BEACHWOOD RESORT by BARNEY MOORHOUSE
Writing, for the most part, is a solitary life style compensated often by the people one meets and the places one goes in quest of a story. And so when an opportunity arises to join other writers for a professional development retreat it doesn’t usually require a lot of reflection. Especially when it is to be held at an Ontario resort.
Although the weather had turned from balmy and summery to cold, overcast and rainy it didn’t diminish my enthusiasm as I drove to Beachwood Resort near Buckhorn, Ontario.
“You’ll be near McLean’s Berry Farm,” said The Resident Wife. That’s where we often go to pick our yearly supply of strawberries enjoying a picnic lunch break at the nearby locks entertained by the boats passing through and dreaming of one day touring the Trent Severn. Emphasis on dreaming.
As often is the case The Resident Wife was right on. I didn’t really need my GPS. In fact a writing friend, following his “older” GPS, found himself way off target by an hour. I find that if I have the general idea of my destination the GPS works just fine. Then I won’t drive into a swamp!
Previously I had arranged to meet with one of the owners before check-in to learn about the resort although one keener had sent an e-mail saying he was leaving Barrie at 4:45 a.m. Check-in was for 2 p.m. When possible, I like to meld the historical with an outdoor theme.
In 1926, the Beach family, from Ohio, built a fishing camp, mostly for friends, on Lower Buckhorn Lake. In 1944, Harry and Florence Morgan from Norwood, Ontario, literally sold the farm and bought Beachwood. “Their friends thought that they were crazy,” said granddaughter Krista. “99% of the clients were American,” she recalled.
Son Fred met Karen, whose parents had a cottage on the lake, ultimately married and continued to run the resort which was evolving from a fish camp. “Maintenance and renovation are constant,” said Krista. She and her brother David now run the resort.
“Our parents never pressured us into this,” she said. David became an electrician before taking over the resort and Krista went off to study Environmental Science. Coincidentally, her contract job came to an end and her father died in ’93 so Krista returned to work with David. “When one door closes another opens.” Presently, 7-4th generational grands- ranging in age from 8 to 18, also help in the resort’s daily affairs.
Beachwood is a full service multi-generational facility catering to all ages from preschooler to grands, from families to catering to weddings. The fishing camp now has evolved to also include other forms of water sports. A swimming pool rounds out the facility.
There is no shortage of challenges. In August of 2012, their chef, who had been hired by father Fred 23 years previously, suddenly passed away. “We limped through the rest of the year,” said Krista. “We can all cook but…”
The majority of the food served at Beachwood comes from local farms and food producers. There is a basic menu and specials that reflect the time of year. The new chef, hired in 2013, “is awesome” crowed David. “We pay him for a full year although we ‘hibernate’ for 3 months,” added Krista. Translated that means more maintenance, more renovation, more upgrades. If a special occasion, such as a wedding arises, then Mike the Chef is available. As for the baking Mike, Karen and “our very valuable neighbour and friend Bernadette who is a wizard in the baking department” provide the desserts.
For fishers guides are available, including their 14 year old nephew who lives to fish. Hunting guides are also available. “Americans come in November for the duck hunt,” said Krista. Last March David and the boys built what they called their Duck Dynasty Blind (DDB) complete with roof and camo.
“A lot of duck hunters don’t appreciate the importance of cover in their blinds,” Dr. Bob Bailey, a duck hunting authority told me. DDB fills that bill.
As for deer and partridge the resort has 330 acres including a 200 acre abandoned farm featuring 10 food plots, blinds and an assortment of tree stands. Two goose fields are being developed and the apple trees, remnants of an old orchard, were well laden in 2013, as opposed to 2012, an abundant year for wild fruit.
“We’re looking into the possibility of offering hunting packages,” said Krista.
Following a tour of the food plots, upon our return, a gentleman greeted us with the photo of a cow moose that we had missed by about 5 minutes. Of course! But we didn’t miss seeing a very healthy looking partridge. “Last weekend the boys shot 4,” said David. And they walked. No ATV for them. Or sitting around as a couch potato. “When they have to go to the city they hate it,” said David. “There’s nothing to do but shop at the malls.”
David had two tips to offer fishers and hunters. First, for fishers; the weeds are found where the depth is 13 feet or shallower. No weeds in deeper water. As for hunting, read into this what you will.
“During duck season we came upon a floating well camouflaged blind. The guy in the middle was wearing blaze orange.”
For more information you can call toll free (1.888.313.1118) or goto the web (www.beachwoodresort.com). 2014