Local authors Bruce Cassie and Dave Scott have published Resort to Humour, a collection of over 50 humorous stories from eight family resorts in North Muskoka.
The stories are wholesome anecdotes, experienced by resort owners and staff in their encounters with guests over the past 100 years. Most stories capture the kind of dinner-table talk shared among family members when happy vacation memories are being revisited.
Not to be overlooked is the priceless collection of kids’ comments shared among friends in the sandbox, at the beach, on resort nature trails, and at the fire pit. Nothing warms the heart quite like children’s innocent observations of what is happening in their lives. Children’s comments appear throughout the book.
Over the years, many area resorts have succumbed to the rapid changes in guest expectations, while others have made significant adjustments to their operational models. One resort in the book has ceased operation and is now subdivided into lakeshore lots that feature expensive estate properties. One resort now operates as a Resort Cooperative; yet another resort, responding to the call for year-round, world-class elegance, replaced all cabins and cottages with architecturally designed, exquisite houses, available to guests through interval ownership.
Given that several of our resorts have been in operation since just after our first settlers arrived in Muskoka in the late 1860s, a brief history of each resort is shared, along with selected pictures that capture changes to its operation over the decades. Some owners are fourth-generation owners/operators, providing a deep understanding of how their resorts have adapted, grown, and thrived. Consequently, some guest families have returned to these resorts for generations, demonstrating what it takes to succeed in the resort business, which is focused on meeting guests’ desires.
The book captures the joyous experiences of guest stays at “family and friends” resorts, enabling the reader to “resort to humour.” How better to cope with the stresses of busy lives in the city and its cousin,
suburbia! Certainly, medical science claims humour enhances our health. Acknowledging this fact and mindful of the exceptionally competent healthcare residents and resort guests have had over the years from Huntsville District Memorial Hospital and South Muskoka Memorial Hospital in Bracebridge, the co-authors are donating the net proceeds from the sale of their book to the two hospitals.
Enjoy Resort to Humour available at: amazon.ca and Kindle.
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