Author, historian, and Muskoka enthusiast Andrew Hind travels through Muskoka’s colourful past with the release of his newest book.
The book, aptly named Timeless Hospitality, offers an in-depth look at the region’s historic resorts, exploring their stories, traditions, cultures, and the role they played in shaping the Muskoka that exists today.
“Muskoka’s resorts are much more than just a place to visit, they are very much a part of Muskoka’s tapestry,” Hind said. “They are Muskoka’s present and future but also a huge part of its past.”
Hind grew up in Toronto and now lives in Bradford, but his ties to Muskoka run deep. His family has lived and cottaged in the region for generations, and he has spent the past 25 years writing for Muskoka-based publications.
“Over time, I’ve developed a deep passion for the area,” he said.
That passion began at an early age. Hind said he was drawn to history as a child, often spending hours in the school library reading history books.
“It was like a gold mine to me,” he said. “The school was very good with harnessing my interest…and a lot of that was Muskoka history.”
His interest in Muskoka history flourished during childhood summers spent at the family cottage.
“I’d take off for the day and would go along old loggers’ trails and find the stacks of logs that had been there for 100 years…and stumble upon ghost towns,” Hind recalled. “My child’s brain came up with all kinds of fabulous stories for what these were…as I got older, I wanted to find the real story rather than what I was creating in my head.”
That curiosity led to his first writing job, producing monthly columns for Vintage Muskoka magazine. He went on to write for several other Muskoka publications over the years and eventually, published his first book, Ghost Towns of Muskoka.
Hind said he was introduced to the world of Muskoka resorts while writing resort profiles for Muskoka Life magazine.
“I’m fascinated by Muskoka resorts,” he said. “As an historian, I love looking behind the scenes and when I’m at the resorts, I ask a lot of questions and look around trying to find the reminders and relics and what remains of the resorts of old.”
According to Hind, resorts were crucial in introducing visitors to Muskoka.
“Muskoka’s cottage country now, but it was originally resort country. It was how people would be introduced to Muskoka,” he said.
He explained that wealthy visitors began vacationing in Muskoka during the 1800s and eventually purchased cottages of their own, helping transform the region into the destination it is today. At one point, Muskoka was home to more than 100 resorts, though only a fraction of those resorts remain.
One of the most significant was Rosseau House, which Hind describes as not only Muskoka’s first resort but Canada’s first wilderness resort. Although it operated for just 12 years before being destroyed by fire, he said its influence was massive.
“It set the template for everything from how the businesses operated to what they offered, it showed a lot of people what could be,” Hind said. “Rich and famous would come from all over.”
Hind said one of the most surprising discoveries during his research was how unique each resort was. Many developed their own traditions and cultures that reflected the personalities of their owners and guests.
Some resorts featured lively music, dancing, and entertainment, while others, such as Elgin House, were temperance resorts that prohibited alcohol and smoking, required Sunday church attendance, and guests to dress formally for dinner.
Many were family-owned for generations, with guests returning year after year and forming lifelong relationships with owners and staff. Some staff were even children of returning guests.
“That was something that was eye-opening to me, how distinctive each one was,” Hind said. “They had their own traditions that they did every year. When these resorts disappeared, they took their cultures and traditions with them. It was really remarkable, and that’s why I want to preserve them.”
Hind said he believes the resort industry established Muskoka’s international reputation and laid the foundation for its modern tourism economy.
“Geographically speaking, there really isn’t a lot of difference between Muskoka, Haliburton, Parry Sound, or any of the regions around it, and yet, Muskoka is famous, and the others aren’t, and that all comes down to the resort era,” he said. “It created a brand that remains today. It laid the foundation for the entire tourism industry that Muskoka largely exists on.”
Despite many changes to the Muskoka resort industry over the years, Hind said one thing has remained the same – the hospitality.
“One thing that I think is amazing is that no matter who’s running it and who the staff are, the focus remains on providing the Muskoka experience,” he said. “The resorts that remain still put the excellence of hospitality at the top of the list.”
Hind continues his writing career with full momentum. He recently completed a book about explorers of Western Canada, expected to be released later this summer, and is currently working on a book about haunted hotels and resorts across Ontario.
Timeless Hospitality and Hind’s other books are available for purchase or order at many local bookstores, as well as some major retailers.
