For Sale: Dodge Lodge: 462 Maple Point Rd, Kagawong, Ontario, Canada
Located on Northern Ontario, in Lake Huron, on Canada’s picturesque Manitoulin Island, an historical log complex has just recently come on the market. For context, the 2,766 Sq Km Manitoulin Island (according to Wikipedia) is a Canadian Island located on Lake Huron and is reputedly the largest lake island in the world – so large in fact that the island itself is home to 108 of its own its own freshwater inland lakes, many of which even contain their own islands. The lodge itself resides on the northern most point of the island facing what is called the North Channel which separates Manitoulin Island from the mainland.
Surpassing the picturesque nature of the building and its 4.2-acre setting is its pedigree. The Dodge Estate, known locally as “Dodge Lodge” was originally built in the 1920’s by Daniel (Danny) Dodge, heir to John Francis Dodge the automobile manufacturing pioneer and co-founder of Dodge Brothers Company (yes, that Dodge car company!) Unfortunately, the Dodge Lodge, made international headlines in 1938 when the 21-year-old Danny was killed in a freak boating accident in the North Channel, while on his honeymoon. The mysterious details surrounding the tragic event have become fodder for local folklore. Details, memorabilia, and newspaper clippings can still be found in the Old Mill Heritage Museum in nearby Kagawong.
Danny Dodge, who’s automobile focused family was naturally based in the Detroit area, found the rugged nature of the island and proximity to his home base a natural location to create a camp for he and his buddies to hang out, to hunt and to fish, away from society and family responsibilities.
On January 14, 1920, Danny’s father John Dodge and his uncle Horace, both died during the Influenza epidemic — months apart leaving his mother Matilda and his aunt, Anna sole owners in the substantial corporation. In 1925, the Dodge Automobile Company was sold by Matilda and Anna to an investment firm for $146 million (over $2.5 billion in current dollars). An astronomical amount of money for a family-owned company which was only 11 years old. The young Danny, who was 8 years old at the time, became the heir to an incredible amount of money. Needless to say, the family was in a position to construct homes wherever they pleased.
Between 1926 and 1929, Matilda Dodge constructed hew own weekend retreat in Oakland Michigan, a few hours north of their main house in Detroit. She named it “Meadowbrook Hall” and upon her death donated the 88,000 square foot house, 1,400 acres of land and a two-million-dollar endowment to Michigan State University for the creation of Oakland University. Her house remains open for tours.
In the early 1930’s, now in his early twenties, Danny acquired land on the North shore of Manitoulin Island just outside the tiny village of Kagawong, on which to construct his own dream getaway. While developing his dream camp, he found love with a local Manitoulin Island telephone operator, the 19-year-old Annie Laurine MacDonald, from the nearby town of Gore Bay. The two married in Michigan in August 1938. On August 15th, two weeks following their nuptials, Daniel was severely injured while the couple were honeymooning at their Manitoulin Island compound and died while travelling by boat to a mainland hospital. There is much more drama to the story, involving questionable choices, an injured Danny falling off the boat, a missing body (and heir), a $1,500 reward (remember this was the 1930’s) and a $1.5million inheritance to his new bride, which has naturally fed into the property’s legend.
Three weeks following the accident, two fishermen came across Danny’s body, washed up in nearby Honora Bay. A coroner’s inquest concluded that Dodge’s death had been due to accidental drowning, but that didn’t stop the vicious gossip alleging foul play. After all, Danny was the heir to unimaginable wealth and Laurine did inherit $1.25 million.
Following the tragedy, the Laurine, who had relocated to California, sold the property, which has remained literally unchanged since that time. Laurine died in 2003
Following the sale of the property, the buildings, with their contents relatively untouched, remained vacant for several decades, during which time the buildings suffered considerable damage. Eventually the estate was purchased by a local couple who established a bed-and-breakfast they called the “Dodge Lodge” on the property. The lodge was later purchased by the Schwarzli family from Newmarket, Ontario (just north of Toronto) who used the property as a family compound. They have proven to be good stewards and preserved the property in its original state. While the property has retained most of its original buildings, repairs and updates are required. Originally, there were two full-time, live in caretakers who kept the buildings and property pristine – those days (and finances) are long gone, and considerable investment is now required to update and return the property to its original grandeur.
The 4,000 square foot main lodge features a large double-sided fireplace which separates a screened in sunroom from the large great room – both of which overlook the North Channel. Two large wings flank this main building which provide a total of 8 bedrooms and 5 bathrooms. The lodge is linked by a covered veranda which surrounds the entire facility.
Asking price: $1,490,000 CDN
Taxes: $3,144
