Spring Family Vacations

"Every once in a while you come across a place where the service is extraordinary, the food is delicious, and the staff are warm & welcoming. Once you find this place you want to return again and again."

They come back because the entire family has a great time. Spring is the season of rejuvenation and there's no better place to get the feeling of starting fresh than a family getaway at the Irwin Inn. Celebrate spring on Stoney Lake. Early spring; explore the area’s maple syrup festivals. Watch the trees being tapped and see the sap boiling to make the delectable sticky and sweet maple syrup. Test the delicious syrup on warm fluffy pancakes or icy snow.

As the days become warmer and the ice leaves Stoney Lake, listen to the loons calling on the lake. Walk nature trails to visit the horses at the barn and equestrian centre, cast a fishing line, and play a fun round of golf on our par 3 course.
Spring is definitely a refreshing, and revitalizing time of year! Watch the wildlife return. Birds chirping, animals scurrying, new life is everywhere. You can canoe, kayak, take a cruise late May or June, and discover some of the 1100 islands that dot Stoney Lake and just sit back at the end of the day, with a good book, a game, or watch a movie by a warming fire.

Adults get to act like kids at the resort and forget their day-to-day work responsibilities. Sumptuous meals magically appear without you having to prepare anything. Our caring staff tends to your room daily just the way you like it, and are attentive to your dining needs, including dietary restrictions and special foods. Experience superior cuisine, attentive service & spectacular lakeside accommodations.

Accommodations in the spring range from standard suites to luxurious lakeside cottages and waterfront suites with private swimming pools or hot tubs. Make the most of warm days and at night enjoy your private hot tub or pool under the stars and a crackling fire in your suite's stone fireplace.
Accommodations in the spring range from standard suites to luxurious lakeside cottages and waterfront suites with private swimming pools or hot tubs.

Spring Family Fishing Vacations in the Kawarthas
Spring family fishing vacations abound at the Irwin Inn on Stoney Lake in Ontario, Canada. The Kawartha Lakes, of which Stoney Lake is a member, is ranked in the top ten fishing destinations in Canada. Originally it was the trophy fishing that brought visitors to the Irwin Inn. Although the 40+ lb. Lake Trout are gone, Stoney Lake still has an abundance of fish to catch on your fishing getaway. Pickerel, bass, and muskie, are found in Stoney Lake. We are happy to share our knowledge on how and where to catch fish in the spring season. In fact, one of the best places to catch trophy muskie is in front of the Irwin Inn. For younger members of your family, the young fishermen, endless hours can be spent fishing from the dock where pan fish abound. Few things are as exciting to a 4-year old as feeling a tug on the fishing rod for the first time. Combining great family fishing with comfortable accommodations and excellent meals makes the Irwin Inn a perfect resort for a spring family fishing vacation in Ontario Canada.

Spring Family Golf Vacations in the Kawarthas
The Irwin Inn is ideal for spring family golf vacations in Ontario, Canada. In the 1950s we constructed a 9-hole par-3 golf course facility at the Irwin Inn that is free of charge for all our guests. It provides a perfect introduction to a family golf experience and convenient on-site practice facility for the seasoned golfer.

A special featured benefit of staying at The Irwin Inn is the opportunity to play golf at the world class private Wildfire Golf Club, just 5 minutes away Check at the Irwin Inn office for fees, availability and reservations.
From par-3 to world class, you'll find an area golf course that challenges your game and delights the eye. Combining comfortable accommodation and fine dining make this resort on Stony Lake perfect for a spring family golf vacation in Ontario, Canada.

"We have been to all-inclusive vacations in Dominican Republic and a 5-star hotel in Miami, still never have we received a level of customer service like we did at your resort.”

Spring Family Dining
There is a refreshing quality to spring, with new life, new growth around us. This is a time of year, when dining is geared to a new a refreshing menu, featuring the best of spring bounty. We make every meal at the Irwin Inn an occasion to celebrate. Our lakeside dining room with a panoramic view of Stoney Lake is a fitting venue for memorable meals for couples, families, or groups of friends. Our menu is carefully prepared to bring you and your family a variety of the best of fresh country inn fare, together with the service and excellence you expect from a fine dining establishment. A full wine list, accommodating staff and the spectacular Stoney Lake view, set the stage for a fine dining experience.

The Irwin Inn operates on a Modified American Plan, which provides for breakfast and dinner daily. Lunch can be purchased as a picnic lunch year round.

"We had an amazing time. The facilities were awesome _ very clean and had everything we could want: fireplace, lighting, whirlpool. I cannot say enough about the chef _ absolutely fabulous."

Spring is the time when nature wakes up with a smile. Catch the last glimpses of winter as Easter approaches. Whether a family getaway at Easter, May long weekend or a full, family vacation in the summer, The Irwin Inn offers grand views memorable dining, superior accommodation and thoughtful country hospitality as part of a 60-year family tradition.

