Casa Loma, Toronto

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I visited this attraction in November 2006. Casa Loma is the former estate of Sir Henry Mill Pellatt who was a Toronto entrepeneur and a romantic. He commissioned E.J. Lennox to design a 'medieval' castle on a hill looking acroos to Toronto and it took almost three years for the castle to be built. Sir Henry and his wife, Lady Mary, didn't have long to enjoy the castle before the financial depression hit in the late 1920 with which enforced them to leave their home and this was passed on in the care of City of Toronto and Kiwanis Club of Casa Loma since 1937.

You are given a self-guided multimedia tour and there are four levels to look round at Casa Loma. You can also see a film about Henry Mill Pellat's life. In the summer months, you can look round the estate gardens.

My admittance was covered with my City Pass but please do check out the website Casa Loma for up to date prices and information.

Spectacular views of Toronto from almost every window. Loved all of the hidden passages throughout. Casa Loma was built between the years 1911 and 1914 and it took 300 men and approximately $3.5 million to complete. The former 98 room home of Canadian financier Sir Henry Pellatt, Canada's foremost castle is complete with decorated suites, secret passages, an 800-foot tunnel, towers, stables, and beautiful 5-acre estate gardens. Many movies and television programs have been filmed at Casa Loma.

There was a parking lot, large gift shop & cafe on the premises.

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Casa Loma was a beautiful place. Though while we were there they were doing renovations on one side, so not all the pictures were very nice. They also had a wedding going on, so it did made things crowded, but we walked around the outside a bit and they did have a wonderful grounds.

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This is one of the most famous attractions in Toronto, a sumptuous palace that rivals the French chateaus or English treasure houses. It was designed by the architect E.J. Lennox, who also designed the powerhouse at Niagara Falls, for the business tycoon Sir Henry Pellatt. It was completed in 1914--just before the outbreak of World War I.

Sir Henry was by all accounts a very colorful, flamboyant character. In his youth, he set a new world record for running the mile (4:42). He created a fortune in business and investments. One of the most successful of those investments was in early electric utilities. He also joined the Queen's Own Rifles of Canada (similar to the National Guard in the US), and became one its chief benefactors. He contributed a good part of his own funds to the force.

But during World War I, times turned bad for Sir Henry. Eventually, growing financial difficulties forced him to sell Casa Loma in order to pay debts and reduce expenses. It was a hotel for a while. Then, the Kiwanis bought it, restored it, and opened it as a tourist attraction.

It takes a few hours to tour this mansion and its gardens. When I visited, it was undergoing further restoration. But the interior and the gardens are exquisite. Next to the CN Tower, this is the most famous attraction in Toronto, a must-see.

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Not sure the whole story behing the "Loma", but here is some usefull info.
-It took three years, $3,500,000.
-300 workers helped to build Casa Loma.
-Built between 1911 and 1914.
-Made for Sir Henry Pellatt.

HOURS
Casa Loma is open daily 9:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (Last admission : 4:00 p.m.)
Casa Loma closes at 1:00 p.m. - Christmas Eve
Closed Christmas Day

PRICE
Adults (18 - 59) $ 16.00
Seniors (60 +) $ 10.00
Youth (14 - 17) $ 10.00
Children (4- 13) $ 8.75

PARKING
Per hour charge of $2.75
Maximum charge of $8.25

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Many VT members ask what is a less but easily visited Tornto attraction. I would recommend a trip to the 'European Castle' of Toronto.

This medieval castle was built by Sir Henry Pellatt in 1911 engaging the noted architect E.J. Lennox. It took 300 men nearly 3 years to complete and cost CAD 3.5 million at the time. However, in less than 10 years, Sir Henry went bankrupt as his electricity supplying hegemony came to an abrupt end. The castle and its belongings were all auctioned off as a heart-broken Sir Henry watched.

The castle has 3 floors, watch towers and gardens. The scenic Watch Tower is a must see area, although the spiral staircase is hard to climb. All rooms and articles placed are numbered. One can punch those numbers on the handheld telephone sets provided in the lobby and hear relevant information.

As the castle closes, one can start exploring the gardens. The gardens remain open far after the building closes. The terraced backyard is a wonder in itself.

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Casa Loma was the realisiation of the dream of financier Sir Henry Pellatt to build a romantic castle, designed by architect E. J. Lennox in 1911 construction took three years and $3.5 million dollars to build, horrendously over budget but affordable when you have a personal wealth of $17 million
Unfortunately a series of financial mishaps meant Sir Henry`s fortune dwindeled away and the Pelletts gave up Casa Loma after only ten years

In its heyday Casa Loma was the epitome of luxury and no expense was spared on its fittings and furnishings, there was an attempt to turn it into a hotel but this failed and eventually it was abandoned before beiore being taken over by the City of Toronto and run by the Kiwanis Club [a charity] in 1937

today it is an interesting insight of the excesses of wealth in the early 20th century, there is also a museum of the Queen`s Own Rifles Regiment [of which Sir Henry was a lifelong member] on the third floor
you can explore the `secret` passageways and the tower rooms, one passage in the basement runs for 800 ft below ground at a depth of 18 ft and connects the main house with the stable complex across Austin Terrace, the gardens to the rear of Casa Loma were renovated in 1989 and include a water garden, a secret garden and a woodland walk, there is also a dancing fountain adjascant to the lower terrace

Casa Loma is open daily from 9.30 - 5 [closes at 1pm Christmas Eve and all day Christmas Day] its a good place to visit on a Monday when the other Toronto museums are all closed

entrance prices are $16 for adults, $10 for seniors [60+] and youths [14-17] and $4.75 for children 4-13
there is a cafe and gift shop. The house is wheelchair accessable, but there are steps at each end of the tunnel from the basement to the stables

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Well I saw this place from the outside. I tried to sneak in but I was too late. The last people are admitted at 4pm and I got there about 4:45pm. All I can say was that Casa Loma looked great from the outside. I wished I could have enjoyed more of it. Maybe next time.
This place was alittle further and we took the car to get here. After 5pm people schedule wedding receptions and other parties here. The location is great and the gardens (what I saw of them) are beautiful.