July 2026
A lonely log cabin sits on the southeast corner of Huronia Road and Lockhart Street in the southern Ontario city of Barrie, on the edge of a woodlot. For over 90 years, it has stood at this corner, the north part of Lot 11, Concession 10, in what was once a part of Innisfil Township, this log cabin was once part of a failed business venture that attempted to entice city dwellers for a rustic vacation resort in the countryside.
The cabin resort was the vision of farmers Garnett and Adelene “Lena” Raymes. After her marriage to Garnett, Lena’s parents, Frank and Adeline Quantz gave the property to the couple. In addition to buildign a along with a barn and chicken coops for their livestock, Garnett and Lena built six log cabins in 1935 and attempted to turn it into a vacation resort.
Apparently their wasn’t much interest in a rustic, country vacation destination for the city dwellers in the Toronto area.
Today, this single log cabin remains in an abandoned and deteriorated state, although much of the damage is from vandals. The exterior walls are still in good condition, testifying to the durability of the logs themselves.
The rest of the former Raymes property is now National Pines golf course.
Sources: Farms of Innisfil: Challenges, Chores and Changes, published by the Innisfil Historical Society.
