Magnetawan River Resort offers 45 RV sites and nine stand-alone cottages and can be found on the northern side of Byng Inlet in Britt, Ontario. The Byng Inlet feeds into Georgian Bay, which offers a variety of activities, such as boating, fishing, and kayaking. The property offers boat rentals for those that would like to spend time on the water. There is a seven-night minimum requirement stay for guests who would like to make a reservation. Magnetawan River Resort was first built in 1980, though it was run under a different name. Fishing and hunting are both relevant activities that can be done in the area. The resort is open seasonally, starting in May and closing in October.
There are a total of 54 units available for guests to choose from when planning their stay. For those that would like to bring their own RV, there are 45 sites, and for those that would prefer to stay in one of the cottages, there are nine in total. Many of the units are available for both short-term and long-term stays, whether that is for one week or for the entire season. Seven of the cottages are two bedrooms, one only has one bedroom, and the last one has three bedrooms. Each cottage has a private, full bathroom, a full kitchen, and a barbecue. One thing that is not provided is bedsheets, which visitors will need to bring themselves. Cottage three tends to be a popular choice among visitors as it has recently been renovated on the inside. Most of them can be found along or near the water of the inlet, and there tends to be a reasonable amount of space between them to allow guests more privacy.
Besides the RV sites and cottages, there are other places on the grounds that visitors can spend time at if they would like. Inside the main building is the office, as well as a store. At the store, they sell firewood, worms for fishing, ice, toiletry items, snacks, and drinks. In the future, they would like to begin selling propane as well. The rec hall is found near the main office, offering indoor games like pool and darts, and there are coin-operated laundry machines and showers that guests are able to use. In the middle of the edifice, there is a playground. Docks available for guest use are found on the borders of the water on the southern side of Magnetawan River Resort. In between the ports, there are two beaches, one for dogs and the other for families.
The area surrounding Magnetawan River Resort has many trees and rocky terrain. The river that runs by the property is relatively large, leading the locals to nickname it "The Lake." On the west side of the property, there is a creek, which is a break-off of the river. Close to the business, roughly one to two minutes away, visitors can find a variety of hiking trails.
There are a variety of attractions within the area that people can go to and participate in while they are visiting. Georgian Bay, which is a boat ride away, is one reason why people tend to come to Britt. People that do not have boats can rent one from the resort. Sometimes, people will kayak down the 165-kilometer river, starting in the city of Berks Falls, and camp along the way. Due to the location, there are not many restaurants that are close by, but there are a few that the owners like to recommend to people that are traveling towards some of the other cities. South of Britt is Parry Sound, which has several restaurants, such as Tailwind Bar and Grill, Turtle Jack's Muskoka Grill, and Boston Pizza.
One thing that Magnetawan River Resort is most known for is its fishing and hunting opportunities, and a unique feature of the property is that they have empty land on the north and east and water on the south and west. This setup can help make the property feel more private and isolated.
Due to the location of the property, there are various animals and wildlife that can be seen roaming the property. Animals like chipmunks, squirrels, and even foxes have been spotted before. In and near the river, sometimes otters and minks can be seen as well. The river has direct boat access to Georgian Bay. Those that fish in the river or Georgian Bay may be able to catch fish like smallmouth bass, musky, pike, lake trout, and walleye.
The busiest time of the year for the business tends to be the summer months of July and August, though the owners explain that they are moderately busy the whole time they are open. The typical demographic of visitors tends to be families. Rob, one of the owners, explains that during the 80s and 90s, there were many more hunters and fishermen that would come up by themselves or with a small group of like-minded people. Nowadays, people that go hunting or fishing tend to bring their families for the trip rather than come up by themselves.
The owners mention that they love having families come to Magnetawan River Resort, and that they try their best to create an atmosphere that is welcoming to people of all ages. Taylor and Rob would like their guests to feel comfortable, relaxed, peaceful, and happy when they come to Britt. To help give their patrons that experience, the owners clean the cottages before customers arrive.
Policies on the property include things like no outside firewood, which is also a law enforced in parts of Canada to help conserve the area and keep invasive species of plants out of the ecosystem. The owners encourage their guests to keep noise lowered after 11:00 in the evening, but they do not have a specific rule of quiet time enforced, so long as people are respectful of their neighbors. Magnetawan River Resort is pet-friendly, and the owners, Taylor and Rob, enjoy having pets on the grounds. One policy that they would like guests to be aware of is that reservations cannot be canceled free of charge.
Over the years that the resort has been in business, there have been many people that have stayed at one of the RV sites or cottages. One person who recently stayed at Magnetawan River Resort left a review that reads, "Friendly owners. Rooms are spacious with comfy beds, the kitchen is full of cooking supplies, and the BBQ grills run great."
The current owners of Magnetawan River Resort, whose names are Taylor and Rob, explain that they are always trying to improve the living spaces in ways that will give guests a better experience. Cottage two had its floors recently reworked, and cottage three has had various renovations done on the inside. All of the cottages have had decks added to the outside, giving patrons another place for outdoor time. The owners plan on renovating the houses to keep them all up to date.
The property was first established in 1980 by an Italian man whose nickname is Fogolin. The original owner still comes around to Magnetawan River Resort every so often. Initially, the edifice was called Fogolin's Fish Camp, then, as the property traded hands several times, it was renamed River Haven Resort, and when the current owners purchased it, they changed the name to Magnetawan River Resort.
Rob and Taylor purchased the property a few years ago, in 2019. Rob explains that they love the outdoors, specifically the area surrounding Britt, Ontario. Rob spent much of his time in the northern region of Canada as a kid. This love for nature led them to want to own a lodging place of their own. Soon after they found the resort, they agreed to make the purchase. Their favorite parts of the job are meeting the people that visit and helping them enjoy the outdoors. The owners themselves live on the property and specifically enjoy the natural surroundings. They like the freedom of owning their own business and helping others have an enjoyable time on their vacations, fishing trips, or hunting trips.
The owners report that they have performed a large number of renovations, especially on the docks, in the recent past. They have been able to renovate a few of the cottages, and they plan on updating the rest of them in the future. Rob and Taylor would also like to add more room to the docks, renovate the rec hall, and fix up the main office building. Taylor explains that there is also a portion of land that they own that is not currently being used. She would like to add either amenities or more living spaces for their guests in that part of their land.
Campground
Taylor and Rob
Fogolin
