Located along the shores of Lake Simcoe, the small community of Lagoon City has big plans to make it even more appealing to recreational boaters.

Imagine if your boat was docked and ready to go in your own backyard. Now imagine a nearby waterway that leads to some of the finest cruising passages anywhere in North America. Lagoon City, Brechin Ontario offers its residents exactly that.

Constructed during the 1960s and 70s, Lagoon City was the concept of Andrew Zsolt, a civil engineer who saw the potential of transforming a barren landscape into a European-style resort town with its own protected harbour. Zsolt’s travelling experiences to Amsterdam and Venice triggered his inspiration to develop the project and to this day, the city of 3,500 residents is known as the Venice of Canada. Its calm, waterways stretch 16 kilometres and are contained by solid, concrete shore walls.

Lagoon City is located west of Brechin on Lake Simcoe. While Brechin caters to local residents with a local grocery, Beer Store, post office, bank, medical centre and schools, more services await in Orillia, which is just a 25-minute drive to the northwest. Or you can take your boat to Port of Orillia in approximately the same amount of time. Orillia serves up exciting nightlife all season with its array of pubs, restaurants and shopping. The city is also home to Casino Rama that provides hours of enjoyment with several concerts and countless gaming tables. But if you prefer the action of the big city, Toronto is only an hour-and-a-half away.

“This town is special because it’s one of only two communities in Canada with the designation as an Urban Resort Town Site. Whistler, British Columbia is the other,” said Roger Selman, a real estate agent for Century 21 in Lagoon City and former employee of Zsolt’s company, Inducon Development Corporation.

“The provincial government gave the community this title because the infrastructure of the town was built by the developer and not by a government agency. It’s rare for someone in the private sector to build their own sewage treatment plant and water purification plant, like Andrew did for Lagoon City.”

All the homes, townhouses and condos facing the water have their own slip carved into the shore walls, meaning a day afloat is a quick stroll away. There is easy access to Lake Simcoe, which is connected to the Trent Severn Waterway, allowing residents to head out on extensive voyages.

With conveniences such as this, it comes as no surprise the area attracts people from all over, including many from Toronto due to its close proximity.

“Lagoon City is a haven for baby boomers,” explains Rick Fenn, a local real estate agent with Remax. “We’re seeing a lot of younger families buying here. They find it easier to work from home because of its close distance to the city.” (Page Top)

Once you’ve visited this mature, quiet town, which for the most part has remained an Ontario secret, it’s not hard to see why people would be drawn to its undisturbed splendor. Lagoon City has a visually appealing charm – no two homes look alike, lush flora is sculpted by professional landscapers, and nine mini-bridges of assorted designs span throughout the community. There are also private beaches that are regularly raked and equipped with washrooms and a snack bar. They provide the ideal spot to enjoy a summer afternoon with family and friends. In fact, its sandy shorelines allow you to wade approximately 1,000 feet from the beach, with the water level still at your waist. There’s a north and south beach, and recently, the one to the south was named after Andrew Zsolt.

About 500 of Lagoon City’s full-time residents reside on their boat at Crate’s Lagoon City Marina in what are called boataminiums, which are covered slips that are available for rent and provide several added services for additional monthly fees.

The facility is a full-service marina with 277 (open and covered) slips and can accommodate vessels up to 60 feet. While cable TV, fresh water, high-capacity hydro, phone jacks and fuel are readily available, boaters can also enjoy the marina’s whirlpools, steam baths, saunas, indoor swimming pools and tennis courts. A local convenience store is nearby.

In addition to sales of Carver Yachts and Regal Boat lines, the marina has a full service department with a team of technicians that are trained to conduct service and/or repair to an array of marine engines, transmissions, sterndrives, and generators. The technicians can even install onboard electronics or other equipment. Added convenience is provided by the availability of captain services for boat deliveries. Come the spring and fall, the facility is ready to launch your boat or haul it out with a 35-ton capacity travel lift.

But there’s more to this area than boating. There’s a strong, yet relaxed, social presence, which is centered around the local community centre. The local yacht club regularly meets there on its outdoor patio while weekend barbecues and many other spectacles are scheduled throughout the entire season.

Lagoon City’s future is looking bright, with major development planned over the next several years. Overseeing the multi-million dollar project is Zoral Investments Building Development, a residential and commercial development company that has a number of ideas in store for the area.

Phase one breaks ground this summer to commence the construction of 44 townhouses, 94 low-rise condos, along with several other projects. Half of these townhouses will have direct water access, however arrangements are underway to build an indoor storage facility for Crate’s Lagoon City Marina to better serve future boaters moving to the area. Phase two will see the addition of 65 additional townhouses near the marina, and all of the units will include a slip. Phase three introduces a 325-unit condo/hotel. Beyond that, other exciting additions include a highly anticipated, world-class John Daly signature golf course, spa and fitness facility plus an amusement park.

With a wave of new homes coming to this scenic village, along with the construction of a first-rate golf course, amusement park, not to mention a collection of new local businesses, Lagoon City is heading towards what looks like a very booming future. (Page Top)