// MUSKOKA LIVING //
The Many Lives of
Bigwin Island BY MATT DRISCOLL PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF MUSKOKA DIGITAL ARCHIVES
Bigwin Island is one of the country’s premier waterfront golf course communities. The history of this stunning island is a microcosm of the history of Muskoka.
Bigwin Island, on Lake of Bays, is one of the most sought-after waterfront golf course communities in Muskoka. Photo by: Taylor Nullmeyer
T
he largest island on Lake of Bays in northeast Muskoka, Bigwin Island is only accessible by water and has been for its entire history.
Named after Ojibway Chief Joseph Big Wind, Bigwin’s history can be traced back as far as the Anishinaabeg First Nations who used the 200-hectare island for summer hunting and also as a burial ground. In the 19th century, the Hudson’s Bay Company took it over as a trading post. As the
56
fur and lumber trades slowly dissipated during the 1800s, they were replaced by an emerging tourism industry and the growth of lodges and resorts. Cliffs rising above sandy beaches and scenic bays appealed to guests who returned year after year for the incomparable views and secluded privacy. As the golden era of Muskoka’s resorts began in the late 19th and early 20th century, Bigwin Island entered a new chapter in its history.
WWW.CHESTNUTPARK .COM/MUSKOKA // C H E S T N U T PA R K R E A L E S TAT E L I M I T ED, B R O K ER AG E // WWW.INVESTINST YLE .CA
