when the public would be consulted. MacKinnon said “staff are already collecting thoughts that are being posted on social media, but my understanding is that sometime in 2026, we’ll be rolling out an engage page, so we’ll be able to engage the public and hear back,” he said, adding that public consultation will again take place once plans are firmed up.
“I want to state firstly that we aren’t operating the Township based on what we see on social media,” clarified Lake of Bays Mayor Terry Glover. “So we appreciate that people have suggestions and we’re keeping notes, but there’ll be a formal process in which we’ll have discussions and so forth, and so on, with regards to where we’re headed there, and then that’s a ways off. We have time, and that’s the way we’re going to approach that.”
There were further questions about the buildings on the property, many of which are capable of being heated for year-round use. MacKinnon said that would be determined in the future. Glover went a step further and said, “I mean, we’re not in the rental business or the resort business, so we won’t be doing that.”
A former owner of the property, Reilley Tapley, spoke to council about the buildings. “In regards to the cottages, they’re completely winterized, they’re in excellent shape, and it’ll be a shame to destroy them. There’s a good possibility that they could be easily moved.” Tapley said one is a two-storey building that may be harder to move, but is in a location that could complement a park use.
“The barn would be a shame to destroy because it’s well over 100 years old and is a peg and beam construction, which you probably won’t find many of in Ontario now. The amazing thing about the barn, really worth keeping for a tourist point of view, is you can go in the barn, look up at the ceiling, [and] there’s all these little million of holes, like some guy fired a shotgun at it, and not one drop of water will come in. We never allowed it to,” said Tapley.
He asked the council to consider whether the park would be lit at night, what kind of activities would be available to the public in the winter, and suggested that if many more cars use the area, they could overload a parking base that he said is already overloaded.
Council approved hiring a consultant for the design with a final draft being presented in 2027.
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I approached staff at the office ,to see if a single parent and three children could use a cabin for the winter . Her response was they were not used in the winter and they were going to be demolished shortly . She then gave me info on people to call. What information is correct the above or the information I received at the township office. Michael O’Mara
There goes the barn….it’s a beautiful barn. Interesting to read the township’s description versus Mr. Tapley’s. I hope the township doesn’t bulldoze it and approve some modern eyesore (go for a drive around the township for examples of what the township has approved).
Have to wonder why Mr. Tapley would feel the need to talk to/defend the integrity of the existing dwellings as well..
Not surprised by the mayor’s reaction to people’s suggestions about how to uses the property either….we’ll listen, have a process, but are going to do what we see fit.