Drake by the lake project takes city vibe to the country
Drake Devonshire Inn opens its doors on Prince Edward County retreat that blends small-town locale with experiential brand of Toronto's Drake Hotel
The Drake Devonshire in Prince Edward County is the first new inn serving as an extension of The Drake Hotel in Toronto. Company head Jeff Stober notes that the brand, “experiential” in his words, is expanding with more hotels to come.
The refurbished inn with 11 rooms plus two suites was purchased for $1.3-million, yet required heavy restoration. The company declined to discuss the ultimate costs.
Care had to taken not to effect the adjacent land. This included having an extension of the dining room cantilevered over the flood plain of a creek.
Expecting a busy first autumn of weekenders from Toronto, the inn is already booked solid every weekend for the next few months. Weekdays are likely to cater to a somewhat different clientele, including corporations holding retreats.
Arts and cultural programming will be very much in the foreground, yet the inn will be open year round, with events catering to the different seasons.
The site has a long history of extensive renovations. Originally as a foundry and then a bed and breakfast, three-quarters of the inn had to be rebuilt.
The upper deck, outside the indoor/outdoor pavilion. Read more in Property Report story at the link below: The Drake Devonshire – a hip country outpost.