Listen carefully and you can hear it, floating faintly on the breeze: the distant sound of a clarinet playing soft jazz over the murmured beat of a dance band. This was Muskoka 100 years ago, one of the most fashionable and envied vacation destinations in eastern Canada and the northeastern U.S. That legacy has continued through the decades, and you can still feel it when you visit Tall Timbers, a breathtaking, resort-like property on Lake Joseph.
The cottage may be thoroughly modern in every respect, but a reverence for the great Muskoka tradition runs through its heart, from its truly majestic, two-storey timber-frame great room, to its 17 cozy bedrooms (with 14+ 4 baths), classic two-slip Muskoka boathouse and private guesthouse.
The main cottage sprawls a roomy 12,000+ square feet on two levels, overlooking 380 feet of pristine Lake Joe shoreline. It’s perfect for multiple families or an extended family, for entertaining and weekend parties for a crowd of friends, or to operate as a charming B&B, short-term rental property, or – in the grand Muskoka tradition – as a luxury resort and inn. (In fact, the property is currently zoned for commercial use.)
Alight from the paved drive, and enter through bright double French doors to the roomy foyer; the great room rises just to your left. You might choose to warm your toes by the huge, granite-lined fireplace (one of four wood-burning fireplaces in the cottage). Perhaps you’d prefer to sit by the window and drink in that amazing view, enjoy an intimate chat with a friend, or join in a lively conversation with a group. Or maybe just pull up a chair and listen to the grand piano being played in a cozy corner at the end of the room. There are so many ways to enjoy life in this room.
Next, make your way along the glazed breezeway, which runs along the lakeside elevation of the cottage, to the well-appointed chef’s kitchen. With its multiple islands and work areas, it’s big enough for several chefs (either full-time or catering staff), or as a gourmet cook’s dream come true. The kitchen features an open pass-through, directly facing the view, that can seat kids for lunch or function as a station for servers or buffet guests. There’s also plenty of room for informal meals for up to six at the L-shaped island.
Down to the lower level, and you’ve found the grown-ups’ playroom: a generous space with two bars, wine cellar, room for a full-size pool table, and multiple French doors that open out onto comfy seating on the shaded, granite-flagstone patio. On warm summer afternoons, you can open the doors fully to let in the lakeside breezes; on a rainy day, curl up by the big fireplace at the other end and watch the game.
As evening comes on, stroll past the main patio a few steps up to the firepit, and enjoy a drink and a chat as you watch the sun set through the pines. Or wander the other way towards the comfy guesthouse. With its own private living quarters, screen porch and a wide verandah facing the view, it’s perfect for in-laws, or luxury accommodations for very special guests.
Now that you’re down by the water, stop and listen for a few minutes to the peaceful sound of water lapping against the shore. A few steps along, you’ll come to a clearing by the water that’s specially suited for swimming. At the foot of a small waterside patio with room for a couple of comfy Muskoka chairs, the lake is warm and shallow and the bottom is smooth rock – a perfect spot for children to play safely, under the watchful eye of mum and dad.
Follow the path back along the water’s edge, and you’ll come to Tall Timbers’ classic update on over a hundred years of Muskoka history: the handsome two-slip Muskoka boathouse. On the more sheltered side is a wide dock, tailor-made for sitting and sun-worshipping (and a cool, shaded dining area if you’d prefer!), with deeper water suitable for diving or landing a motorboat or float plane. On the far side, there’s a place to securely moor smaller boats such as canoes, sail-cats or Jet-skis. The upper level features still more dockside seating – you can’t beat the view from up here! – as well as a wet bar for outdoor entertaining (along with washrooms, a thoughtful addition).
Tall Timbers is all set for modern-day Muskoka cottagers to enjoy the very special lifestyle it offers. The people – and perhaps the music, drifting across the water – may be different today than they were a hundred years ago, but here in the pines, the spirit is very much still there.
