End of a Chapter

We have been here long enough to remember Grandview when it was a farm, as well as a hotel.  When you could go for a real farm-style dinner in the spacious dining room overlooking the lake.  Famous for the home-made bread, Mrs. Cookson would claim that the flavour was because they used the water from cooking the potatoes in the kneading of the dough.  I still remember one time we were there, and she came sailing out of the kitchen, arms laden with plates of food, shortly after we had finished our meal.  Plonking the plates down in front of our stuffed-to-the-gills selves, she cheerily announced there was still roast beef leftover, and asked "Would you like another dinner, dearie?"

Growing up here, we knew that Grandview was synonomous with friendly hospitality. Over the years, it grew, and changed, and developed into one of the premier resort destinations in Muskoka.  It was still synonomous with excellence in service and hospitality.  The Buffet Brunches were legend.  The nine-hole Golf Course won awards for its environmental sensitivity and preservation of bird habitat.  Our cousin Robin Tapley developed a Nature Trails program that included, among other ventures, a first class Observatory.  Through it's quarter-century partnership with Delta Hotels and Club Link, Grandview expanded to include the world-class Mark O'Meara Golf course -- and that clubhouse hosted venues of all sorts.  We went for weddings, seminars, awards banquets, AGM's, business launches and so much more. 

So it was a very strange feeling, driving into town this week, to see the Delta Grandview sign painted over and blanked out.  Delta and Clublink have parted company, amicably enough we are told, and while the golf course will continue to operate, the staff has spent the past few months winding down the hotel operations and closing out the resort.  At least for now, it's closed.  There may well be a new incarnation in the resort's future.  Or it may continue only as the Condo Owners' associations determine.  Time will tell that tale.

Thank you, Delta Grandview, for being part of our beautiful Muskoka landscape for all these years, for continuing the original tradition of excellence in hospitality, for being part of all our lives.  We'll miss you...

Grandview is not the only resort in North Muskoka undergoing a sea change.  Nor'Loch Lodge, in Dwight, is also currently closed and exploring new directions for the future.  They, too, have been a wonderful asset and fabulous neighbours, hugely involved in everything that happened in the village of Dwight.   That closure, while on a smaller scale than that of Delta Grandview, is no less saddening. 

We wish all those involved with these properties the very best as the future unfolds.  It's been an honour to know and work with all of you over the years.