Toronto's Forgotten Landmarks: The Guild Inn
Sitting high atop the Scarborough Bluffs on Toronto's eastern side, is one of our oldest and most beautiful hotels, the Guild Inn. Boarded-off and sealed to potential guests, this magnificent structure is also famed as being one of the most haunted buildings in Canada. It consists of two large buildings, the stouter of which was built in 1914, with a large addition being added in the mid-60s.
I've visited this place many times, as well as its beautiful surrounding gardens (still frequented for wedding photos and the like). In and of themselves, these gardens are quite interesting - in days past, whenever an important building in downtown Toronto was demolished, a small portion of the structure would be transplanted to the Guildwood gardens (behind the Inn). On my most recent sojourn, I decided to do something a little different than my usual photographic escapades - I decided to sleep over.
There is nothing more disturbing than waking up from uneasy sleep to a series of loud crashes which shake the entire building you are in; more so when you gain a hazy recollection that you are in a condemned, abandoned, haunted hotel room (I use the term 'sleep' here loosely). As I hurriedly awoke my companions, we rushed to our balcony to realize that the noise was from a drunken teenager from BC (as we later found out), who was trying to gain access by force to a lower floor of the building. Through our panic of terror-induced laughter, we realized it was 6:30 am - the sun was coming up, and we headed to the roof to bear it witness.
There are so many downright creepy elements to our stay that will elude these short words, but let me share a few that will perhaps give you a clue as to why it was so disturbing. The room we 'stayed' in was not only one of the few which actually had electricity, but the beds were completely intact - and made (tucked-in and all). I was scouting the place not a week earlier, and this was not the case. There was a distant electrical hum throughout the corridors which wavered in tone, and added to the chemical-rot smell, gave a generally uneasy feeling. On top of this was the fact that, between individual rooms there was a noticeable temperature change, which, of course, we nervously attributed to (made up, on-the-spot) 'facts' about contained environments, and the like.
This building was used at various times as a makeshift hospital, a shelter, but mainly as a hotel - so why shouldn't I meet it where it was at; in trying to legitimately understand a structure in its own footing, I ended up discovering one of the most terrifying places I have ever visited. I have been to abandoned skyscrapers, aircraft graveyards, psychiatric hospitals, churches, train stations, you name it - but this will remain one of the most disturbing abandoned places I have ever visited. My one night stand with the Guild Inn solidifies in my mind precisely why these places are so intriguing and mysterious. The boarded windows and darkened rooms are open stories to me... and open questions. So often in life we have the answers ready-made, and it is the questions which so perturb us.
Here are some more snaps I took during my surreal visit:
Comments (32)
Even teh overhead view is kind of creepy
My family used to go here for brunches and whatnot when I was a kid. They had an amazing hedge maze and some miniature kid-sized houses you could play in. I always thought it was a magical place. Someone should fix it up. It only looks creepy now because it is in disrepair.
I live not too far from there. The hotel and central building are pretty far gone and really should be bulldozed. The gardens are beautiful and unique but tend to be overrun with wedding photography (which defines creepy more than an old building for me).
The Guild Inn is a pretty sad example of city incompetence:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guild_Inn
I live out in Scarborough and still haven't been to see it. Always wanted to though.
Interestingly enough, Centennial College has made a proposal to renew and use the site. Here are the links:
http://www.insidetoronto.com/article/55745
http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2008/gm/bgrd/backgroundfile-15404.pdf
Forgot to add that the plans include the city paying for demolition in 2009: "$1 million for the demolition of the existing five storey hotel tower and the connecting corridor to the old inn, as well as removal of the outdoor swimming pool and restoration of the site to parkland."
My wife and I stayed at the Guild with our two young daughters in the 1980's in our first trip to Canada.
It was a most interesting stay--but reminds me of the old boo--yea jokes. Great view of the lake--but the lake was polluted. Lovely art work was on premises with artisans actually working there--but the rooms were really dour.
There was a great bar and the food was delicious--but the hotel itself was rundown and almost seedy.
Of course, I loved it and now almost weep at whats happened to this unique place.
I was told it was an artists colony in the 1920's.
While the ambiance was lousy, I truly believe with the right management, money and imagination, the hotel could have been very successful as a getaway for couples and families that wanted a little time away and chance to relax and perhaps visit downtown Toronto.
It's sad that so many will never have seen it when it was thriving.
You're definitely braver than me - the idea of staying in that place all night is terrifying - the ultimate creepy experience. We went into the adjoining "cottage" last May. (a shutter had been removed from one of the windows).. got some amazing pictures - hydro was on - lots of furniture - but stay there all night? NO WAY! When we were leaving from out of nowhere, a hydro line came flying down and hit the side of the house - no explanation - but .... who knows !
I was at the guild inn the other night but was unable to get inside as it's all locked/boarded up... how did you get inside the building? thanks
Hi,
I have been there done it and I will say it is pretty scary If you go down stairs you can find tunnels and rooms which are alot more scary than that room you stayed in and I Would never go back..... and its just way to dirty to stay there for a night.
I was at the Inn 2 nights in a row this week!! The first night we made it onto the 2nd level and observed the elevator open, and close, over, and, over again. The secong night we returned and observed the exact same elevator remain shut, and stuck on the 5th floor (you could tell by the lights above the elevator). We then worked up the courage to make it into a 2nd floor hotel room and it was SOO cold, damp, and silent. We made it about 20 feet into the hotel and then it was too much!!! We took off and, plan to return in a few weeks where we hopefully can make it further than 20 feet without getting the creepers!!
