‘Golden’ resort listed at $1.19M
An artists’ retreat for more than four decades, Tweed property also vestige of Ontario gold rush
An Ontario resort used as a getaway for Toronto artists since the 1960s has hit the property market.
The Bridgewater Retreat near Tweed, which for many years operated as the Schneider School of Fine Arts, is listed for $1.19 million.
That price includes six pristine acres, 16 guest cabins, two artists’ studios and two log cabins from the 1800s on the Skootamatta River about two hours and 15 minutes from Toronto.
But you can’t put a number on the history of the property that quite literally sits on a gold mine, said vendor Steve Collins, who is selling up for health reasons after 10 years of enjoying what he describes as a profound connection with the resort.
He said he still finds bits of gold on the land that was first settled in 1859 in the Ontario gold rush.
Five thousand people settled there for 10 years.
But the entire community burned to the ground, save the church and school that were made from the local marble.
Those nearby buildings still stand, Collins said.
He and his wife Marie bought the place, which was renamed Bridgewater in the 1990s, for about $500,000 in 2007.
She had a background in the hospitality business. He had worked in construction and renovations.
“I saw this place in a magazine one day and jokingly said, ‘Here’s the next place we’re going to buy,’ and the next thing I knew, we were racing up here,” Collins said. “We just fell in love with the property.” But it was run down, and the first year they didn’t even really open, although a few guests, who knew the Bridgewater, were allowed to come and stay while the work was going on.
Much of the last decade has been spent landscaping the property and upgrading the buildings.
“It’s been a joy. We’ve met a lot of people. It’s going to be hard to leave,” Collins said.
The Bridgewater was founded by Mary and Roman Schneider, who immigrated in 1950 after surviving concentration camps.
The property was bush when they acquired it in 1962 from the Price family. There’s a Price Conservation Area adjacent to the Bridgewater.
Mary, a successful artist, taught in nearby Madoc for a couple of years, before the couple, along with some friends, founded their own school.
“They had a great vision. It’s set up so well. It’s just six acres of land but it seems like 16 and we’ve got 735 feet of riverfront here with a rock gorge and a sand beach,” Collins said.
The Schneiders spent winters in Toron-
“A lot of people come from all over the world. They just want a taste of Canada.” STEVE COLLINS PROPERTY OWNER
to planning summer arts programs.
They bought the two log cabins, had them dismantled and moved to the site.
The 16 cedar guest cabins were purchased as kits from British Columbia and assembled locally.
The Schneider School of Fine Arts, which was renamed the Bridgewater in the 1990s, had three studios, one of which the Collins have turned into their home on the property.
Among the artists who spent time there was Jack Henry Pollock, a fixture on the Toronto arts scene with a namesake gallery and a reputation for spotting new talent.
Others include Carl Schaefer, a Canadian war artist, who studied with Group of Seven members Arthur Lismer and J.E.H. MacDonald; Adrian Dingle, a painter, who also illustrated comic books; and Dorothy Stevens, a painter and print maker known for her images of factory workers from the First World War.
The Collins continue to attract artists. But the Bridgewater has also hosted wellness, yoga and writing retreats.
Among its visitors were many tourists from abroad, Collins said.
“A lot of people come from all over the world. They just want a taste of Canada. People visit Toronto and think that’s Canada. I’m kind of glad to host Canada-in-the-woods here,” Collins said.
He says he’s grateful to have been the Bridgewater’s caretaker.
“I always knew it was just a place we were looking after. You think you own something but we don’t get to take it with us. I’ve been grateful to be the caretaker and I feel like a huge part of the place,” he said.
The couple put the property on the market last fall but there wasn’t much interest, says their Century 21 realtor Tom Wilkinson.
He specializes in selling resorts. They can be tricky to sell, he said. But the Bridgewater’s history is unique.
“It’s a gorgeous setting. The river runs down the edge of the property. You can actually still pan for gold in the river,” said Wilkinson, adding that all these years later, the property retains the mineral rights there.
Collins has built lovely walking paths throughout the retreat.
“There’s a lovely river walk. You can’t help but relax. Rivers are great for that anyway. It really does wash away all your cares. It’s just a very relaxing place,” Wilkinson said.
An illness that confined Collins to the hospital for two months this year forced the Bridgewater to cancel its bookings this season.
He hopes the new owners will be arts lovers.
Mary Schneider’s easel and art supplies remain at the Bridgewater. Sometimes her rocking chair moves, Collins said. But there’s nothing spooky or scary there.
“There’s a real energy in this property and it’s all good energy,” he said.
“I didn’t realize how spiritual I was ‘til I took over the place.”