In a spectacular setting, this year round, full service lakeside resort is ideal for discerning couples and families. Cottages and luxury suites with fireplace, whirlpool, private hot tub or pool, provide ideal accommodations for the perfect getaway or vacation, just 90 minutes from Toronto! A Spring Awakening Getaway:

• Cottage/suite with living room, colour TV, DVD/VCR player,
• Most accommodations have a fireplace, whirlpool, private hot tub or pool
• Coffee, assorted teas, hot chocolate, popcorn, homemade cookies
• 5-course dinner and full, country breakfast each day
• 1 child free, and 1 teen at half adult rate
• Easter treats (Easter weekend)
• Use of seasonal recreation facilities
• 2 nights priced from $260.00 to $420.00 per adult
3 nights priced from $385.00 to $615.00 per adult

Take a Break in March! Lighten your spirit, with fabulous views of a sparkling, snow-laden landscape with an ice frosted lake. Settle into a luxury suite or deluxe cottage with stone fireplace, and whirlpool, private hot tub, or private pool. Take pleasure in gourmet dining, the ambiance of a crackling fire and starlit sky. Our natural setting is truly inspirational. Glide through our forest trails on skis, skate on the frozen lake, visit the horses at the barn, or simply relax, watch a movie, read a book, or have a massage. 2-night package includes 2 elegant dinners, 2 complete breakfasts, and seasonal recreational activities. From $260. to $420. pp. Stay a 3rd night for only 50.00 p.p. One child (under 13 yrs) stays free. Seniors save 10%. Luscious truffles, fruit, wine, exotic teas, coffee, hot chocolate, homemade cookies & popcorn are complimentary and in your room to enjoy!
Spring Fisherman’s Value Package. Stay 2-4 nights and save 50% on boat & motor rentals. Stay 5-7 nights and use of boat & motor is free! Packages include breakfast and dinner daily, use of recreational facilities, a Stoney Lake map, boat safety equipment lawfully required. We will pack you a light lunch, and we will cook your catch of fish if you wish! Spring family fishing is always a hit! One special fisherman per family, 12 yrs and under is free.

Spectacular Setting in the Spring
A year round, full service resort, The Irwin Inn is known for its spectacular setting, comfort, luxury, exceptional dining, unparalleled views, summer programs for kids, equestrian pursuits and the Irwin family’s hospitality, now 60 years strong. From classic country inn rooms and cottages to luxury suites and cottages with fireplaces, whirlpools, private hot tubs or pools, accommodations are ideal for discerning couples and families. Enjoy an extensive range of activities for a dynamic resort experience, or simply relax for a peaceful, personal experience, just 90 minutes from Toronto.
Spring Family Attractions in the Heart of the Kawarthas

The Irwin Inn is in the heart of the Kawartha Lakes district, an area famous for its dramatic and varied landscape. About 40 minutes north of Peterborough, the largest city in the region, The Irwin Inn enjoys a wonderfully scenic location on Stoney Lake and its 1100 islands. A short drive to the north brings you to Petroglyphs Provincial Park, which has the largest known concentration of aboriginal rock carvings in Canada. Carved into the rock face hundreds of years ago, the 900 petroglyphs depict turtles, snakes, birds, humans and other images. From the long weekend in May until Thanksgiving you can hike on the trails meandering through surrounding forests, wetlands and rocky ridges or visit The Learning Place interpretive centre.

Curve Lake First Nation has one of the finest galleries of Native art in the country with knowledgeable staff to help you discover the Ojibwa history of the area. The pretty town of Lakefield has numerous points of interest and shops, and make sure you watch boats locking through on the Trent-Severn Waterway.

Peterborough, a city of about 75,000 has the amenities you would expect of a city of this size - restaurants, cinemas, a zoo, parks and theatres, however, the Canadian Canoe Museum, The Trent Severn Waterway, the Lift locks are attractions that should be on your 'must see' list. South of the Irwin Inn is Lang Pioneer Village which is a living exhibition showing what pioneer life was like in the area. Near the town of Millbrook is 4th Line Theatre, a nationally recognized theatre company that specializes in plays about the area. Plays are held outside to give a realistic and unique theatre experience. Westben Theatre at the Barn, features concerts in a unique venue. See more in Area Attractions

The Irwin Inn, A Family Tradition for over 60 Years

The Irwin Inn can look back on a history of Kawartha resort hospitality that spans 3 generations and over sixty years.

Ross and Norma Irwin stumbled into being innkeepers by accident. Asked to accommodate overflow guests from a neighbouring resort in 1947, they found the experience so enjoyable that, the following years, after an addition to their cottage, they began welcoming guests. Ross brought his talent as cook to the business, and many of his recipes are used to this day. He was also a compulsive builder, and, over the next 20 years, the resort expanded in every direction. By 1955 Ross and Norma could accommodate 30 guests and, with a dining room expansion in 1960, more than 75 could vacation at the Inn. The golf course was built in 1965.

By 1981, Dennis and Patti Irwin had taken over the Inn and embarked on a program of expansion and consolidation. They completed the acquisition of all the privately owned cottages near the Inn begun by Ross and Norma. Concentrating on the lakefront, they renovated existing cottages or built new ones to suit the more discerning tourists of the 80s and 90s. As well, they felt that groups or organizations would benefit from the Inn's unique site and consequently built a meeting room and upgraded facilities to attract these clients. The building program culminated in 2000 with the construction of a complex of lakeside spa suites. Sympathetic architecture and a prime waterfront location have made these suites the most sought after accommodation at the Inn.

