Have you ever stayed in Consecon? Probably not, as this little village is often only glanced at after the fact, in sideview mirrors, by day-trippers barrelling down Loyalist Parkway on their way to the heart of Prince Edward County.
A part of me wants to tell them to slow down and veer right so they can discover this gateway to the County, while another part says to keep this my gloriously under-the-radar secret. Why? Because I want Fitzroy PEC Lakehouse all to myself.
Approaching the property is a treat: open fields give way to a leafy corridor of sugar maples that lead to an unassuming driveway. A quick turn and there it is, sparkling at the edge of the property: the most dazzling view of Lake Ontario. It’s the vista that made Toronto couple James and Catie Brooks buy the Lakehouse earlier this year. “It was unlike anything we’d seen before,” says Catie. “That feeling of pulling down the drive and seeing the open-water view of the lake, you’d swear you were on the ocean.”
The setting was spectacular, but the bungalow a little dated. Having purchased their first County rental home in 2019 (The Fieldhouse), Catie and James knew they could knock the sister Lakehouse into shape with a few key renos and some stylish cosmetic upgrades.
The now smart bungalow features a three-season sunroom with infinite water views, a great room with living and dining areas, three bedrooms and two nicely renovated bathrooms.
There is an expansive deck built around a silver birch and strung with fairy lights, a hot tub, a fire pit and a set of stairs down to 200-ft of limestone shoreline.
It really feels away from it all and if I had known just how serene and unspoiled the setting was, I would have packed the cooler accordingly and not left the property (we even cancelled coveted Bocado reservations in Picton just to savour the sunset here).
Catie and James are superhosts and truly focus on guests’ experiences and making memories – they can arrange a sunset photo session with a professional photographer, have a chef prepare a private dinner or set up a wine tasting in the village.
We opted for the wine tasting, which is hosted by the knowledgeable Thierry Alcantara-Stewart at his Adega wine bar (you might recognize him from the LCBO’s “For the Love of Local” campaign). Thierry is definitely a character, incredibly passionate and I highly recommend a visit to Adega.
This was our first stay at Fitzroy Lakehouse and we brought my mum along to treat her. She has since fallen in love with hot tubs (this was her first time trying one!) and already “suggested” we arrange a return stay at the Lakehouse for her birthday in November. I am booking this now as the secret is out and Fitzroy PEC is going to be even more in demand. Still, I’m looking forward to our next adventure: a chef’s dinner prepared at the Fitzroy Lakehouse and drag brunch at Adega. You’ve got to love Consecon.
