Casa Loma

Visit Canada's Majestic Castle, C L p period European elegance splendour. T former Canadian financier S Henry Pellatt, Canada's foremost castle complete decorated suites, secret passages, 800- tunnel, towers, stables, beautiful 5- estate gardens (p My through October). A -guided digital audio 8 languages (English, French, Japanese, German, Italian, Spanish, Mandarin Korean) available. C L located O Austin Terrace corner Davenport R. Spadina A. .casaloma.g.

C Loma, Toronto's premier tourist attractions, visited y tourists y-round. A unabashed romantic, S Henry engaged noted architect E.J. Lennox p realize -g dream - creation 'medieval' castle overlooking Toronto. Begun 1911, 300 nearly 3 years complete $ 3,500,000 .

S Henry enjoyed C L years before financial misfortune forced abandon castle . Today unique piece Canadian history p daily tourist attraction hospitality venue. C L owned y Cy Toronto developed operated y Kiwanis C C L since 1937. C L financially -sufficient contributes close $1 million annually Cy licence taxes. N proceeds operation C L support range Kiwanis Club's charitable works.

Under careful stewardship C professional staff, Castle remains Toronto's p tourist attractions hospitality venues. I 1998, 375,000 visitors toured Castle gardens. A perfect backdrop special occasions, castle played 200 functions almost 30,000 guests attending during y. C Loma's unique architecture highly desirable location film, television photography shoots.

T castle -guided. Visitors experience castle their leisure audio cassette floor p brochure. C L provides audio cassettes brochures following eight languages: English, French, German, Japanese, Mandarin, Korean, Iian Spanish.

T enchanting C L Gardens p My through October provide visitors opportunity stroll through acres formal informal specialty areas alive colour fragrance.

History

S Henry commissioned Canadian architect E.J. Lennox design C L construction beginning 1911, starting massive stables hundred north building. T stables construction castle, machinery still remaining rooms under stables. T house approximately $3.5 million 300 workers three years build start finish. Up completion 1914, 98 rooms, largest private residence North America. Notable amenities included elevator, large enough steer, vertical passages pp organs, central vacuum, secret passages S Henry's ground-floor office three bowling alleys (never completed).

My rooms unfinished, today serve Regimental Museum T Queen's O Rifles Canada. Pellatt joined Regiment Rifleman through ranks, eventually becoming Commanding Officer. H knighted dedication Regiment. Later, Pellatt served Honorary Colonel promoted Major-General p retirement.

During Depression, Toronto increased C Loma's annual property taxes $600 $12,000 ( approximately translates increase $6000 $111,000 today's currency), Pellatt—already experiencing financial difficulties—was forced auction $1.5-million furnishings $250,000 during bankruptcy hearings. S Henry enjoy castle years, leaving 1923.

Vacant while proposals considered future , architect William Sparling p forward proposal convert house luxury hotel 1925. A g lease granted Sparling p hotel within C L. H began completing Great H Billiard Room, areas S Henry never finished. Sparling planned large wings building, west, g containing 96 suites 56 rooms. A estimated $1 million wing, y never built. T hotel failed 1929.

During 1920s C L popular nightspot. T Orange Blossoms, later known G Gy C L Orchestra, played there eight months 1927–1928. Shortly thereafter, y North America became major Swing E dance .

I 1933 y seized C L taxes owed, which totaled approximately $3000. Rather bankruptcy knight hood, which Pellatt cherished, forced C L below market value $27,303.

Contrary popular belief, C L never official residence either y Province Ontario. I 1937 opened public first tourist attraction operated y Kiwanis C Toronto. Coincidentally, y Chorley Park, Government House Ontario closed y provincial government.

During World W II, C L conceal research sonar, construction sonar devices U- detection. T chateau still operated y Kiwanis C. Today Toronto's popular tourist attractions.