Hay Bay Hideaway - Retreat & Conference Centre

Charming, secluded, 1790s Loyalist homestead on 3 acres with water access. Child-friendly accommodation. Convenient to PEC via a free ferry. House features original rustic wood beams, antiques, mid-century modern furniture and music room including a drum kit.

The house includes many separate spaces: living room, dining room (both with fireplaces) and an eat-in kitchen. The 2nd floor includes 4 private bedrooms.

Comfortable for 2-3 families.
The space
Four-seasons 1790s heritage house is cozy all year long. There is a furnace as well as two fireplaces. The home includes all modern amenities, and has a lot of heritage charm like exposed wood beams. Vibe: psychedelic cottagecore meets Loyalist symmetry.

Rural setting, conveniently located near Prince Edward County, Amherst Island as well as local Napanee breweries, wineries and farm stands.

The house is large, and has lots of space to spread out, unwind, and entertain guests. The dining room table seats 10; the eat-in kitchen table seats 4; the outdoor picnic table seats 10. The rental includes access to the water, a dock, a large lawn, a naturalized field, a rope swing and two outdoor fire pits.

The rental includes the use of a large screen projector with platforms like Netflix, Crave, Disney Plus, etc.

For the musicians in your group: the house features many musical instruments including a piano, hammond organ and full drum kit. There is also recording equipment in the tiki-themed music room (in the separate suite).

The rental also includes access to a separate suite which has it's own entrance, bathroom and kitchenette (kitchen sink, bar fridge). The unit is connected to the house through the laundry room.

The rental is child-friendly as we have a 4 year old and a toddler :) We have a pack-and-play that can be used as a crib. Other kid friendly amenities: diaper pads on both floors, diaper genie, plastic kitchen supplies, high chair, tricycle, outdoor furniture, beach tent, hooded towels, baby soap and bath toys (detachable shower head for bath time), stuffies, books, and a large dollhouse. If parents want a break, we can recommend our local babysitter and a French tutor. The stairs don’t have baby gates.

The internet speed is compatible with work-from-home video calls. Bedroom 1 includes a desk for work-from-home as well as a large monitor.

The free ferry is 5 minutes away, which conveniently connects you to PEC. The boat ride is 10 minutes. From there Picton is just 10 minutes away and Sandbanks is another 15 minutes. The ferry schedule is every 15 minutes in summer, 30 minutes during the rest of the year.

A few notes about pricing:
-Peak season pricing is in effect July/August.
-Weekdays are less expensive. Long weekends are at a premium.
-We offer last-minute discounts. Get in touch for special pricing. We are also flexible on pricing during the off season.

Sorry, no pets, we have allergies. Exceptions can be made for non-shedding dogs.

Firewood is provided.

For our summer guests: the rental includes access to a row boat and a badminton net.

For our winter guests: Hay Bay freezes over, so bring your ice skates or cross-country skis. We have two pairs of snow shoes for our guests (man and woman). Ice fishing huts are typically set up in January.

There is plenty of parking for 5 cars.

The train station from Napanee is 20 minutes away, which is an option if members of your party choose not to drive. Taxi service is available.

About us: We purchased this property in February 2021 and it has been an absolute pleasure to renovate and furnish the house to create memorable experiences for our guests. The rental is our recreational property and we are based in Toronto. We will only be available to assist you remotely. I am an architect and my husband is an audio visual designer.

Follow us on Insta.gram for updates on the homestead and additional details (at)haybayhideaway

About the house: this is the first Loyalist homestead in the area. It was built in the 1790s by Captain Dorland, namesake of the nearby town of Dorland. Captain Dorland operated the Glenora Ferry for a number of decades and petitioned to maintain ongoing public ferry access for the local community. The lakeroom is a more modern addition from the mid 1800s :) For guests with mobility issues, note that the stairs are steeper than modern stairs and the landing is slightly narrow.
Guest access
You will have access to the whole house, as a private rental. The separate suite is included in the rental and will be vacant, ready for your use.
Other things to note
The closest, south-facing, sandy beach is located 5 minutes away at the UEL Heritage Center & Park Museum. Check out these other local attractions on the Loyalist Parkway on NaturallyLA(dot)ca.

See "Location > Neighbourhood Description" section below for a list of local attractions.

Our friend has recently launched a touring company. Her services would involve picking you up from your Airbnb and taking you to wineries/breweries in the area. This allows all guests to enjoy themselves and a designated driver is not required. The prices on her site are negotiable if you want to customize your own tour. For more information find Wilson Touring Service online.