Side Tracked In Muskoka

🚨 BIG NEWS FROM SIDE TRACKED IN MUSKOKA 🚨

We’re excited to share that Side Tracked in Muskoka has officially acquired Ontario Northland GP9 #1604.

Over the coming months, 1604 will be carefully positioned and coupled with Caboose #122 as part of a unique on-site rail display — creating an even more immersive railway experience for our guests.

Looking ahead, plans are already in motion to transform the locomotive cab into an interactive simulator, allowing guests to step into the engineer’s seat and experience what it’s like to run a classic Ontario Northland locomotive.

This addition continues our goal of creating a one-of-a-kind, railway-themed stay right here in Muskoka.

Stay tuned… the next chapter is just getting underway.
Just kidding. April Fools haha. We can dream!!

🚂 All Aboard!

I’m incredibly humbled and honored to share that Side Tracked in Muskoka has been featured by Brent Cooper and the team at Metroland Media.
What started as a dream in 2020, a retired Ontario Northland Railway caboose with a second chance at life, officially welcomed its first guests in August 2023. Since then, it’s been amazing to watch families, railfans, couples, and adventurers step aboard and create memories of their own.

This project has always been about more than just a unique place to stay. It’s about preserving a piece of railway history, contributing to our Gravenhurst small business community, and giving guests an experience they simply can’t find anywhere else.

With the Northlander’s return on the horizon, it feels like the perfect time to celebrate how rail history continues to shape Muskoka’s future.
A huge thank you to Brent for telling the story so thoughtfully — and to every single guest who has supported this journey. You’re the reason the signal stays green. 💛💙

https://www.muskokaregion.com/business/gravenhurst-northlander-caboose/article_89e373ba-05b3-5976-aa1d-00a63e31bd68.html

🎉🚂 Happy 17th Caboose-iversary! 🚂🎉

Seventeen years ago today, October 31, 2008 our ex–Ontario Northland Railway caboose rolled down Highway 11 from North Bay to Kilworthy its new home. What began as a retired railcar has since been lovingly transformed into Central Ontario’s premier railway-themed lodging.

From its days riding the rails up north to now welcoming guests from all over the world, this caboose continues to create new memories while preserving a proud piece of Ontario’s railway history.

Here’s to 17 years of memories, restoration, and the journey still ahead.

🚂✨ Big upgrade at the caboose!

When I first started the interior design work back in 2022, I obsessed over every little detail to make this place truly special. But… I forgot one thing: hardwired internet. For the past two years we’ve been stretching Wi-Fi from the main house with a signal extender. Between the solid metal walls of the caboose and the weak connection, our amazing guests always made the best of it, even when the bandwidth didn’t.

Not anymore! Today a fantastic Bell technician got us set up with dedicated internet right inside the caboose 🙌. The difference is night and day. Looking forward to upgrading to Bell Fibe in the coming months, but for now, Side Tracked in Muskoka just got a whole lot more connected.

📍 Side Tracked in Muskoka — where history meets modern comfort.