Dennis and Patti have 3 sons all now working in some aspect of the business.

Jaimey and Tina Irwin operate Stoney Lake Equestrian. They specialize in training, showing, breeding, and selling of the finest dressage horses. Their clients are international and often stay at the Inn while observing the training of their horses.

Rob and Andrew Irwin have inherited a love of building and play in important part in keeping, what is now a complex operation, working.

The Irwins have always shared a respect for the environment of which they are stewards. Using deep lake cooling (long before the City of Toronto made it fashionable), they are able to supplement both their heating and cooling requirements.

Although the reasons people visit the Irwin Inn have changed over the years, some things have remained constant - the eternal beauty of Stoney lake, the dedication of the Irwins to providing a truly memorable lakeside resort experience, and, finally, the belief that the things we cherish depend upon our will to preserve them.
Resort Facilities and Activities

Resort Facilities

Outdoor Pool
Tennis Court
Games Room
Playground
9-hole Golf Course
Sandy Beach
Waterfront Accommodation
6.5km of Trails
Children/Youth Rec Programs
Volleyball Net
Small Store Onsite
Wireless Internet Access
Shuffle Board
Mountain Bikes
Canoes
Movie Rentals
Kayaks

Massage Therapy (RMT)
  $75/hour in massage rm
  $85/hour in your rm

Horseback Riding Facilities
  $40/hour trail ride
  $45/hour semi-private
  $55/hour private lesson
  $15 pony ride

Motor Boat Rentals
  *starting at $75/day or
  $350/week

Seasonal Activities

Summer
Horseback Riding
Kids’ Recreational Program
Youth Recreational Program
Island Fish Fry
Sunset Cruises
Fishing
Golfing
Walking Trails

Fall
Horseback Riding
Fishing
Golfing
Canoeing and Kayaking

Spring
Horseback Riding
Fishing
Golfing
Canoeing and Kayaking

Winter
Horse Drawn Sleigh Rides
Snowmobile Rides
X Country Skiing Equipment
6.5km of Groomed Trails
Skating

Facilities and Activities Descriptions

Please also view our activities pages to view more details and photos regarding specific activities

Golfing
The Irwin Inn is ideal for family golf vacations in Ontario, Canada. In the 1950s we developed a par-3 golf course that is free for all guests. It provides a perfect introduction to a family golf experience and convenient on-site practice facility for the seasoned golfer. A special benefit of staying at The Irwin Inn is the opportunity to play on the world class private Wildfire Golf Club, 5 minutes away.

Horseback Riding
The Irwin Inn specializes in riding experiences for beginners to the very highest level of riding instruction. Delightful trail rides on our own Milestone Farm are available most months of the year. Although we offer lessons for riders at all levels, lessons for novice riders provide an ideal situation for experiencing the sport without the pressure of commitment and cost of structured programs.

Kayaking and Canoeing
Stoney Lake is famous for its 1100 islands and Precambrian rock shores. You can find many areas inhabited only by residents native to Stoney Lake for thousands of years. Loons call in the evening blue herons own the “still” of morning. Canoeing and kayaking on stoney has been inspiring naturalists since the Ojibwa natives made birch bark canoes to travel and explore it’s shining waters.

Sightseeing/Shopping
The Kawartha Lakes area offers countless opportunities for shopping, and sightseeing, From the latest in fashion, footwear, sporting gear, to farmers markets, fine art, crafts, and gorgeous hand crafted gifts, the entire Peterborough and Kawartha area has it all! Numerous interesting sights can be seen along the way. Planned shopping trips will make for an exciting off site excursion.

Arts & Culture
Peterborough and the entire surrounding area, has developed into a thriving arts and culture destination. In this land of shining water, art galleries, museums, historic sites, live theatre, unique outdoor theatre, concerts, and festivals abound, demonstrating the rich cultural mosaic of the Kawartha Lakes region

Complimentary Movie Rentals
Our movie gallery is located in our store area. Our movies vary from old classic to new blockbuster hits. There is sure to be something for everybody. Sit back and relax in your accommodation while watching a movie!

Games Room
Our games room offers our guests an alternative to outdoor activities. In the games room we have a pool table, ping pong table, and dart board.

6.5 km of Trails
Our trails function in many ways depending on the season. Wound through our 200 acres of land they can be used to hike, bike, horseback ride, ski, or snowmobile. With beautiful scenery the trails offer views of deer and greenery, and can lead you to our barns where you can visit with the horses. Some trails are strictly for non-vehicular use ensuring a peaceful time for all!

Massage Therapy
Our two registered massage therapists, Martina Schnettler and Nicole Hurley, are sure to give you a deep soothing massage. Have a massage in the comfort of your own accommodation or in our massage room and feel your stress slip away.

Wireless Internet Access
Available in our office and lounging areas as well as in select accommodation.

Cross Country Skiing
Enjoy a quiet ski through our 6.5 km of groomed trails or across beautiful Stoney Lake. No need to bring equipment as everything is provided for you!