Island View Retreat - Luxury 4-Season Lake Lodge | Last Minute Winter Openings!

The Cottage:

Built in 2007 and maintained with true pride of ownership, the Island View Retreat has 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and a 120sqft bunkie. The Island View Retreat offers the perfect getaway for families of up to 14 people (larger groups will be considered on a case by case basis). Our most frequent visitors are multigenerational families that come year after year and enjoy the retreat as a family gathering place (grandparents, parents and grandchildren).

The Outside:

From the 100-year-old white pines lining the sandy shoreline to the deep, clean, fresh water, The Island View Retreat offers expansive views of nearby Bone Island and refreshing lake breezes from Camp's Bay. The cottage boasts a large, elevated deck which has been setup so that you can sit, relax, socialize and enjoy the vistas that Big Gull Lake has to offer. The deck offers premium custom bistro style chairs and bar top which is great for enjoying a glass of wine and appetizers, enjoying a coffee and a book, or opening up the laptop to check on an email (did we mention this place is great for remote working?).

On the deck you will also find a picnic table and six person bistro style dining table with umbrella, both of which are perfect for dining, card games and crafts with the kids. The lawn gently slopes to the sandy shoreline of the waterfront.

The Beach:

The sandy beach is perfect for children and the gentle entryway is great for small children who want to dig in the sand and splash in the water. For swimming enthusiasts, the retreat offers a floating swimming raft. The waterfront quickly gets deeps off the dock which means it is perfect for grabbing a fishing rod, throwing a line and catching dinner! (We talk about the lake a bit further down if you want to skip to the fishing, camping, picnic stuff ;)

Water Sports:

We provide two stand up paddle boards and two fishing kayaks making it easy for our guests to enjoy the Big Gull Lake. Explore the area - there are lots of islands, bays and places to explore! Consider packing a cooler bag and enjoying a shore lunch on one of the nearby islands!

The Dock:

The wide, long dock allows for up to 4 boats to be parked making the cottage perfect for fishing and boating enthusiasts.

The Screened in Porch:

The best way to enter the main floor is through the screened-in-porch ("the porch") which is probably one of the most popular rooms in the cottage. The porch offers a large, family style wood dining table with four benches, making it perfect for meals, activities, card games and bug-free social gatherings.

The Kitchen:

From the porch you enter into the large kitchen and dining area. The kitchen has a fridge, electric stove, dishwasher, microwave, toaster oven, and all of the kitchen essentials you will need to to enjoy a comfortable family cooking and dining experience. In the kitchen you will also find the dining table which seats six and overlooks the deck and water. From the kitchen you enter the main gathering room of the house.

The Living Room:

Featuring vaulted ceilings and floor to ceiling tongue and groove pine, gas fireplace and stone mantle, the living room is perfect for family gatherings, watching TV (we have cable and a great sports package) on a rainy day or enjoying a sports game on the weekend.

Master Bedroom & Bathroom:

The main floor offers a full bathroom (sink, toilet, tub with shower), a laundry room with washer and dryer and the master bedroom.

The master bedroom features two large windows which overlook the deck and water. It offers a comfortable queen bed, television with cable, dresser and closet. This room is always the first to go so act quick! We recommend giving this room to older folks in your group like grandparents who want to be located on the main floor, close to the washroom, kitchen and living room and who want to avoid stairs.

The Upstairs:

When you head upstairs you will find a beautiful sitting area and loft style hallway which has a railing which looks out over the living room. There is a 3-piece bathroom and three additional bedrooms upstairs which in total have 5 double beds and two single beds. The breakdown is as follows:

Bedroom #1: Double + Double/Single Bunk Bed (Easily sleeps family of 4)
Bedroom #2: Double
Bedroom #3: Double + Double + Single (Easily sleeps family of 4)

Heating and Cooling:

The retreat has 4 x portal air conditioner units, one in each bedroom. Propane forced air furnace, a propane fireplace and baseboard heaters make the cottage cozy warm in the colder months :)

Perfect for Remote Working:

Completely setup for remote working - the cottage offers Bell Fibe internet with 10 Mbps download speed and Linksys Velop router allowing for continuous and stable internet connection.

About Big Gull Lake:

Big Gull Lake is a large 20 km long, spring fed lake that offers world-class fishing including walleye, large & small mouth bass, muskie, perch and panfish. The lake is surrounded by 80% vacant, unspoiled, crown land. Big Gull Lake is a wilderness jewel set in Eastern Ontario in the heart of the Canadian shield with plenty of places to pull in for a shore picnic.

About Camp's Bay Cottages and Marina:

This cottage is located next to Camp's Bay Cottages which is within walking distance where there are boat rentals, boat launch and a small convenience store as well as a marina with fuel.

Camping Big Gull Lake:

Big Gull Lake is located in the southern portion of the North Frontenac Park Lands. It drains through a dam at Gull Creek where it leads into Crotch Lake. There are 24 campsites on the lake which can be booked online and used for family picnics and overnight camping adventures.

Canoeing on Big Gull Lake:

The Big Gull Loop is an east/west canoe route that links Big Gull Lake with Kashwakamak and Crotch Lakes along the southern portion with the Mississippi River linking Kashwakamak and Crotch Lakes directly along the northern route. There are single day routes and multi-day routes which makes the Island View Retreat an ideal base camp for canoe enthusiasts looking for an outdoor adventure.

Who We Invite To Request Bookings:

This is a family owned and operated cottage. We welcome families who will treat this cottage as if it were their own. All renters will be vetted and a security deposit will be taken. 50% due upon booking. The remaining 50% is due 30 days prior to check