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Set along the quiet shores of Amherst Island, Emerald Acres Retreat is a storied rural haven shaped by generations of care and connection to the land. Its roots trace back to the early 1900s, when Hugh and Minerva Drumgoole first settled these acres directly to the east of what is now Emerald Acres Retreat. Their son John and his wife Elva cared for the property for decades, creating a lasting connection rooted in tradition, simplicity, and family enjoyment of the outdoors.

Following John’s passing, the property found stewardship with neighbouring Topsy Farms, where Sally Bowen continued to honour the land’s spirit. Through her generosity, the property remained a place of enjoyment for family and friends. That shared enjoyment ultimately inspired the return to the island for the Wilson family. In 2023, Mike Wilson and his wife Cathy purchased the adjacent property to the old homestead, bringing new life to a landscape long woven into their family story. Emerald Acres Retreat was born from this continuity, an invitation to experience the same sense of peace, freedom, and belonging that has defined the land for over a century.

Just west of Kingston, Emerald Acres Retreat feels wonderfully removed while remaining easily accessible from Toronto, Ottawa, and Montreal. A scenic journey either by train or road, and the ferry carries guests across Lake Ontario and into a setting where open fields, water, and wide skies set the pace. The retreat offers guests an intimate connection to a living landscape where nature quietly unfolds. White-tailed deer move through open fields at dawn and dusk, songbirds and raptors fill the skies, and rabbits, sheep, and other island inhabitants roam at ease across meadows and shoreline. This is nature’s own amphitheatre—unhurried, pastoral, and deeply authentic—rewarding those lucky enough to witness its everyday magic.

“My greatest wish is to share the island as I have known it—a place of wonder, wildlife, and the quiet stillness that renews you.”— Mike Wilson, Owner

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Enjoy Amherst Island, the gem of Lake Ontario

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