Gravenhurst, Ontario, is a charming town nestled in the Muskoka Region of Canada. Approximately 15 kilometres south of Bracebridge, Ontario, Gravenhurst is part of the District of Muskoka, fondly referred to as "cottage country" by Ontarians. The town centre is beautifully situated between two lakes: Lake Muskoka, the region's largest lake, and Gull Lake, a smaller lake bordered by cottages. Kahshe Lake, another picturesque body of water, is just 10 kilometres south of the town.
Originally known as McCabes Landing and later as Sawdust City, Gravenhurst was named by a postal official inspired by William Smith's treatise, Gravenhurst or Thoughts on Good and Evil. The town's economic prosperity began with the construction of a colonization road in the 1850s, and steamboating on the Muskoka lakes started in the 1860s. Gravenhurst's strategic location at the northern terminus of the Toronto, Simcoe and Muskoka Junction Railway earned it the title "Gateway to Muskoka".
In 1942, the Royal Norwegian Air Force moved their training camp, Little Norway, from Toronto to a Muskoka airfield near Gravenhurst. The Norwegians remained in Gravenhurst until the end of World War II in 1945.
From 1940 to 1946, Gravenhurst was home to a German prisoner-of-war camp known as Camp 20, also referred to as Camp Calydor and Muskoka Officer’s Club. The camp, often described as a vacation for the prisoners of war, had a fenced swimming area on Lake Muskoka and gardens where the prisoners grew their own vegetables. Today, all that remains of Camp 20 are concrete pillars, a fire hydrant, and the outline of a fence. Visitors can learn more about the camp at an information kiosk at the end of Lorne Street.
Gravenhurst encompasses several original townships from the 1800s, including the eastern half of Wood Township, Morrison Township, Ryde Township, and Muskoka Township.
According to the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Gravenhurst had a population of 13,157, a 6.9% increase from its 2016 population of 12,311. The town's population is predominantly white, with a small percentage of Aboriginal and visible minorities.
Gravenhurst is known as the "Gateway to the Muskoka Lakes", a title proudly displayed on a large gate over Muskoka District Road 169. The town is home to the RMS Segwun, the oldest vessel powered by a working steam engine in North America. Ontario Northland Motor Coach Services provides inter-city bus service to Gravenhurst, and the nearby Muskoka Airport offers scheduled flights to Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport.
Gravenhurst is home to parts of the Queen Elizabeth II Wildlands Provincial Park and Torrance Barrens Conservation Reserve. The Muskoka Wharf, completed in 2005, is a bustling hub of retailers, restaurants, and events. The town also hosts an annual winter carnival, featuring a variety of activities for all ages, from donut eating contests to sno-yoga and arm wrestling.
Discover the charm and history of Gravenhurst, Ontario, and experience the natural beauty of cottage country.
