No, it isn’t finding Johnny Depp in Brampton..
The New York Times called Muskoka the “Malibu of the North” for good reason: Ontario’s premiere lake country’s shores are positively lined with grandiose dwellings and its country clubs host some of the world’s top celebrities and millionaires throughout the summer, so much so that the shores of Lake Rosseau have been dubbed Millionaires Row.
Muskoka is colloquially called Ontario’s cottage country, which paints a picture of quaint, rustic little cottages surrounded by whispering pines and hemlocks. That was true once upon a time, but today’s cottage country is full of multimillion dollar mansions that remind few of what a cottage truly is, save for the cedar shingle siding and the back porches lined with Adirondack chairs.
Now, instead of sailboats, canoes and kayaks, Lake Muskoka, Lake Rosseau and Lake Joseph are covered in speedboats, sport boats and float planes.
Who would you find if you travelled just two hours out of Toronto to Muskoka?
The epitome of cozy.
Steven Spielberg
The world’s most famous movie producer adores his summer getaway in Muskoka. Spielberg is best known for Men in Black, Schindler’s List, Transformers, Back to the Future and The Goonies, and rubs shoulders with other A-listers on the golf course and the Muskoka private clubs.
Martin Short
Short’s mansion-like cottage is located on the shore of Lake Rosseau and is one of the most often seen celebrities in Muskoka, as he and his wife spend plenty of time there together. He played the Mad Hatter in the 1999 version of Alice in Wonderland and is known for his roles in Mars Attacks!, Curb Your Enthusiasm and for several appearances on Saturday Night Live.
The Toronto Maple Leafs
In this NYT article, Toronto accountant Steven Levine joke that “every single member of the Toronto Maple Leafs has a place in Muskoka.” It’s not far from the truth – those who live and work full time in Muskoka say the hockey team’s player are frequent sights.
Definitely more zen than your typical ice rink.
Eric Lindros
Former star NHLer Eric Lindros keeps a Muskoka cottage as well that gets plenty of use during golf season.
Kevin O’Leary
The ill-tempered star of the Dragon’s Den and the Shark Tank, Kevin O’Leary, owns a Muskoka cottage with his wife. O’Leary is considered by some as Canada’s Donald Trump, as one of the country’s best known entrepreneurs, investors and financial commentators.
Outrageously…nice.
Kenny G
The formerly long-haired sax-playing musician has a homey, comfortable cottage in Muskoka, that was featured in House & Home magazine. The original article no longer exists, but you can still read about it.
Tom Hanks
As a good friend of former Muskoka dwellers Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell (who reportedly sold their cottage in 2014), Tom Hanks bought his own slice of Muskoka paradise where he still spends his summers.
There’s just something about those log cabins during winter.
If Muskok is too far and you’re looking to move to Toronto, try this.