As some of you now ponder to store your NSX for the season (12+ degrees out), your executives have been hard at work reviewing various venues and proposals for Est Fest 2013. One important aspect of Est Fest is location and how it best accommodates the size of our group greatly enhances our experience. After various considerations along with members’ feedback, we have decided to make a returning trip to the Windermere House on the May (17-20) long weekend. To those attended Est Fest 2012, the legendary resort needs no introduction. We had a total of 19 NSXs and 42 people (some drove family cars) out this year, and we like to exceed these numbers in 2013.
The Resort:
Windermere House (56 rooms) is a legendary waterfront resort in the village of Windermere on beautiful Lake Rosseau in the Muskoka Lakes. It is known as The Lady of the Lakes. It was built in 1870 in Victorian style, originally as a boarding house and overlooks Lake Rosseau. In 1996, the then 127-year-old house was burned to the ground during the filming of The Long Kiss Goodnight due to what suspect to be production equipment malfunction. The house was rebuilt and restored to its original form in the spring of 1997 and had gone through series of renovations and updates making it one of the most frequented resort in Muskoka.
The House is home to a popular pub which survived the fire and is a popular place to eat for people in town or tourists who stop in during the summer months. Behind the house is an 18-hole golf course which is also popular during the summer months. There is also an outdoor pool, a tennis court, a fitness room, large playground, and a beach at which families can swim and play. Outdoor activities including hiking, mountain biking, fishing and horseback riding just to name a few.
Accommodations:
To minimize club’s financial liabilities, we have negotiated room block of only 12 (additional rooms will be added once the initial lot has been taken). Please make note of the following when making your reservation:
- Booking period Jan 2 2013 – Feb 15 2013.
- Booking reference: NSX Club of Canada
- Booking contact: 1-888-946-3376 or [email protected]
- Accommodation consists of both garden-view ($130/night) and lake-view ($150/night) rooms which include in room WIFI access.
- Room rates are expected to increase after Feb 15 2013 ($190 and $265 respectively).
- Booking maybe cancelled ($50 admin charge applies) by May 1 2013, after which full amount of deposit will be forfeited.
- Upfront one-night deposit will to be charged at time of reservation.
- 2-nights minimum is required given it’s the long-weekend.
- 4-bedroom Windermere cottage rooms are available at a subsidized rate of $115/room/night. There are 4 bedrooms to choose from, 3 have queen beds, one of which has an en-suite. The 4th bedroom has 2 single beds. The cottage has 3 bathrooms including the en-suite.
- All rooms are subject to 7% resort services plus 13% HST.
We will again have access to the Windermere cottage as our HQ for the Friday night BBQ and bonfire for all our after hour festivities which include but not limited to socializing, drinking, cigar smoking, partying, trash-talking, lap-dancing should anyone sees fit.
Meal service:
Same as this year, we are hosting a kickoff BBQ on Friday at the Windermere cottage follow by social by the bonfire. For the balance of the weekend, buffet breakfast will be $15 pp. Optional lunch service will be $18 pp. Saturday event dinner will be $45 pp. Sunday dinner will likely be a-la-kart (4 restaurants to choose from). All meal service and accommodation are subject to gratuities and taxes. Our event dinner service will be provided by the Oliver & Bonacini restaurants. We have raised the fact our dinner service was a weak point at Est Fest 2012 and management is committed to improve in 2013.
Est Fest Fees and BYOB:
Same as 2012, the club will charge a nominal fee of $25 pp to go towards prizes, give away, Friday night BBQ and non-alcoholic drinks throughout the weekend. In the past the club had always absorbed the cost and depleted reserves. We started to rebuild in 2012 and it's our goal to keep the club in strong financial position so we may continue to plan bigger and better events. Our goal is for us to break-even. Also, please note this is a BYOB event so bring along something you personally enjoy and like to share with others.
Spa services:
At the Windermere House, in-house spa service will be provided by the Sanctuary International Day Spa. Bookings will start closer to the event date. For a list of services, please check out the attached LINK.
Car Cruises:
As some of you can attest, Muskoka Lakes has some of the most beautiful cruising roads in all of Ontario, and we are going to take advantage and drive through many of them. Over the course of the winter, existing cruise maps will be fine tuned but if you are seasoned Muskoka cottagers or visitors and you have routes to recommend, please send your recommendations (or google maps) to [email protected].
What to do next:
1) Book off your calendar for May 17-20 long weekend. We are booking you 6 months in advance, so there should be little chance you already have plans.
2) Plan your Call/Email Windermere House (1-888-946-3376 / [email protected] ) during the booking period (Jan 2 – Jan 31 2013) and book your room. You choices are $130 garden-view room, or $150 for lake-view room. You are not registered until you have booked your room. To reserve a room at the Windermere Cottage at subsidized rates ($115), please email [email protected], room preference and priority will be on first come first serve basis.
3) Sign up on this post and advise whether you plan to bring a co-pilot.
Note that our discount rates are effective until Feb 15 2013. While we can’t book now, it maybe prudent to plan you spring schedule and reserve your room in the new year.
Alright, since booking period doesn't start until Jan 2 2013, you have some time to plan. But do tell us when you have decided to take part. More details and reminders to follow towards the tail end of December, but do sign up here so we can keep track. Who's in??
Sign up:
1) Owen (Cottage)
2) Chris W +1 (cottage)
3) Jim & Laurie
4) Brad & Sue
5) Sean F & Patti
6) Shaun & Desirae
7) Daria & Glynis
8) Henry +1
9) Bash & Urbs
10) Kevin & Marleen
11) Robert & Michelle
12) Stu
13) Rick M
14) Robert C
15)
16)
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