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Visit one of Canada's only octagon-shaped houses, up the hill from Bracebridge Falls. It was built in the 1870s. The garden free to visit. The house is used an event space.
Woodchester Villa, also known as The Bird House or "The Bird Cage", is a historic octagon house located at 15 King Street overlooking the Muskoka River in Bracebridge, Ontario. It was built in 1882 and was the home of woolen manufacturer Henry J. Bird. Its walls alternate between 4.5 metres and 5 metres in width and are made of 16 inch-thick poured concrete. In 1977 the Bracebridge Rotary Club took steps to preserve the property by buying it from the descendants of Henry J. Bird. After restoring the building, it was turned over to the Town of Bracebridge on March 13, 1980. On June 22, 1980, it was opened as a local history museum. The museum closed in 2009 after a winter storm caused damage to the building. In 2012, another series of restorations began, upgrading both the grounds and the building. After much consideration, Woodchester Villa was reopened in June, 2018 as 'Woodchester, Where Events Take Shape'. People can now use the building for meetings, private functions and events.
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In downtown Bracebridge. There is a parking area Drive by the corner of Ecclestone and Entrance Drive from where you can access some walking paths that lead to the falls.
A 7.5-km easy-to-moderate hiking trail.
Open year round, it's a popular destination for families. Younger children can visit Santa and participate in age-oriented fun, while teenagers can enjoy go-karting, mini-golf, batting cages, Laser Tag, and video arcade. Camping and cabins available.
Stunning natural beauty regardless of the season. Groomed cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, hiking and mountain biking trails within a woodland setting along the Muskoka River. Single track mountain bike trails available.
Preserved as a natural ecosystem, the park does not offer any services or facilities. Trails through the park provide unmaintained mountain biking, hiking, and snowshoeing routes for a more challenging outdoor retreat. As of 2023, plans are underway to develop facilities for camping, visitor services, and maintained trails, with construction starting in 2024. Until campsites are officially opened, camping in the park is prohibited.