A Conversation With the Planner of Red Leaves - Marg Walton
Red Leaves is a new, year-round resort community that will enhance Ontario’s best-known escape, Muskoka. The ambitious 1,400-acre development is considered one of the most significant in Canada in terms of investment and scale.
It will unfold in phases, beginning in May 2008, when The Rock Golf Course reopens along with The Rosseau, the first JW Marriott Resort in Canada. Red Leaves is set on more than a kilometer of Lake Rosseau waterfront, and will – when completed – feature a four-season village, a 700-acre nature reserve, a marina, restaurants, shops, a theatre and a spa. Red Leaves is located in the village of Minett in Muskoka, approximately two hours north of Toronto. For more information, visit www.redleavesmuskoka.com.
Q. Tell us about Red Leaves – why this resort concept, and why now?
A. Red Leaves is not a traditional resort concept. It’s a village with the accommodations of a resort. This is where people live, work and play. Since Muskoka is more popular in the summertime, this development’s purpose is to give residents the opportunity to live and work year round in Muskoka.
Features such as the Nick Faldo-designed golf course at The Rock are designed for the discriminating resident and visitor looking for an exclusive experience.
Q. What’s been the focus of Red Leaves?
A. It’s about lifestyle. Red Leaves will be Canada’s first J.W. Marriott resort hotel, and the five stages of development will all feature a variety of residential options, from The Rock Golf Course to housing units in Minett Landing and the new Wallace Marina, future home of the International Wooden Boat Museum.
Our view of Muskoka is that there are significant opportunities for growth – even domestically. It is becoming a more popular tourism destination, and that growth needs to be serviced with new investments.
Q. What activities can people do during winter?
A. Winter activities are expanding throughout the region thanks to increased interest in adventure travel. Every year, more people discover Muskoka, so they go to restaurants, cross-country ski, snowboard, and ice skate. We also see an increase in conference business in the winter thanks to these amenities. At the same time, during the summer season conference attendees are attracted to music and art festivals, so we continue to see growth in that business line.
For more information on tourism investment opportunities throughout Ontario, please visit: www.investinontario.com/tourism/regionalinvest.asp.