Queenswood National Real Estate Ltd.
Harcourt, Ontario, Canada
416-284-2477 or 705-448-3133
Co-op Ownership Applied to Cottages
It's a Holiday Colony
The above two headings appeared in Toronto newspapers in August of 1959. Now 48 years later the Holiday Colony called, HARCOURT PARK
is still enjoying the privacy of exclusive ownership.
Harcourt Park, established as a unique-club community in 1959, encompassed 2300 acres. During the next two decades it tripled in size and now
proudly boasts almost 7,000 acres of land, with many kilometres of roads and trails to enjoy.
Of its 17 spring-fed lakes only eight have cottages along their shorelines. The use of motors is restricted to four lakes. The other lakes are
designated as no motor boat lakes. Personal jet-propelled watercraft are banned from all lakes. Cottage lakefront development was restricted to 300 acres. Cottage
lots were demarcated to 600. All 600 lots in this private community have water frontage and are at least on half an acre in size. Back lots are designated
exclusively as natural, wilderness acres - never to be developed. As such, these lots shall remain one of the park's unique resources.
Harcourt Park was developed to give the residents the authority to protect their lakes, streams and forests. In September 1976 the property
owners purchased the land free of all encumbrances from the original developer, Sumcot Development Corp. Ltd. Harcourt Park residents, assume normal
taxes on their own property and presently pay a $350 a year annual membership fee. The annual membership fee is subject to
membership approval at the annual meeting held each April in Toronto. Harcourt Park Inc. is a non-share capital, non-profit corporation. Each member
leases his/her lakefront lot from the Corporation of which he/she is an equal member.
In 1959 lake front cottage prices ranged from $2,250 for a one-bedroom to $3,585 for a three-bedroom. In the early 1960's an average lot and
cottage sold for approximately $5,000. By the early 1980's the average price was $30,000 with some cottages valued over $75,000. Prices now range
from as low as $175,000 for a two-bedroom cottage to $250,000 for a three-bedroom cottage to over $400,000 for an executive retreat. The increasing number of improvements, such as full basements,
winterizing and additions show that the total investment in the park has grown considerably in the past 4 decades.
Membership in this private club is open exclusively to purchasers and their families who buy property in Harcourt Park. Harcourt Park is managed by a board of 12 directors, who are members of the Park. Membership on the board is voluntary and is open to any member of the Park. By-laws are enacted
by the directors and the members according to the Corporations Act of the Province of Ontario. Members are informed of Park activities through the
community newsletter.
When a Toronto Realtor conceived the idea of the above project he embarked on a 'safari' with a road grader and a land rover. He travelled from
the end of a township road, near the village of Wilberforce, into Allen Lake, which was then a remote, unsettled lake. The trip was eight miles long and
took 24 hours to complete. By the summer of 1959, 10 miles of gravel road had been pushed into the virgin bush and by the fall nearly 40 cottages had
been built.
In cottage country, Harcourt Park is unique in Ontario. Located in the Haliburton Highlands, the park is 107 miles northeast of Oshawa and Hwy.
401 and is approximately 163 miles from Toronto. It is halfway between the Village of Haliburton and the town of Bancroft, positioned in the Township
of Harcourt. Fishtail Lake is to the north, Elephant Lake is to the east, Farquhar Lake is to the south and Algonquin Park is only a short distance north.
Separating this private community from this internationally famous game reserve is an area of more than 75,000 acres that has been declared an area of
'No Further Development' and remains a wildlife preserve in perpetuity.
Membership in the 'Holiday Colony' offers positive assurance, for as long as members want; that the years ahead will not bring overcrowding,
destruction and depreciation to their private playground. Due to member-owner organization, everyone is particularly sensitive to protection of the
environment and takes responsibility for the land and water quality.
In it's beginning, Harcourt Park underwent the embarrassment of cynical criticism. As with any unique, unproven concept, it's success depended
on it's ability to withstand the test of time. During the outset, no one was sure whether this unparalleled idea would work. Co-operative ownership had
been proven in apartment projects and other urban developments, but no one had ever established a co-operatively owned wilderness estate, owned by
cottagers. Would people accept the idea?
Looking at Harcourt Park today is proof positive that it has undeniably withstood the rigors of time. The extreme effort put forth to turn one
man's vision into a reality, was well worth the endeavour of past and present members. By allowing only members and their guests to enjoy Harcourt
Park, it has retained it's renowned beauty, serenity and privacy. Now, nearly five decades after the first road was rammed through the forest, it is
obvious that Harcourt Park is a success and is here to stay.
Four season's beauty excites the nature lover in all who visit the park. Multi-shades of green trees accompanied by trilliums in the spring give
way to the lazy, hazy beauty of summer. Red maples accented by golden birch leaves highlight the beauty that has made the Haliburton Highlands
famous. Winter snowfalls transform this area into a breathtaking winter wonderland.
As a private-club community, co-operatively owned by the residents, Harcourt Park is private property. Members request that if you plan to visit
their "Holiday Colony" you obtain a guest pass. All invited visitors are heartily welcomed. If you would like to inquire about owning a share of Harcourt
Park, you are requested to make an appointment through our office. Anyone purchasing property in Harcourt Park must buy through a resale. A
salesperson will give you a tour of the Park. At present, there are very few cottage properties listed for sale. There are no vacant building lots for sale.
Members may rent or re-sell their property at any time without the approval of the Board of Directors.
Queenswood recently sold an original Harcourt Park cottage that the owners had enjoyed since 1963. Members who have been members of the park for this many years have seen many changes over the years and it is sad to think that a lot of our history has gone with them.
BETTY CAMPBELL and KEITHA POTTER *Sales Representatives*
e-mail
Harcourt Park (705) 448-3133
Toronto Office Voice/Fax (416) 284-2477
Member of Toronto Real Estate Board
QUEENSWOOD's Harcourt Park Main Page
Copyright © 1996-2004
Queenswood National Real Estate Ltd., BROKERAGE
Modified on August 24, 2007