May 27, 2025

MASSIVE CONDO PROPOSAL TONIGHT FOR FORMER MUSKOKA CENTRE HAS HOTELS, BUT NO PUBLIC HOUSING OR LAKE ACCESS FOR RESIDENTS ON LAKE MUSKOKA

GRAVENHURST — A 7 p.m. Zoom meeting tonight — open to the public with a Q&A — is certain to draw a lot of online interest from Muskoka residents on a massive and ambitious future condo development of the former Muskoka Centre property here.

The Cliff Bay Master Plan includes two hotels as well as two restaurants, event space, branded residences, commercial and retail use, small accommodation units — a spa and open space — according to its proponents Cliff Bay Muskoka Corporation, which is part of the KS Group of Companies.

The private multi-million dollar project also includes the purchase of the water lots. Most of the property on the north east end is wetland.

No price was mentioned for how much the developer is paying the province.

Cliff Bay’s website does not mention any public access to the Lake Muskoka — as many Gravenhurst residents have long maintained they want in any agreement.

Nor any public housing as both the Ontario and Canadian government are advocating as recently as today’s Liberal Speech from the Throne read by King Charles III.

A photo rendering shows the ambitions of Cliff Bay development proponents, which includes two hotels, hundreds of condos and dozens of docks with multiple boat slips, open space, a spa, commercial uses and retail space. It would still require provincial approval. PHOTOS Cliff Bay Muskoka Corporation.

The proposal would still have to go to the Ontario government, which owns the coveted lake landmark and historic Muskoka property, for final approval. The sale agreement is being conducted through Ontario’s controversial Minister’s Zoning Order framework.

They would then post it on the Environmental Registry for further public input as part of the provincial review and assessment process, says the Cliff Bay company.

The group, which is hosting the public information centre independently, previously proposed much the same concept in 2020.

Several other unrelated attempts to develop the lands have gone by the wayside in the three decades since Ontario closed the mental health facility helping to decimate the local economy. After which the province let it significantly deteriorate. A century ago it was a unique TB hospital and treatment centre whose patients once included native son Dr. Norman Bethune.

See links to how to join the meeting and for its website information below:

https://cliff-bay.ca/projects/

https://cliff-bay.ca/

The multi-year project is divided in to 10 parcels and includes 2 hotels, 4 with tourist-branded commercial and retail space, 1 for staff, 2 for parking and 1 for open space.

Cliff Bay says imply they have a sale agreement with Infrastructure Ontario to buy the 70-acre peninsula property at the north end of the town’s main street on Muskoka Lake.

Right now the Town of Gravenhurst has little to do with it — until later when town and District of Muskoka approval will be required for subdivision and site plans.

A rendering and photo show a couple dozen docks with multiple slips, at least hundreds of multiple-storey condo housing units and related amenities.

Participants will be able post questions to be answered.

It will be recorded and be available to view after.