Cedar Grove Lodge

08/31/2026

Passing The Handle — 59 years and counting!

Cedar Grove has been offering waterskiing every summer since 1968. We believe that makes our little lodge the longest for this in Ontario resort history.

Thousands of guests learned to ski at the lodge and we are very proud of that. Hearing the roar of cheers from the dock when a child gets up is something special. To play a tiny role, especially with the young ones, in giving them confidence, a new skill and experience is a wonderful thing for us to hold onto all these years.

In those 59 years there has been only 5 main drivers/instructors for over 99% of the time: Gary, Mike, Jeremy, Bill and Matthew.

After coming home from University one spring a young Gary was told he ‘has to do something with the guests this year’. The idea of playing bridge in the lounge at night with the ‘old people’ was not something he was at all interested in so he exclaimed ‘I’ll take them skiing!’, and a tradition was born!

Mike and Jeremy ushered in the Mastercraft era. What has now become ubiquitous on the lake, was at the time a very niche boat, and only the second of its kind on the lake and first Mastercraft to touch the clear water of Pen Lake. This competition level ski boat allowed us to take teaching skiing to a new level. Safety, comfort and success rate increased, as well as overall enjoyment for both us and the guests. It was also a great boat for two teenagers to impress the girls with. 😂. Tubing also started in this era and quickly became very popular, much to the chagrin of the purists!

Bill, or ‘Captain Bill’ as he would become affectionately known as, learned to ski at the lodge as a guest. Many summers for two weeks in August in the 70’s, 80’s and early 90’s he skied every day having been taught by instructor #1, Gary. Little did they know he would become instructor #4 and retire on Pen Lake. In fact, Bill taught skiing for almost as long as he worked his career engineering job!

Last but not least is relatively young Matthew, who has quickly become the younger kids favourite tube driver. 😂

The number five hits again when it comes to the boats. In all those years we had 5 ski boats:

1963 Brunswick Cutter with a 40 then 60 HP

1972 Grew I/O

1982 Glastron I/O

1988 Mastercraft Prostar 190

2005 Mastercraft Prostar 190

Thank you for all the smiles, laughs, cheers, high fives, consoling hugs, encouragement from the dock, funny wipe outs, proud expressions when we come back to the dock, for not giving up, for trying again the next day, for the kisses you give to a proud or disappointed child or spouse, for going in the rain or cold water, and for being awesome students and spectators!

In the comments please share your favourite photos or stories of skiing, tubing, or dock time! We would love to see them!

P.S. you would probably be surprised who the 3 in the photo with the little girls are, can anyone name them?? Plus that is foxy the lodge dog!

08/26/2026

Bonnie and Dolly

Dolly Parton is Bonnie’s favourite singer. Anyone who has ever worked at the lodge knows this.

They are the same age, within 6 months. In addition to looking and dressing alike, they both are loved by all and put others first.

‘The coat of many colours’ song is one that Bonnie speaks of often. Both of these caring individuals came from humble beginnings and worked hard to help their family and to help others.

rip Dolly ❤️

From 1983

08/21/2026

Yesterday was Bonnie’s birthday!

This is her 66th year working at the lodge!

08/20/2026

Two young families met at Cedar Grove in 1982, one from Western New York and one from Southern Ontario. What developed was a deep friendship that has lasted 46 years. The size of the two families has grown to include many children and grandchildren. They have met at Cedar Grove every single year, except when the border was closed for the pandemic. Suffice to say, they take up the majority of our cottages that week! This photo is even missing a few grandchildren!

At a time when our two countries are having an awkward political moment, it is important to remember that we are the best of friends. Turn off the news and social media (except this post!) and what is truly there are deep friendships that will long outlast any political term.

A big thanks to these two wonderful families who bring such family love and joy to the lodge. They are always quick to make new guests feel at home, and part of the group. Anyone who has overlapped with their summer week, or met parts of the group in the winter, will quickly recognize a few in this photo and probably smile.

🇺🇸🇺🇸❤🇨🇦🇨🇦

08/16/2026

While the moment Muskoka is having with Heated Rivalry, Sterling Point, The New York Times and the Martin Short documentary is fun, the real stars of Muskoka are people like our guests who come year in and year out regardless of whether it’s the ‘hot’ celebrity place to be this year, or it’s a year with a pandemic or recession. Thank you, you are Muskoka’s most important celebrities.

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1EqijJY1j1/?mibextid=wwXIfr

08/08/2026

To guests checking in today: We currently have no power. Cleaning of your cottages will be delayed. Please take your time and arrive a bit later than normal. Will update throughout the day.

Extreme thunderstorm hitting us right now.

Update- power came back on, but we are sceptical of its current reliability.

Update 2- first storm cell has past, power on, full team is working hard on the cottages.

Update 3- we expect to have every last cottage ready by 4:00 check in time! Our 100th summer of Saturday turnovers.

Nor hail, rain, road washout, power outage, wind or pandemic can stop us from getting your cottages ready on Saturdays! Extra thank you to those who check in/out at appropriate times to help our great team!

08/05/2026

The view from Blue Heron just got better thanks to our resident Graces Bay beaver.

While the guests slept, he made quick work of two poplar trees right in front of the cottages.

He has been busily dragging branches and trees along the shore all summer completely ignoring any tree cutting by-laws.

07/30/2026

Treasure has been found in Pen Lake during every week of the summer so far!

Once found, they are returned for the next weeks guests.

🏴‍☠️🪎

5 and 6 have yet to be discovered even once!

Here is a little clue for # 6. It’s in a bit deeper water where kids like to have their meetings.
🏴‍☠️🪎

The kids that say they found one ‘South of Cardinal’, (the northernmost cottage) is what you say when you don’t want to spill the beans!!

Our treasure hunters have also retrieved 5 black pucks that were lost in the snow at the rink, thanks!

Happy hunting pirates!

07/16/2026

1944, nearing the end of the war when Cedar Grove was inundated with honeymooners, especially May and June.

Zoom in on the tree and read an interesting paragraph of a moment in time in Canadian history. During the war, luxuries were frowned upon, but as we came out of it Canadians were encouraged to shift to a better time of focusing on self health and, luckily for us, holidays!



muskokasteamships_dc muskokaheritageplace
Muskoka Heritage Place
greatcanadianwilderness

07/11/2026

A Muskoka tradition since 1927.