Severn Lodge Receives Heritage Awards

Severn Lodge has recently received two prestigeous heritage awards given by the Muskoka Heritage Society and the Port Severn Honey Harbour & District Chamber of Commerce. The awards honor Severn Lodge for historic preservation and designate it as an official "Muskoka Heritage Resort".

The Muskoka lakes district is considered the premier resort and vacation area of Ontario and has a longstanding tradition of hisotic lodges and resorts dating back to the 1800's. Rick W. Breckbill, president and general manager said, "We are very pleased to receive these highly coveted awards that honor the historic traditions we value so much. We have always had a keen interest in preserving the heritage of yesteryear while providing all of the amenities that today's sophisticated travelers expect in a modern family resort".

Severn Lodge is one of Muskoka's premier lakeside vacation resorts and has been offering vacation packages for families and couples for many years. The resort also caters to the meeting & conference market. Many of the buildings on the property date back to the 1800's when the location served as the headquarters for the Georgian Bay Lumber Company. In the late 1800's it was transformed into a vacation resort catering primarily to wealthy Americans. Mr. Breckbill's father began working at Severn Lodge in the summer of 1928 and eventually purchased the resort in 1936. He and his brother and their families continue to carry on the family tradition.

The resort also recently announced the restoration of their rare 1922 vintage 37' mahogany Ditchburn motor launch. The Ditchburn Boat Works produced fine mahogany motor launches for some of Canada's wealthies families in the early 1900's. Mr Breckbill states, "This lovely motor launch is truly one of Canada's most significant boats. It was custom built in 1922 for Lady Eaton, the wife of Sir Timothy Eaton, who was the founder of the Eaton Department Store chain. It is a rare classic we consider an integral part of our resort and our family".

Images of some of the historic buildings at Severn Lodge, along with pictures of the 1922 Ditchburn motor launch can be seen at their newly launched website at www.severnlodge.on.ca .