The Deerhurst Resort in Huntsville, Ontario is two hours north of Toronto in Ontario's Muskoka region, bordering the Algonquin Provincial Park.[1] The resort dates from 1896 when it was first opened by English entrepreneur Charles Waterhouse.[2] The lakeside hotel was the central venue of the 36th G8 summit in 2010.[3]
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Deerhurst offers accommodations for 1,000 people in 400 rooms and suites, many of which are privately owned or blocked by timeshares. Rates for suites overlooking Peninsula Lake can exceed $650 a night.[3]
Deerhurst's evening entertainment features a live musical stage show with a new production every year.[4] The career of singer Shania Twain took off when she was one of the performers working at the resort.[5]
Deerhurst was the first major resort on the northern lakes of Muskoka. In the early days, Deerhurst's lodge was accessible only by steamboat and the property encompassed only four acres of waterfront. In 1896, Deerhurst hosted two guests who paid $3.50 per person per week, three meals a day included. By the 1990s, Deerhurst had expanded to nearly 800 acres (3.2 km2) and could accommodate 1,000 guests.[2]
Deerhurst is now run by Skyline International Development.[6] The Waterhouse financial interests in Deerhurst were sold in 1989.[7]
The 36th G8 summit at Deerhurst was the fifth G8 Summit hosted by Canada since 1976.[8]
Families who had timeshares during the first week of July for more than 20 years were obliged make other plans because they confronted an unexpected scheduling conflict.[3]
History suggests the economic impact of the G8 conference will be significant and will continue to be felt long after 2010,[3] including consequences for Deerhurst.
Deerhurst hosts a variety of high-profile outdoor sporting events, including golf tournaments, running and triathlon events like the new IronMan 70.3, and even the Canadian Pond Hockey Championships each February, on specialty-built rinks on Peninsula Lake.
Since 2005, Deerhurst has hosted adventure racing on the first weekend in May, organized by Frontier Adventure Sports & Training. The Frontier Adventure Challenge is open to any adventurous athletes, while the High School Adventure Challenge is the first and only event of its kind in Canada purely for High School students.
Extensive wilderness on Deerhurst's property and surrounding the resort make it a popular base for adventure sports.