The region's side-roads and lakes are edged with extravagant inns,  lodges and grandiose private mansions masquerading as cottages,  all of which sit cheek-by-jowl with the kinds of tumbled-down cabins that realestate brochures invariably tell you are "cozy" and "need work".

 Happily,  there are a few lodgings available where rusticity and casual elegance have been skillfully mingled. One of them is Gryffin Lodge,  set on a curve of Mary Lake's north shore,  just south of Huntsville.

 The 10 hectare property slopes down past tenniscourts to a nice sandy beach and a dock leading into the warm shallows.  Centered around the refurbished,  century old  stone house of original settlers the lodge offers accommodations for up to 60 guests in the main building,  the surrounding housekeeping chalets and a converted icehouse.

  On the main floor of the Lodge is a comfortable lounge,  a small library with a TV and VCR,  a games room and small bar,  flanked by a bright,  wood paneled dining area that opens onto wide decks with umbrella tables and splendid views of the lake and tiny Lawrence island.

 Like many properties in Muskoka,  the Lodge is a remnant of a homestead,  in this case the 162 hectare farm of the Lawrence family that settled here in 1867.  Around the turn of the century,  they built a two-storey mansard-roofed stone house and began taking in occasional summer guests.  The property was eventually sold to John and Maria Ostrowski  (1947).  John had served with he Polish Free Forces,  Maria was a major in the British army,  before emigrating to Canada.

  It was the Ostrowskis who named their new Lodge Gryffin,  after the emblem on the Polish Coat of Arms.  They expanded the main house and built several cabins,  taking in summer guests,  until Maria was injured and became an invalid.  The Gryffin passed through the hands of three more owners between 1970 and 1987 when it was bought by current Innkeepers Bill and Shelby  van Stygeren. Bill had retired from his real-estate brokerage  business in Toronto and Oakville.  "When we saw this view",  he says gesturing towards the lake,  shining in the afternoon sun,  "it was love at first sight."  Today,  van Stygeren chuckles at the full measure of his infatuation.  "Coming from the real-estate business prospective,  I did everything wrong.  I didn't comparison shop,  I made an offer and then waived the condition about a non-refundable deposit before I had an approved bank loan,  and when the bank asked me what I knew about running a resort,  all I could say was that I had taken vacations at them."

  Van Stygeren's vision of a reasonably priced year-around lodge that blended a rustic Muskoka experience with frills where they counted have paid off,  Rooms and suites are clean and basic with inexpensive furniture. There are no designer soaps or fluffy bathrobes,  no jacuzzi tubs or fancy spa facilities.  Comfort is concentrated in the lodge's common rooms and the pleasures of an excellent meal at the end of the day.  While most guests come from all areas of Ontario,  the Gryffin has had visitors from as far away as Eritrea and the United Arab Emirates.Australia.  For several winters groups of Europeans come for snowmobile holidays.  Gryffin staff is kept lean.  Aside from van Stygeren and his wife Shelby,  the only full timers are a person in the office and a (superb) chef.  And it says much about life in Muskoka that the Lodge has managed to attract both persons...

  On my last evening I ate Alfresco on Gryffin Lodge's deck watching the sun's final rays glitter on the lake.  There,  I lingered over a plate of  broiled salmon-marinated in citrus juices,  glazed with maple sirop, and served with a cilantro fruit salsa - and pondered the meaning of rustic ...

From the GLOBE AND MAIL  (Toronto, Ontario),  August 29,  1998.
The original article has been slightly condensed to be adapted to available space.

February 1, 2011          It feels strange to make summer bookings when you are up to your neck in snow..
                                         Yet,our summer is booking up fast. We have a no pet policy but should you wish your
                                          pet near, go to www.happytails.on.ca  See "activities" for more details.
February. the days are getting longer, the temperature is not as severe as in January, and thoughts of spring come to mind. There is something very peaceful about a blanket of snow when this snow does not interfere with the daily chores, like in a city - when all you have to do is follow the deer tracks on your snowshoes.. Come and enjoy and top off the day with a great meal, a glass of wine perhaps, and the warmth of a burning log in the woodstove…but wait...there are a lot of  other things you can do this time of the year..to find out ,go to " Activities"..and contact the websites for up to date information..fun for kids,snow tubing,X-country skiing and in Feb,stay three days,the fourth day is on us.

January 1, 2012

January is here! 2011 is behind us and it's time to look ahead. We  have a great New Year's start, with lots of snow....to come. The lake is slowly freezing over, the "polar bears" are going to have their dip on Jan 1st.Bring your bathingsuit if you want to participate.( hm) The January thaw never lasts long and ski activity (of both kinds) is high on the list of things to do as are tubing and tobogganing, or just bird watching and a good book by the fireside. The hot grog is waiting....and up till May we have a three day package special..check "rates" For the latest down hill ski information go to www.skihiddenvalley.on.ca and for x country  call 705 789-5105 ..Arrowhead Provincial Park-a 8 min drive from here.

 As of today we still have rooms and suites open for Christmas and new Year’s.

