If there’s a word that’s been on every Heated Rivalry fan’s lips since the show’s lakeside conclusion, it’s “cottage.” The series—based on a book by Nova Scotia author Rachel Reid—was filmed and produced in Canada, with one particular Lake Muskoka cottage playing an important role in the finale.
The fifth episode sees hockey rivals and star-crossed lovers Shane Hollander and Ilya Rosanov escape to Hollander’s waterfront cabin for some space away from the prying public eye. Tucked away from view of the main lake, the secluded property is the perfect setting for the pair’s love story to heat up.
Heated Rivalry has since spurred an onset of national interest, from Province of Canada’s hotly-anticipated HR-inspired fleece to scouring filming locations in Hamilton, Ont., to the cottage itself finally being listed on Airbnb. Searches for cottages in Muskoka skyrocketed by 110 per cent after the finale, according to InsightTrendsWorld. But has that interest translated into more rentals?
As of yet, the answer isn’t so clear.
“Our summer was mostly booked by last fall, so we have not seen a surge in bookings,” says Sharon Burlacoff, the co-owner of Lakeside Cottages Muskoka.
However, that hasn’t stopped the company from leveraging Heated Rivalry’s online discourse. Burlacoff is launching a “Heated Revelry” social media campaign to promote stays at Lakeside’s Amber Cottage, which has a striking similar contemporary architecture style to the show’s cottage set. Coincidentally, the owners enlisted architect Trevor McIvor—who designed HR’s Barlochlan Cottage—to build a bunkie at Amber prior to the show’s release.
This late into the season, it’s tough to gauge how much Heated Rivalry has truly impacted the rental market. Other cottage rental companies, such as All-Season Cottage Rentals in Haliburton, Ont., also had most bookings locked in prior to the show.
Either way, we’re looking forward to seeing more of the cottage next season.
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