Cottage of the Week: $13.9 million for a private island on Lake Muskoka
By Fraser Abe |
By Fraser Abe |
ADDRESS: Old Woman Island, Lake Muskoka
NEIGHBOURHOOD: Muskoka Lakes
AGENT: Diane McKee, Chestnut Park Real Estate Limited, Brokerage
PRICE: $13,900,000
THE PLACE: Old Woman Island, a nearly 16-acre island in the middle of Lake Muskoka that has six beaches and seven matching buildings.
BRAGGING RIGHTS: The origin of the island’s name is up for debate. One theory is that it stems from a native legend in which a young man carved his lover’s face into the stump of a tree when circumstances forced them apart. He returned years later to find that the tree’s aging had caused the face to crease and pucker. The other—much less romantic—theory is that a man left his older wife on the island and ran off to marry a younger woman. Either way, it’s good dinner party fodder.
BIG SELLING POINT: There are playgrounds for the kids, a double gymnasium for fitness buffs, a yoga pavilion for the meditative, six different beaches for sun-worshippers, a four-boat boathouse for the nautical and golf cart paths for the intrepid but lazy (why walk when you can ride?)—suffice to say, there’s something for everyone.
POSSIBLE DEAL BREAKER: We suppose being on a private island could make you could feel trapped—although you could always just zip off on a golf cart to the next private beach.
BY THE NUMBERS:
• $13,900,000
• $29,042.00 in taxes (2012)
• 15.78 acres
• 13 bedrooms
• 7 buildings
• 6 beaches
• 4 boat slips
• 1 yoga pavilion
• 1 tennis court
• 1 exercise centre
• 1 private island getaway
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- Muskoka chairs line the beach on the north point of the island
- Old Woman Island, Lake Muskoka
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- Golf cart paths help visitors to navigate the island
- Old Woman Island, Lake Muskoka
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- A teepee for the kids
- Old Woman Island, Lake Muskoka
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- The kitchen herb garden
- Old Woman Island, Lake Muskoka
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- The smaller boathouse
- Old Woman Island, Lake Muskoka
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- The large boathouse
- Old Woman Island, Lake Muskoka
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- The large boathouse has four slips and a slide for swimmers
- Old Woman Island, Lake Muskoka
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- The larger of two boathouses
- Old Woman Island, Lake Muskoka
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- The spectators can watch in comfort
- Old Woman Island, Lake Muskoka
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- Looking out over the tennis courts from inside the tennis pavilion
- Old Woman Island, Lake Muskoka
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- The tennis complex
- Old Woman Island, Lake Muskoka
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- The yoga room offers serene lake views
- Old Woman Island, Lake Muskoka
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- The lakeside yoga pavilion
- Old Woman Island, Lake Muskoka
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- The gym is also in its own building
- Old Woman Island, Lake Muskoka
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- The open-concept area has a bed, sitting area, dining table and kitchen
- Old Woman Island, Lake Muskoka
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- A second guest cottage has a studio apartment–like plan
- Old Woman Island, Lake Muskoka
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- The living room in the forest guest house
- Old Woman Island, Lake Muskoka
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- The forest guest house has its own kitchen and living area
- Old Woman Island, Lake Muskoka
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- The games room
- Old Woman Island, Lake Muskoka
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- Another of the bedrooms
- Old Woman Island, Lake Muskoka
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- One of the main house’s five bedrooms. There are 13 bedrooms in total on the property
- Old Woman Island, Lake Muskoka
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- The dining room sits directly behind the main house’s deck
- Old Woman Island, Lake Muskoka
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- The living room, which is just off the kitchen
- Old Woman Island, Lake Muskoka
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- The kitchen
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- The main kitchen has a microwave, stove, fridge and freezer and hardwood flooring
- Old Woman Island, Lake Muskoka
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- The wood-burning fireplace in the great room
- Old Woman Island, Lake Muskoka
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- The great room in the main house
- Old Woman Island, Lake Muskoka
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- The large deck of the main house has lake views and a hot tub
- Old Woman Island, Lake Muskoka
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- The stone and cedar exterior of the main house, which has five bedrooms
- Old Woman Island, Lake Muskoka
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- There are seven separate buildings spread across this 16-acre Muskoka island
- Old Woman Island, Lake Muskoka
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- A bird’s-eye view of the main cottage, built in 1991
- Old Woman Island, Lake Muskoka
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Hee, after the Not A Cottage complaining for the last couple, I guess TL decided to go Cottage With A Vengeance.
Is it meant to be a hotel? Damn. That’s a lot of bedrooms. I’m assuming the boathouses have bedrooms, too, since they don’t seem to show them all, unless I’m miscounting.
Amazing, wish i had the bucks for that one : )
Wow. Just wow.
This is a beautiful property. No debate…
However, is it just me or is this totally overkill. Not a little overkill but like wayyyy more space/amenities anyone would ever need. Like this can be a whole resort for so many people…
I just think it is sooo extra. Anyone agree? Like the owner probably wouldn’t use/see everything
AA, I have to agree on that. You’d need to have serious cash just to do the upkeep on everything. Probably at least one person you paid to live there full time to clean and do maintenance. I kind of assume it’s meant to be rented out in pieces.
Maybe Brad and Angelina could buy it.
If I had only won the lotto max……….
like it a lot, bit too big for me. Would make a lovely resort though.
I’M COUNTING ALL MY NICKLES AND DIMES TO SEE IF I CAN MAKE-UP ENOUGH FOR THE DOWN PAYMENT, EH ? MAYBE I CAM A LOAN SO I CAN LEASE-OUT THE ISLAND, PIECE BY PIECE, EH ? THIS WILL BE A CHALLENGE TO OVERCOME THE RETAIL PRICE BUT MAYBE OUR ORGANIZATION CAN PURCHASE THIS ESTATE FOR RICH AND FAMOUS, EH !
Tremendous! Too much for a single family, but a great mini-resort.
lovely tho a bit high maint – imagine same thing mid-century, would be a little paradise. now its just a little heaven.
Justin bieber just bough this island.
I have an original map of the Muskoka Lakes and originally Old Woman Island was called Hugel Island.
Guess if you earned $400 million last year, a cottage for $13.9 is chump change…….right Bieber?? lol
I’m sure the surrounding cottagers will be just thrilled having their newest celeb neighbour. I’m just curious at how often Justin will actually use his new digs.
is it really justin biebers cottage
okay i have a cottage right beside justin biebers new place.
so siked!!!
If JB wants privacy, I’d suggest he take down all the ‘Please respect our privacy’ signs plastered all around the island. I fish there in the morning sometimes and I was surprised to see all the signs show up. Take them down Justin. It’s Muskoka, no one is going to bother you.