Windermere House

The Windermere House is a historic hotel and resort located in Windermere, Ontario, within the Muskoka region of Canada.

Windermere House
Windermere Hotel in Windermere, Ontario, Canada
General information
Architectural style	Victorian
Location	Windermere, Ontario, Muskoka, Canada
Coordinates	45°09′52″N 79°32′59″W
Completed	1870
Renovated	1997
Demolished	1996
Technical details
Size	2500 square miles
Other information
Number of rooms	56

It was built in 1870 in the Victorian style as a boarding house. It overlooks Lake Rosseau. Originally intended as the residence of Thomas Aitken, who purchased the land in 1863 after relocating from Scotland, the house later expanded to accommodate guests.

Aitken's subsequent home nearby would become the Windermere Cottage. Windermere House remained in the family's possession until 1981, when it was acquired by an investment group. The name Windermere is derived from a village and lake in Northern England, and it is often referred to as The Lady of the Lakes by locals.

In 1996, a fire broke out during the filming of The Long Kiss Goodnight, resulting in the destruction of the 127-year-old Windermere House. The cause of the fire remains unsolved, with some speculating it was due to production equipment lights and others suggesting a short circuit. The house, along with the boat house and marina, was subsequently rebuilt and restored in 1997.

The Windermere House features 56 guest rooms, multiple restaurants, a pub, and a private 4-bedroom cottage with an adjacent water tower built in the 1920s.

Situated behind the house is the Windermere Golf & Country Club, which was established in 1919 and boasts an 18-hole golf course. The resort also offers amenities such as an outdoor pool, tennis court, playground, church, marina, and beach for recreational activities. Spanning 2500 square miles, including the golf course and surrounding wilderness, Windermere House is the largest resort in the area.