PK Lodge Muskoka blends 90 years of family tradition with classic cottage-country charm, lakeside fun and a fresh future for generations to come.
Story and photos by Andrew Hind
For 90 years, PK Lodge Muskoka (formerly Patterson-Kaye Lodge) has been welcoming families to Muskoka for blissful summer vacations. Times change, but seemingly not at PK. New owners seek to preserve the timeless vacation experience while creating new opportunities for guests to build traditions of their own.
PK was launched in 1936 by Muskoka-born sisters Phyllis and Mabel Kaye and Mabel’s husband, William Patterson. Initially, the resort was just a lodge with a dining room, lounge and nine small second-floor bedrooms. Within a few years, however, PK had grown so popular that additional cabins, named for family members or guests, had to be built to keep pace with demand.
There are even some interesting threads connecting PK to Ontario history. A young Gordon Lightfoot, working for his family’s Orillia laundry business, delivered clean linens to the resort.
Times and owners have changed since then, but there is a timelessness about PK. The Lodge remains the focal point of the property, and within it, the same stone fireplace around which Phyllis, Mabel and William entertained their first guests still stands. Some of the original cabins remain. Children still race over the bridge spanning a creek as they hurry to the beach. As dusk settles on the property, beavers casually swim past in waters as smooth as glass.
The property boasts almost three dozen cottages of various sizes and price points, ranging from cozy vintage cabins to The Miller House, a modern building that was formerly home to the family of owner and future Premier of Ontario Frank Miller.
One of the principal appeals of any cottage-country resort is the lure of the lake. PK Lodge Muskoka doesn’t disappoint, with a wonderful sandy beach that gently slopes away from shore, offering peace of mind for parents and countless hours of fun for kids. Better yet, the restaurant patio nestles up against the beach, so parents can sip or dine in comfort while their children frolic in the shallows just feet away.
Guests can also book a scenic excursion with Amped Watersports, which departs from the property. The watercraft are fully electric and zero-emission, so you can feel good about the decision even as the wind ruffles your hair.
Other distractions at PK include playground equipment, an inground pool, jet ski rentals, e-foil and wakeboarding lessons, and the use of canoes, kayaks and paddleboards.
At PK Lodge Muskoka, peacefulness and playfulness — both ingredients of a perfect family vacation — are found in equal measure.
After 90 years of welcoming guests to Muskoka, PK Lodge Muskoka is starting its next chapter. There are plenty of new memories still to be made.
