An old Ontario camp got completely transformed and is now $5.5M

Long before it became a luxury Georgian Bay compound, this Ontario waterfront property was where generations of campers learned to sail, canoe, fish, and survive in the wilderness.

The story begins in 1922, when the Minwandum Camping Association established Camp Franklin on nearby Franklin Island, one of Georgian Bay's most iconic islands.

Founded by Reverend William J. Christie, the camp was originally created as an all-boys outdoor adventure retreat.

A bedroom in the main lodge. 

But it quickly expanded to include girls' programs, co-ed camps, family retreats, and specialty sessions that ran well beyond the summer months.

A bar built out of redwood logs. 

At a time when city life was becoming increasingly industrialized, Camp Franklin offered something entirely different: fresh air, outdoor skills, and a chance to experience the rugged beauty of Georgian Bay.

View of Georgian Bay and the islands. 

Campers spent their days canoeing, sailing, swimming, horseback riding, fishing, hiking, photographing the landscape, and exploring the area's famous 30,000 Islands.

A cozy living room with a fireplace. 

The camp even operated its own 50-foot sailing yacht, Minwandum, which took campers on multi-day excursions through the bay and to destinations like Killarney.

The dining area. 

The grounds grew to include lodges, cabins, tent bungalows, a dining hall, stables, sports courts, vegetable gardens, a boathouse, a large wharf, its own post office, and even a medical attendant.

A bedroom. 

The camp operated until 1937, but the site continued its long association with youth camping.

The kitchen. 

By the 1960s, it had become YWCA Camp Minwandum, where generations of young campers spent summers exploring Georgian Bay.

Memorial plaque for Camp Minwandum. 

According to realtor Shawn Woof, former campers still visit the property today to reminisce.

A view of the property. 

Fast forward nearly a century and the property has undergone a dramatic transformation.

The main open-concept living space. 

The current owners rebuilt the compound in 2015, carefully creating a modern waterfront retreat while preserving the spirit of a place that has always been about gathering people together.

The primary bedroom. 

Today, the 2.24-acre property occupies a spectacular stretch of shoreline in the Snug Harbour area of Carling Township, with 248 feet of waterfront and unobstructed western views toward Franklin Island.

The front of The Lodge. 

The centrepiece is The Lodge, a more than 3,000-square-foot handcrafted log home built by Lake Country Log Homes using BC Western Red Cedar.

The primary ensuite bathroom. 

And unlike the rustic cabins that once occupied the site, this version comes with a few more creature comforts.

The vaulted ceilings. 

Vaulted ceilings soar overhead, massive timber trusses frame the living spaces, and walls of glass overlook Georgian Bay and the island that was named after Sir John Franklin, the British naval officer and explorer who helped chart parts of the region decades before his ill-fated Arctic expedition in 1845.

The sauna. 

The Lodge includes four bedrooms, three-and-a-half bathrooms, multiple fireplaces, a gym, sauna, and hot tub.

The bunkies. 

For guests, there are three standalone bunkies, each equipped with a bedroom, three-piece bathroom, living area, kitchenette, and loft.

The outside deck. 

Outside, the property feels less like a cottage and more like a private waterfront resort.

A view from the water. 

Granite terraces, expansive wood decks, waterfront gathering spaces, raised vegetable gardens, berry plantings, and hazelnut trees are woven into the Canadian Shield landscape.

The dock and boat lift. 

A marine-quality dock and 10,000-pound hydraulic boat lift provide easy access to the countless islands and channels that make Georgian Bay famous.

Inside one of the bunkies. 

While much has changed since campers first arrived here more than 100 years ago, the property's purpose remains remarkably similar.

The waterfront. 

It's still a place designed for long summer days on the water, evenings around a fire, and making memories that people talk about decades later.

An aerial view of The Lodge. 

Currently, 54 Ireland Point Rd. is listed for $5,495,000.