INTO THE WILD
Resort-style living arrives in the Ottawa Valley
Imagine being able to downhill ski, then glide directly up to your front door. Now the new development Juniper Ridge at Calabogie Peaks hopes to draw year-round residents to its expansive ski resort property in Eastern Ontario.
Just one hour west of Ottawa, Calabogie Peaks, part of the district of Greater Madawaska, has been a popular draw for ski and snowboarding tourists, featuring Dicksons Mountain — Ontario's tallest public ski hill.
“The landscape here is truly picturesque,” says Paul Murphy, president of Calabogie Peaks. “Especially because you've got that beautiful trifecta of geography — the combo of mountain, a lake and thousands of acres of Crown wilderness land.”
At the moment, a small boutique hotel and nine-hole golf course sit on the property, though Murphy has bigger dreams. “We hope that this will turn into its own little Ontario town.”
With Giannone Petricone Associates designing, the 97 modernist townhouses and stacked condo units reflect their environment in terms of the naturally aged wood and stone materials used in its geometric construction.
Juniper Ridge will be the first stage of development within the 418-townhome, master-planned community that will see approximately 700 acres redeveloped.
The townhomes range in size from a one-bedroom, 650-squarefoot unit to a three-bedroom, 1,425-sq.-ft townhouse. Prices begin in the mid $500,000s.
“There's also a lot of natural light within each space — as each unit features large windows,” says
Murphy. “The residences fit in and reflect the local geography of the region.”
Each residence also comes with a balcony to connect even more with the great outdoors. Large bathrooms and the soon-to-come glass fibre, high-speed internet will be modern amenities that Murphy hopes will draw year-round residents,
especially young people who might make up the remote workforce.
Similar to the Blue Mountain community, Murphy is banking on urbanites to crave weekends away from the city — whether to participate in hiking the trails, skiing, snowboarding or water activities. It's an opportunity to own a
recreational property with everything at your fingertips — without the upkeep.
Calabogie Peaks will also have an active lake culture with a marina where residents can keep boats and other water gear.
“We expect part- time, seasonal, full-time residents — it could be snowbirders or young people who are looking for a weekend escape,” explains Murphy, noting that the master-planned community hopes to attract those in the surrounding communities and tourists as well.
Given the climb in the vacation rental market, it won't be hard for seasonal residents to earn rental income when not using their space.
“We'll also have a hotel management program that can do it for them,” says Murphy, who expects many Ottawa or Toronto-based residents may not completely relocate at first.
Murphy's family owned a cottage in the Calabogie region for generations, beginning in the 1940s, and initially it was his father who envisioned a four-season destination spot there.
Now Murphy is responsible for realizing that dream.
Juniper Ridge, the first phase of development, will sit around 200 feet above the resort's designated “village” area at the bottom of the hill.
Murphy also had to lay the groundwork for basic services — that includes propane distribution, electricity, water, sewage and internet services — but he believes that the extensive investment will be worth it, despite current interest rates.
“It's such a unique combination to have a mountain beside this incredible waterfront,” he says. “Though it will take a while for the entire master-planned community to come to fruition.”
Murphy notes that the entire development will be taken slowly, perhaps even more than 20 years. He says that single-family homes may also be offered down the line.
Currently in the preconstruction phase, Calabogie Peaks expects occupancy to begin in early 2025.