June 2025
Penetanguishene, Ontario, has a new tourist attraction, and it’s completely free.
Welcome to Tiny Town, the passion project of Shelley and Mike Duval, built right in their backyard. What started as simply a privacy fence, built beginning in 2021 by Mike, at the request of his beloved wife of over five decades, it was quickly transformed into a mini western town. The project combines Shelley’s passion for the American southwest and Mike’s carpentry skills.
Before retiring, Mike worked for a custom home company, and spent 30-years of his career at Sainte-Marie among the Hurons. Shelley was a teacher at Burkevale Protestant Separate School, just up the road from their Burke Street home, for nearly 25-years. The school occasionally arranges field trips to Tiny Town.
Most of the buildings are simply a facade, mounted on the fence, but the General Store is an actual building, and of course, there is the open-air saloon, where visitors can enjoy free root beer or water. The General Store was originally used for storage, but now houses a collection of period clothing that visitors of all ages can try on and take photos.
This tiny tourist attraction has proven to be quite popular, with around 1,500 visitors signing their guest book in 2024 alone. On busier days, Mile and Shelley have welcomed over 100 people, mostly by word of mouth and some media attention.
The guest book is filled with signatures. On one of the busiest days last year, Mike says they hosted over 100 people. In total, he says they welcomed 1,500 visitors in 2024.
A visit to Tiny Town is completely free. and while Mike and Shelley initially declined donations, they now allow voluntary donations, of any amount, at the insistence of many visitors who wanted to show their appreciation.
Tiny Town is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., weather permitting. It’s closed on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Sources: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1866558430227870/posts/3722053578011670/, https://www.sootoday.com/local-news/howdy-this-ontario-backyard-is-a-wild-tribute-to-the-old-west-8707265, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-uZs9HJE8Xc, Backyard tiny town: Play in an old-time western world gadget-free – Barrie News.
