Heather Lodge

We traveled to Heather Lodge with an another couple who are great friends. They put us in rooms 9 & 10 which had a lovely outside covered porch area so we could sit out and chat anytime. The breakfasts and dinners were all outstanding, large portions and delicious fresh choices. Most notably was the service- a rare find in most establishments. The owners and the wait staff were exceptionally polite and attentive and we felt very well taken care of. As parents of many teenagers, we all relaxed and felt pampered in this beautiful setting. We loved it so much, we have reserved for next summer.

Within 24 hours of arrival, we knew we wanted to come back in 2025. Join all the other reviewers in raving about the food, the lodge and the staff. Special thanks to Evan who crawled under the lakeside deck to retrieve our keyboard. I'm not a strong swimmer but with the help of noodles and a very accessible ladder, I was able to enjoy the unseasonably warm water of Twelve Mile Lake. Our patio doors included one with a screen, so we turned off the A/C and enjoyed fresh air all night (too noisy in downtown Toronto to do this). The Lodge is right on Hwy 35 which can be noisy with trucks during the day, but was fine at night. The beef tenderloin was the best I can remember ever having while my husband discovered vegan bratwurst for breakfast. He was disappointed not to get pickerel though. Maybe next year... we are already booked. Thanks Maria and all your staff.

Heather Lodge is a nice place to stay. The menus are great and the food is absolutely excellent. The chefs do their best to accommodate dietary restrictions. We enjoyed eating out on the deck and watching the birds at the various bird feeders. The rooms are very comfortable and the location is pretty quiet. The grounds are nicely maintained and the lake is clean. I have recommended it to many of my friends and family and try to go back each year.

This is a gem, stunning views friendly staff and del ious food. Maria called me to confirm our table the morning of, allows us to add a guest. The table had our name on a glass coaster and happy anniversary on the menu. The food was delicious , soups gorgeous and home made, chicken tender and scrumptious vegetables. Everything hot and looking beautiful. Just to top it off the servers were first class. Thank you everyone !

We stayed for 2 days/nights and enjoyed ourselves despite rainy weather with tornado warnings. Our room was very comfortable with a nice view of the property and water (Lakeside suite). Breakfast and dinner were superb! Great menu selections and the food was perfectly cooked, well presented and delicious. Very friendly owner (Maria) and all the staff. Property is beautifully maintained and the entire place is spotless. Property was built in the '40s and so the bathroom was quite small and traditional with a standard tub/shower and shower curtain. but well outfitted with everything one would require. We highly recommend it for those that want to be in the Minden area.

Heather Lodge is welcoming to everyone. From the moment you arrive and until checkout, the staff is attentive to whatever your needs might be. The property is well kept and all public rooms and our room were spotless. We had a fireplace suite, with a balcony, overlooking the lake. As mentioned in other reviews, the lodge supplies one prefab log per day. We brought up a box of our own as well. They have bird feeders around the property and it was enjoyable watching various species visit. Because of the time of year, canoes and kayaks were put away for the season. There is a fire pit and should you like, the staff will gladly put a fire on. They have board games in the lodge and hiking trails near by. Not only is the food selection varied, the portions are more than adequate. The presentation and quality, superb. We found ourselves, having to take our deserts to go. Having a bar fridge in the room comes in handy. The lodge was built in the 1940’s and has been lovingly restored and of course modernized. There’s a nostalgic feeling when you arrive. It reminds me of when I was young and my family vacationed at various lodges up north. The service style also took me back. Everyone here was personable and professional. They care about providing a great experience. A special thanks to Maria and Nikki. Really, all the staff, including the housekeeper, kitchen staff and reception, always had a smile and a friendly greeting. We’ve already booked another visit.

We just returned from a wonderful relaxing weekend at Heather Lodge and Maria and her staff spoiled us royally. Our first visit here and we were very pleased with our choice . Heather Lodge is just north of Minden and is a lovely drive up from the city. It is located just off the highway and when entering the driveway we were immediately glad that we chose this spot for our anniversary weekend away. This lodge is well maintained and so pretty. You get the impression that the owners have great pride in their business. Check in was quick and efficient and after being offered a cup of hot apple cider we were given a tour of the beautifully well maintained grounds. Maria is the perfect host. We stayed in a Lakeview Studio which offers great amenities and a beautiful view of Twelve Mile Lake from our little balcony. Our room was well appointed with everything you could ask for. You can opt to decline room service during your stay and we chose this to cut back on maid service . There is a little basket that you can place outside your room with a list of things that you might need to check off that will be replenished if needed. Bathrooms are small and there are lots of towels and soaps etc. Everything you need for your stay. There is one prefab fire log per day but if you want a longer burn then you can bring your own supply to add to the fire. The bed is huge and the mattress is soft. We slept like logs. Very clean and comfy in our room. The only thing is that I wished that the bed was facing the fireplace. There is a mini fridge to use for your beverages and for the cheesecake that they will package for you after dinner because you are too full to eat it. There are wine glasses and an opener if needed and a Nespresso machine for coffee and pods are provided. The tv offers lots of channels. The dining room is so quaint and offers seating with amazing panoramic views . If you are a registered guest then you are assigned a table which will be yours for all meals . The food is why we came after reading all the reviews and we could agree with all the folks that stated that the food was amazing which it certainly is. And yes it does take a long time so be prepared for a long sit. If you BYOW then there is a 16 dollar corkage and they will keep it for you for the next evening's meal if you don't drink it all . Service was very friendly and the staff were busy. I loved our table setting the second evening as it was our anniversary and there were little decorations on our table. Lovely touch. Dinners and breakfasts were just great. Things to bring along 1. Ear plugs... if you are bothered by noises at night and if on the lower level there are noises of people above you. 2. Extra prefab logs ...you can burn 3 max in the fireplace and they work well. 3. Pillows from home.... only needed if you don't like pillows that are like humongous marshmallows. 4. Extra beverages and snacks for the mini fridge. 5. Your patience and gratefulness that

Had a 4 night stay with adult daughter. I’ve been several times with my late husband so got to show my guest some of my favourite things to do in the area. Maria is always so warm and welcoming. Room # 6 has a balcony with a beautiful view of 12 Mile Lake- a perfect place to enjoy a glass of wine before dinner. The room is comfortable with a cosy fireplace. They provide one fire log per day but I always bring a box of my own. The kitchen with owner/chef James puts out incredible meals with a different menu every evening. Inn guests have preferential seating in the sun room - the same table for your entire stay so you can see the lake, the changing colours and the birds at the feeders. There were an incredible number of Blue Jays this visit! The Lodge has a nice big dock with a fire pit. Canoes, kayaks, paddle boards, peddle boats and life jackets are provided. Maria will direct you to many interesting sites like the White Water Preserve which is a world class competitive kayak course. The Studio Tour is an annual event the first 2 weekends of October so there is lots to do before enjoying another superb 4 course meal at the Lodge.

My wife and I just stayed at Heather Lodge over the May long weekend 3 nights. it’s the second time we have stayed at Heather Lodge it was so beautiful and peaceful when we stayed last June, we decided to go back again! I would recommend Heather Lodge to anyone of my friends and family. We both have stressful jobs that take up a lot of our time and Heather Lodge will be our go to place when we need to destress. Maria keeps a very good business and is hands on, her husband James and fellow chef Mike are both talented chefs, “the food is always delicious” nothing is to much trouble. Well done, Maria, James, and Team. Thanks for the memories. Jim and Vanessa.