 To all past, present and future guests … Have a Merry Christmas and a prosperous 2012

November 1, 2011...
November ... brrrrr…but what a beautiful October it was and more guests than 2010 .Both,September and October out-performed the same months of thet year before. Maybe it means the economy is picking up again or tourism,or both. One of our guests wrote in our Guestbook…with reference to the Lodge which he had visited 20 years ago.... ”a beacon of stability and tranquillity, in this uncertain world.”  With the exception of the first week-end in Nov (fully booked,again) we are also planning to take it easy for the rest of the month. just paying attention to the phones re December, Christmas and New Year's bookings . And Jan 1-2 week-end also has openings. And now what we are waiting for is SNOW (not cold weather, just snow.).. We’ll let you know, come December…To find out what goes on in Muskoka,click on www.discovermuskoka.ca.very informative. And an exiting new adventure activety has opened up in our neighbourhood..Eaglecrest Aerial Park(www.aerialparks.ca) Treetop adventures,ziplines over water,yes,they are open during the winter as well.

October 1,  2011 plus ca change...

October is here and so are the fall colours (this is the first of Oct and they have not yet peaked) and we are surrounded by the trees on three sides and have  Mary Lake in front. Noisy geese stop over on their way south. Deer graze on our lawns.  What a beautiful time of the year!  To many of our “regulars”,  this is their favourite season. Come and find out why!  Sure,bring your laptop..we offer free high speed wireless e-mail connections.

September 1,  2011
Rather than me telling you how wonderful the Gryffin Lodge is etc,etc,allow me to copy a passage outof our guestbook dated July 31 st 07: quote;Once in a while,and only once in a while,it happens.Where time becomes magical.Bill and Shelby,owners of the Gryffin Lodge left an indelible impression upon my entire family (of 14) and for reasons that would lose their purity were I to discuss the joy and feeling of togetherness. I am obligated to sound the clarion and let the world know of this very special oasis.
signed J.A. Toronto  unquote.     September is for quiet getaways, peaceful canoe trips on the lake, muskoka chairs at the end of the dock, a game of tennis,  some or all of this is taken advantage off by couples of all ages,  some by themselves,  some with friends, some in larger groups in our 9 bedroom chalet,  and small weddings.(up to 40) For more info go to www.discovermuskoka.ca

Visit http://www.muskokaautumnstudiotour,com for artistic autumn studio tours or try www.huntsvilleadventures.com.for local festivities.  Bala has the Cranberry Festival in October. . Call our toll-free line for accommodation reservations,  1 800 565 7491.

August 1, 2011   A guest left the following message in our guestbook.And I quote"It is said that suffering makes people better. I do believe that after staying three days at Gryffin's that the contrary is also true. If not,how could someone explain that after this real heaven that is here(including the beautiful nature,but also the excellent conditions that the Hosts offered us ) ,how,I was saying,someone explain that I feel a BETTER person.Great place,Thanks. signed V&E.L,Mississauga."Unquote.                                           

  Early morning mist rising off a mirrored lake.  Feel  the weight slide off your shoulders,  catch a fish,  paddle a canoe…..Now,if you must,bring your lap-top and get a FREE connection to our wireless system.Ask the office for the password.  The above guestbook message is as applicable today as it was a year ago.

Ju ly 1,  2011

Summer is in full swing and brings with it many interesting Muskoka activities: Check these web-sites for details.

 Our dining room hours are extended from 6 PM till 8 PM.  5. Breakfast is still served from 8.30-10 AM.

 Although we do a lot of grass cutting, large areas are left to the wildflowers, creating a kaleidoscopic effect. The Osprey is back (a 6 ft wingspan) and so is the Blue Heron. Less popular are the deer,as they keep eating our flowers.

There are many activities planned in Muskoka - too many to mention them all. The towndock boat tours.. The popular Huntsville Festival of the Arts is in their 15^th season,again with a fabulous programme ( www.huntsvillefestival.on.ca).

Even if you’ve booked somewhere else, drop by, we would love to show you around.

May 1,  2011

Our spring has finally sprung.and with it came  the daffodils, hyacinths and tulips, and even the trees are sprouting leaves.

We got our dock in early this year and the fishing boats are ready.  Trout may be fished year round,  pike season opens on May 17 and bass season starts at the end of  June .

The first hummingbirds are here ,robbins, mockingbirds, morning-doves, partridges, loons - they are all back; bluejays and chickadees stay year-round. They had a tough winter. The beavers are awake again, and busy. We are less happy about that.

Our menus, and dining hours will be flexible, especially for those who want to participate in the Muskoka Triathlon,in June . Other upcoming events will be mentioned monthly and for Muskoka attractions, check out our Activities page. We still have Cabins available for July and August..make that June,July and August. The state of the art www.algonquintheatre.ca has an impressive program.E-mail us at gryffin@candlelight.ca  or phone toll free 1800 565 7491

 
April 1,  2011

                  
 Are you planning on coming to the Gryffin Lodge this Summer?  Our available spaces for this year are filling up faster than expected,possibly a sign the economy is improving. reserve your spot now!  It's easy!  Just call us toll free at 1-800-565-7491 .
Spring?  It is here!,the ice isnot yet out of the lake,but the snow is almost gone!.  The three ducks that come every year,  and the robins,  are back.weeks ahead of time  They must know something we don’t. So do our 5 deer.
The upgrading is never-ending around the property - everything from lampshades to carpets to new roofs!.
In the Activities section,  we will keep you posted about upcoming events at Gryffin Lodge and Muskoka  - Festivals like Music in the Park,  street sales,  Farmer’s markets,  Bathtub races,  Gravenhurst Opera House events,  Huntsville Arts programme,  Marathons,  Bike races,  and much more.Better yet,just phone and ask us.

 

[All the comments below are actual entries written in our Guestbook by the Front Desk of the Lodge] I could update them to more recent ones but the message stays the same!!