Our Story - the irwin inn
The Irwin Inn has been a family tradition of hospitality for 70 years. Spanning three generations, our family history extends back 150 years starting with the Crowe’s family of Crowe’s Landing, where Grandma Norma (Crowe) Irwin grew up as a young girl.
In 1947, Ross and Norma Irwin opened their cottage to accommodate guests from a neighbouring resort, and after additions to the cottage, a small lodge resulted to provide overnight accommodations and good meals to vacationers seeking to enjoy Stoney Lake. Many a guest would come for the fishing and return year after year with their families to enjoy Irwin Inn, the good food and Irwin family hospitality.
Ross, a cook at the Nephton Mine enjoyed the challenge, and as property became available around the lodge, he purchased individual lots, and expanded the resort. By 1955 Ross and Norma could accommodate 30 guests, and with a dining room expansion in 1960, more than 75 people could vacation at the Inn. Ross continued developing the property, purchased property behind the lodge and and lawn cottages, and built a 9 hole “pitch and putt’ golf course, for guests and cottagers to play.
By the mid 80’s. Dennis and Patti Irwin embarked on a program of expansion and consolidation. They completed the acquisition of the privately owned cottages near the Inn, begun by Ross and Norma, and also the 133 acre farm property, adjacent to the small golf course, with farm house and cow barn, which eventually housed horses. Concentrating on the lakefront, they renovated existing cottages, or built new ones to suit the more discerning guests of the 80’s and 90’s. They believed groups would be attracted to the Inn’s relatively private waterfront site, consequently constructed a small conference room and upgraded facilities to attract these clients. The building program continued in 2000 with the construction of a stunning, unique post and beam complex of lakeside spa suites. Sympathetic architecture and prime waterfront location made theses suites some of the most sought after accommodation at Irwin Inn.
An equestrian center with 14 horse stalls, and a 70’ x 200’ indoor riding arena was built on part of the farm property behind and adjacent to the golf course. Under Dennis and Patti’s stewardship, the Inn became a year round, multi purpose resort.
This next generation of the Irwin family made this Ontario resort famous for its tradition of welcoming hospitality, excellent dining, friendliness, and enduring family ties, continuing to reflect the core values of Ross and Norma, and long standing heritage.
Although bittersweet, the Irwin family retired the long-standing family business in the fall of 2016, removed twenty buildings, created a new road, severed lakefront lots and sold waterfront. Three new families now enjoy this special place, as well as the Irwin family, and have become a part of this truly wonderful lakeside community on spectacular Stoney Lake.
Dennis and Patti Irwin kept the stunning, lakeside post and beam suites complex , the golf course area and the rest of the extensive farm property to the “white church”.
2023 saw renovations of the suites building, and the Irwins youngest son Andrew, his wife Lindsey, and their two children, move into the Irwins’ log house on property. Dennis and Patti raised their three sons there, but no longer requiring such a large space, now reside in one of the lakeside suites.
The journey has been long, but exciting moving forward with family, and to once again welcome guests to enjoy Irwin hospitality. Three of the post and beam suites are available now to rent for a relaxing getaway, vacation, work related scenario, or whatever reason you wish to conjure to return to, or discover this special place on the south shore of Stoney Lake.