Royal Resort

Prior to the First World War, long distance travel followed the routes of railways and steamships. After this conflict, automobiles and outboard motors became common, giving families fortunate enough to own these new machines the freedom to travel almost anywhere. Today, the shorelines of the Kawartha Lakes are lined with cottages and waterfront homes, but in that era, it was more common to travel and stay at an inn or lodge.

Around 1935, C.O. and Alma Phillips started Cedar Villa Lodge, while his brother Roy and wife Maxine, operated the Royal Cabin Lodge, north of Rosedale on the shore of Balsam Lake. Roy had just one arm and worked with a prosthetic hook. Together they made every effort to ensure that their visitors had a wonderful time. Maxine was remembered for baking “the best” pies. Later the business would be called the Royal Motel, then the Royal Resort.

From the beginning, summer on Balsam Lake was one of the primary attractions at Royal Resort—swimming, canoeing, boating and fishing. Visitors came from cities like Toronto, Buffalo, Cleveland and Pittsburgh to enjoy a relaxing summer vacation in the Kawarthas. As the business expanded, it developed with motel units, including four-piece bathrooms, a small refrigerator, two double beds and separate electric heat in each room.

By the 1980s, visitors to the Royal Resort could enjoy dining beside an open fireplace. Recreational activities included video games, a heated indoor pool, darts, ping pong and a rec room suitable for dancing. Babysitting was provided for children enjoying the playground, which included slides, swings, play horses and climbing bars. While the kids were playing outside, parents were encouraged to sit in the Regal Lounge and enjoy a quiet drink in front of the fireplace. Visitors could go for a walk on the nearby farm, take a picnic, pet the animals, and enjoy a walk in the woods.

Owners Jack and Eleanor MacDonald promoted the Royal Resort as “the Convention Centre of the Kawarthas.” They provided flip charts, blackboards, microphones, a projector and screen, in this beautiful place to meet, complete with Balsam Lake sunsets. Royal Resort was also “the place for great fishing, complete with boat rentals, bait and fishing licenses on site.

The Royal Resort continued to operate into the 2010s. By then, the expectations of visitors to the region had vastly changed. As more urban residents spent their summers at the cottage, accommodations throughout the region had closed. In the years that followed, the resort’s owners undertook renovations to keep up with the times. In 2020, Canada Royal Resort Inc. applied to the City of Kawartha Lakes to expand the property to include facilities for basketball, tennis and a waterpark. At this time, Liqing Jiang owned the company, with Kai Chen making the application. The company proposed a new two storey, 30 unit hotel, but there was opposition from local residents. It remains closed to visitors.

Will Royal Resort be reincarnated again someday?