ELMHIRST’S RESORT – Generation after Generation

This past fall I passed a “working weekend” at Elmhirst’s Resort which included a goose hunt and a fishing trip. Both guided. The resort is located near the Village of Keene, on Rice Lake.

Some Historical Background

I sat down with Greg Elmhirst, the General Manager, to talk about the Elmhirst connection to the land.

 Britain was at war with France. Nothing new to history buffs. At the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805 Lieutenant (pronounced LEFF-tenant) Elmhirst was injured and Lord Nelson killed. Although the British lost approximately 1100 sailors and marines the combined French and Spanish armada lost an estimated 12,000 and Great Britain went on to rule the high seas as THE dominant world naval power for a century. In 1818, King George 1V of England granted Lieutenant Phillip James Elmhirst of the Royal Navy 1000 acres of Crown Land on the north shore of Rice Lake as a reward for his efforts in the Napoleonic war. Elmhirst emigrated from his home in Lincolnshire, England, landed at Port Hope in 1819, and established himself just north of the resort’s present location.

(For some insight into pioneer life at the time I recommend Susanna Moodie and her sister Catherine Parr Traill [born Strickland]. They pioneered in the Lakefield area.)

Greg Elmhirst recalled that his Great Grandad Frank Elmhirst left the 1000 acre location and moved to the present site on Groundhog Day, in 1903 with a team of horses, a single furrow plow, a rope bed, a chest of drawers and some personal effects. Known as the “Walker Farm” the 340 acres eventually became the established site for a year round resort.

Frank Elmhirst built fishermen cabins to augment his farming income. During WW2 his son Arthur flew the multi-engine Anson bomber at St. Jean-sur-Richelieu as a test pilot. Post WW2, upon inheriting the property, Arthur returned and replaced the original cabins with fully equipped cottages. Arthur’s son Peter graduated from Ryerson (Hotel and Resort Administration) in 1965 and soon purchased the business turning it into a year round resort in 1968. At present four generations of Elmhirsts live and work at the resort.

The resort’s farm provides produce from the gardens (no chemical fertilizers or herbicides), plus chickens/eggs and Black Angus beef cattle. “We don’t market our meat as we need it all for our restaurants,” said Greg Elmhirst. “It all started with horses,” and he went on to explain.

One year they had a bumper hay crop for the horses and so decided to raise some Scottish Hyland cattle “more for a petting zoo”. Then hoof and mouth broke out in England. With lots of guests from the U.K. the resort shipped their herd to a friend in Manitoba near Emmerson because they feared a guest might infect the cattle. After a period of years the resort decided to raise Angus for their two restaurants. In essence the resort is relatively self-sufficient food wise. They even planted a half-acre of the historical Red Fife wheat that was developed in the area. (Readers can learn more about this wheat at nearby Lang Village.)

The cottage I stayed in comfortably housed 4 writers. It included a fully equipped kitchen, a fireplace with wood stacked nearby for convenience and a wide screened television if you were so inclined. Each cottage has its own dock. Our package involved eating at both restaurants plus 3 meals/day. I hiked some of the trails taking photos from scenic spots overlooking the resort and Rice Lake, meandered around the barns filming the Clydesdales, riding horses, cattle and chickens. At the same time the resort was hosting a group of bikers (the pedaling type). There is also a golf course, a spa and an indoor pool.

In the 1920’s fishing was the bread and butter of the resort. Over years the shift evolved to family vacations in the 70’s. “Fishing is making a comeback,” said Greg. According to Resorts of Ontario (ROO) fishing queries outnumbered golf queries, as of August 2010 by 276 to 164. (In 2009 golf queries outnumbered fishing 339 to 324).

“Golf inquiries slow to the end of the season,” said Barrie McAndrews (ROO) whereas we see “slight spikes once the ice has formed on the lakes.” For clients so inclined Elmhirst can arrange for fishing and hunting guides as the resort geographically is within the fishing and hunting culture. In addition to the goose hunt and fishing others in our group went on a guided pheasant hunt – dogs included.

“The changing needs of our guests used to be on an annual basis,” said Elmhirst. “Now, it can be daily.”  For more information call: 1.800.461.1940 or goto: www.elmhirst.com.

Goose Hunt

Stepping outside my cabin at 6:00 a.m. I thought the raucous noise of the geese would render me deaf. Should be a great day for a goose hunt I thought. The clear starlit night should have suggested otherwise. Birds favour lay over days under bluebird skies. Rough weather tends to move them about. Guide Randy Sayles (705.243.0834) and his black lab Oden ferried us to a freshly cut corn field. I first met Randy when he was a trapper living in the village of Apsley in the 70s. Presently, his company – Bill Collector – a waterfowl guiding service – is born of his passion for ducks and geese. “Photographers welcome” proclaims his business card. On this trip that would be yours truly. No multi-tasker I would have my hands full just trying to take photographs.

Randy and his assistant Ryan had dug pits for ground blinds. The hunter cocooned within the layout lay in the ground camouflaged from the wary birds. Once within range the gunners stand and shoot. Sounds easy and if everything is perfect maybe it is. But when is everything perfect?

I was well hidden beneath the only birch tree in the country set amidst wild vines of grape. Small birds almost landed on me. As the sun rose in the east the autumn colours highlighted the lake. No camera has the capability to capture what the mind sees. For me this is the best time of the day.

Two scout geese flew over. Then a flock of 10 circled outside of our range and moved on. Later, a flock of 12 bought in to the spread of decoys. (Bear in mind we are talking a few hours of waiting time.) When the birds were within range Randy called “Take them!” and the 6 hunters rose to fire. Except the birds were behind them, not ideally in front. And so carefully the hunters had to swing behind. Of the 12 two folded and the rest flew away. Oden retrieved. And that was that for the day for the birds just were too comfortable back on the lake.  And, in the field behind us, a flock of 40 turkeys departed the scene. Our shooting must have disturbed them. And so two gunners got their geese and I got my shots. Sayles charges $250 a day and that includes lunch.  2011