There are many occasions where the gift of relaxation and pampering would be appreciated. Since Mother’s Day & Father’s Day is fast approaching this year give your parents a gift that will allow them to relax. One way you can make sure they get treated like royalty is to send them to an inn & spa. This is a gift they will love, especially after a hard week of work. Might I suggest you plan their getaway to the historic Gananoque Inn, which overlooks the St. Lawrence River and the old town pier in Gananoque, Ontario? Gananoque is located on the St. Lawrence River in the heart of the 1000 Islands.
The Gananoque Inn History
“The Gananoque Inn & Spa has been welcoming discerning guests for more than 100 years. The Inn was originally built as a carriage factory in the 1870s, by George and Charles Taylor. A child’s cutter built on the premises, is on display in the Inn lobby. The inn remained under the ownership of the Brockville Carriage Company until March 1906 when Mr. Archibald Welsh of Montreal became the first private owner of the Inn. On Friday, April 5, 1907, a disastrous fire left one-third of the hotel in smoldering ruins. The Welsh family continued to operate the hotel until September 1927, when the business was purchased by Ford McCarney. McCarney’s son, Jack, returned from Cornell University and, at the age of 21, took over the management of the hotel. Dorothy, Jack McCarney’s widow took over the management of the inn after his untimely death in 1933.
Roy and Anna Hicks operated the Inn for 27 years adding the waterfront units, the lower banquet rooms, and conference rooms and increasing the size of the popular pub, and most notably constructing the stone street verandah and three-story tower. Between 1987 and 1995 the Inn changed hands twice with a few noticeable improvements.”
In 1995, John Keilty and his wife Noni purchased the historic landmark of the 1,000’s Islands that resides on the Saint Lawrence Canadian territory also known for its historic past of the 1812 war that became part of the great lakes between the US. John Keilty remains committed to re-establishing the Gananoque Inn as a very special property and to contributing to the revitalization of Gananoque’s waterfront.
The extensive facilities, top-notch treatment, and luxurious rooms have made Gananoque Inn and Spa a popular destination for weddings, a romantic anniversaries, girls’ weekends, and retreats, and especially good for a quiet weekend away for new parents.
The Inn is within walking distance from the Gananoque Boat Line, which takes you on the tour of the Boldt Castle which by the way, is an attraction not to miss.
The inn is also within walking distance of souvenir shops, restaurants, and Confederation Park. Stop by the park and view the Pitch Pine, the official tree of Gananoque, a sculpture done by Rick Lapointe, of Kingston.
We had a wonderful 23rd anniversary weekend at the inn thanks to Ami Kay-Sales Manager of the inn and staff.
The Inn offers 53 tastefully decorated rooms, some with a Jacuzzi or fireplace, located in several buildings: Main, Waterfront, Annex, and Cedar Knoll. Many rooms enjoy river views and some rooms have balconies that face beautiful sunsets. Two Waterfront Buildings provide ground-level rooms and open onto 500 feet of dock and a lawn bedecked with lawn chairs.
The first night we stayed in a fireplace room. The room provided two queen beds, a sitting area and a walk out to the lawns and gardens. It was simple, yet very nice. Beds come with triple sheeting and premium bedding.
All rooms are equipped with Neutrogena toiletries, bathrobes, desks, a hair dryer, an ironing set, a CD player, a TV, a DVD player, and WiFi. Guests may request hypo-allergenic bedding, extra towels/bedding, and wake-up calls. Room service is available during limited hours and you can even rent a DVD package that consists of two movies and a basket of popcorn. Cribs (infant beds) and rollaway beds are available on request. Guestrooms are all non-smoking, but you can smoke outside on the balcony. Each room is also equipped with a book that contains some history about the inn.
The property’s full-service health spa has massage/treatment rooms as well, though we did not take advantage of any of the spa treatments during this visit.
We stayed in the prime minister’s suite for our second night, which is a very spacious room with a king-sized bed facing a warm stone fireplace, a huge bathroom with a jet tub, and a sitting area. The many windows make the whole suite very bright and airy and I love the idea of California shutters on the windows, which give more privacy. Just outside the door on the balcony is the tranquil Pond Garden and glorious river views.
The spacious bathroom is a woman’s dream bathroom. It is equipped with a double Jacuzzi tub for soaking plus a separate shower, heated floor, double sinks, and a dressing table.
All rooms include a coffee maker with coffee, tea, hot chocolate, and cookies. The Prime Minister’s Suite also included a wet bar and fridge.
The service at the Inn is excellent. The staff at the inn are all very friendly and helpful. I loved the homemade cookies that are offered to guests at the front desk in the afternoon. This is a very sweet touch. When the front desk clerk heard it was our 23rd anniversary, a complimentary bottle of wine was sent to our room on behalf of the staff.
Dining options at Gananoque Inn & Spa, Ontario’s Finest Inn include a fine dining restaurant and a bar/lounge.
The free breakfast included in the price of our room package is a wonderful feature and for an extra $50.00, you can also add a 3-course meal for two from Muskie Jake’s Tap & Grill to your stay. We did this for both nights and for someone on a budget this is a great savings.
Muskie Jake’s Tap & Grill is a great pub for more casual fare. The restaurant seems to be very popular with local residents and has a unique history behind it as well. One of the bartenders of the inn went on to tell us the Jake story. He was truly a memorable character.
For 66 years (1935 to 2001), the legendary “Muskie” Jake Huntley led guests of The Gananoque Inn and Spa on their quest for muskie. He took fishermen from all over the world to his secret fishing spots. In 2003, John Keilty named the pub at the Gananoque Inn & Spa, Muskie Jake’s Tap and Grill in honor of Jake who has become a part of Gananoque’s history. (Clarence (Muskie Jake) Huntley died at the age of 91 in Kingston, Ontario.)
Both my husband and I enjoyed our sirloin steak and the fabulous desserts at Muskie Jake’s Tap and Grill. The staff was warm and friendly. Service was also fairly quick.
Gananoque Inn and Spa is truly an oasis
Whether it’s dining on the patio of Muskie Jake’s Tap & Grill or enjoying a quick getaway with a waterfront room, the Gananoque Inn and Spa will leave you feeling pampered, relaxed, and stress-free.
Gananoque property has event space consisting of banquet facilities, conference/meeting rooms, a ballroom, and exhibit space.
Overall, I highly recommend the Gananoque Inn and Spa for a relaxing time away and my husband and I both plan on returning.
I strongly believe that the quality of one’s accommodations is a critical factor in the enjoyment of your stay in Ontario. As a travel reviewer, I hope that I can make a difference to the quality of your travel experience in Ontario whether staying at a hotel B & B or Inn.
