Beloved Bona Vista

Rita and I were fortunate to come across Bona Vista back in 1995 when our search for a cottage began. It was the first place we looked at, and although we loved the view and setting, the cottage was in dire need of repair. 

We took possession in the spring of 1996 and proceeded to begin the painstaking process of major renovations that many years of neglect had caused. Lucky for us, Bob Crocker popped by one day and asked if he could provide some history to the place. What a difference that made to our shabby old cottage. Suddenly, it had such a great history and connection to the lake. 

We now had a purpose in our renovations to bring back the best of Bona Vista while giving us the chance to modernize some key things like the kitchen and bathroom! The Crocker's story is best told by them on other pages of Healing Waters. See the "Sunday Night Sings."

Our story revolves around friends and family helping us achieve the dream of a place to enjoy the beauty of the lake year-round. We were delighted when National Geographic chose an image taken from our deck to promote Muskoka as the #1 Summer Destination in 2011. It's always been number one in our minds, but it was great to see it promoted to the whole world! 

Bona Vista is located on the south-facing point midway between Denne's and Rockhaven. It's now dark green and shaded by many pines!

*Update: As of 2020, Bona Vista has been sold to a new owner.

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The Healing Waters of Kahshe Lake — With thanks to Clare Henderson, this story first appeared on his Healing Waters blog and continues the tradition of his cherished book series, The Healing Waters of Kahshe Lake. In conjunction with the Conservation Committee, Clare also helped curate The Kahshe Lake Archive — a growing collection of letters, maps, documents, diagrams, and historical photographs that illuminate the lake’s rich past. His dedication to preserving the spirit and history of Kahshe Lake has made this living archive possible. To keep the tradition alive, we invite you to share your own cottage stories and memories — and help carry on Clare’s work in celebrating the legacy of life on Kahshe and Bass Lakes.