Thanks so much for doing these things. I was at the Guild Inn years ago on business and I've always wondered what became of it. Such a shame and what a missed opportunity for the city. The Wikipedia entry says Centennial is starting demolition in 2009, so I guess everyone who wants to get their creeps on better hurry. I'll leave it to you, no thanks. The hair on my arms stood up when I read that you found made beds. :)
My husband and I were married here on July 29, 2000; it was a beautiful ceremony and tented reception on the terrace. Everyone stayed the night and we were served a big breakfast in the morning. The staff were so amazing, the food fantastic and the price unbeatable. We were given a book on its history which I have yet to read but now after reading this I will!!! I am so sad that it is in such decay, it is really a lovely spot in Toronto. We are building all of these awful condos without much thought and let these historic landmarks with character fall by the wayside. I will always remember the Guild as it was on my wedding day and could not bare to see it how it is today. Thanks for this article! :)
My parents live in the area and when my mother was a child she resided nearby on Livingston Road and she knew the Hewetson/Clark family and played in the Guild Inn as a child. It's so sad to see it now. The City is to blame. If they hadn't sat on the matter for years and wasted time it could have been fully restored. Demolition will begin in 2009 to make way for Centennial College's new hotel, restaurant, and conference centre. There was a fire at the Guild Inn on Xmas day (the studio was gutted). I had a friend work there for a few years and she laughed when I asked her if the haunting rumors were true. She told me they are false.
Congratulations, Mr. Castellino, you've just copped to a trespassing charge, complete with photographic evidence to be used against you in court. Do you ever stop to think that it's idiots like you who are the reason the hotel is in the shape it's in? It wasn't like that when it closed - it's all the jerks who break in and trash the place, set off all the fire extinguishers, break windows and let the raccoons in, leave doors open for other idiots to get into the building, and promote other fools to do the same? The building wouldn't be suffering half as much as it is if it wasn't for the likes of you. I hope you get roundworm from all the raccoon feces you were exposed to when you were in there.
'irritated':
You assume I was not given permission by the owner and Toronto Parks and Rec. to be in there; a few years back, the Post, Globe and Sun were also invited, only one of which declined.
I assure you that I would never do anything to harm a building - these places are my passion, why would I do them any harm?
You are very correct in stating that those who DO are responsible (well, along with general neglect) for the state of places LIKE this one - I cannot recall any broken windows, which is why it is such a unique location.
I am a photojournalist, and not a vandal, and am careful to always obey the old Sierra Club motto: 'take nothing but photos, leave nothing but footprints'.
As for wishing I get 'roundworm', I sure hope I don't!
; P
adieu,
Jonathan.
Photographing a historical site, with clear interest in presenting it as art, interest, or whatever you want to call this piece, is hardly vandalism. To equate the two is downright ridiculous.
Wow!!! That guy needs to relax!!! Next thing ya know, he's gonna blame the fire the other week on you Johnathan lol. I love what you have done brother. Great photos and all!!!
And as for wishing you got "roundworm" WTF?? What kind of sicko writes that stuff??
It's wired looking at the picture now, my husband work at the guild inn from 1994-2001. So he know the history of this places, and he spent allot of very late nights in this place. To see the picture now makes me and wife very sad we had our wedding there in 2000. And now to see it let go to this is very sad the place looks lonely to me. I wish someone would bring it back to its glory days
I lived at the foot of Livingston Road as a teenager, so I had access to the Guild when it was thriving and had many friends employed there during our high school years. I had heard second hand about the odd noises, footsteps, moaning etc in certain parts of the buildings, mostly the lower level areas. Some people wouldn't venture to the basement after experiencing some of these events. It was a military hospital and sanitarium hospital at one time and I believe I read that there are secret tunnels leading from the lake directly into the basement level to bring in "patients". Don't know if that's true or not. Too bad it's in the state it's in now, I have fond memories of drinking in the woods and on the bluffs around the Guild as teen. Good times!
I also visited the Guild Inn often as a child because my father was responsible for organizing to have some of those historical building facades there from the Canadian Bank of Commerce. I visited there again in August 2002 to re-capture some of those memories. I have some photographs of that visit. It's a tragedy if the old hotel is being demolished. Jean
I Live right next to this place and my school (jackminer) is also right next to it. It's really not that bad in the daytime, especially when exploring the forest trails, any climbing on all those statues in the back, never seen security guards though, we go there all the time never seen anything more than a couple of cars, but what the hey maybe they just don't bother us. By the way, if you ever go there again, don't go near the cabin on the right side of the old hotel, don't ask, just don't do it.
By the way the old hotel burned down. nobody knows how it started and frankly, most people are content with that. The basement was cut-off and buried when the south-west side came down, so you'll never get that chance again. The two other buildings are still standing, and so is the wooden cabin, but 4 how long? DUH-DUN-DUUUUUUUUUUHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!! But seriously it's not that bad. They won't hurt you if you go in the day, but no promisesfor after dark.
I'd like to know where Ashley RhameyG-Wood gets his information regarding the hotel burning down. It's dated Feb 25th 2009 at 8:06PM and I'm reading it at 10:08AM on Feb 25 2009???????????
Nothing has been in the paper or radio regarding the hotel burning down I know the studio was partially burned down in Dec. and I am actually planning to go take video of the demolition spot today,(took pictures of the partially burned studio in Dec.)
The studio (which was a newer building) burned down and that was the only building. The remainder of it has been demolished. I took a drive there yesterday with my mother (who grew up on Livingston Road and played there as a child) who was a friend of The Clarks/Hewetsons. So sad to see it now. Ainslie/Socnacki sad on their asses for years collecting their big fat paycheques and did nothing and continue to do nothing. It could have been saved. Nope no ghosts at all a figment of someone's imagination according to my mother. Friends of mine who used to work there laugh at the ghost tales.
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