Just 45 minutes from the GTA on Lake Simcoe, Friday Harbour has positioned itself to become the hottest all-season resort residence in Canada.
Less than one hour’s drive up the 400—or a 90-minute GO train ride—Friday Harbour is a new development like no other. Not simply a resort, more than a residential development, Friday Harbour is an all-season vacation-living getaway for Ontarians.
“Friday Harbour is a place that residents can come to just relax and enjoy,” says Earl Rumm, president of Geranium Corporation and partner at Friday Harbour.
Proximity to the city is just one of its advantages. “We’ve been planning for 13 years. And for the last three years, we’ve been preparing a golf course, an inland marina on Lake Simcoe and a nature site,” explains Rumm. “It’s all about creating a place for people to enjoy 12 months a year.”
For residents of Friday Harbour, the appeal is a chance to head north and enjoy the peace and serenity of a relaxing getaway without the long drive or maintaining a cottage property. “It truly is a place you can come and leave your stress and worry behind,” he says.
At the heart of Friday Harbour will be the Marina Village. “We’re just about to build the village boardwalk—12 buildings that will house over 550 residential units,” Rumm says. “The boardwalk will have over 50,000 sq. ft. of specialized shops and great restaurants.” The condo units are all elevated on a giant platform; owners will reside above the boardwalk and the village shops and restaurants.
To the south of the village is the inland marina, one kilometre long at its widest point, which can hold up to 1,000 boats. The marina is approximately 40 acres and includes two private islands with approximately 300 townhomes, each with its own private boat slip.
For residents, there’s a double deck riverboat for parties, weddings and events, and boats for rent. The Lake Club, a 35,000 sq. ft. recreational centre right on the harbour, will be a popular entertainment spot and a place to meet others, with such amenities as badminton, games rooms, meeting rooms, movies and more.
In the winter, Friday Harbour residents can enjoy such cold-weather pursuits as ice fishing, ice hockey, skating, snowmobiling and cross-country skiing. In summertime, the list includes boat regattas, concerts, markets, car shows, and golf tournaments. There will also be “camps” for like-minded residents looking to learn something new.
