Post #20264 by tikibars on Sun, Jan 19, 2003 12:11 PM

Camelot Resort, RR#1 Box 171, 506 Astorville Road, Corbeil, ON
(705) 752-1119

Located three hours north of Toronto, the Camelot Resort is the brainchild of Ken Agnew. Originally rental apartments on Lake Nosbonsing (just south of North Bay), it was converted into a bed and breakfast by Ken's widow Doris. This fantastic (if remote) find is definitely worth the trip.
Camelot is an Arthurian theme lodge with a poolside Tiki Bar. The focal point of the premises is indeed the Tiki Bar, because it seems that Mr. Agnew had a soft spot for Tiki. Tiki Mugs, wooden Trader Vic's signs, and various other Polynesian goodies are displayed around the house, but this is jut the tip of the iceberg - Agnew focused his energies exclusively on the indoor pool from the 1950’s to the mid-1970’s. Behind a nondescript door leading to the basement, lies an incredible, dimly-lit Polynesian grotto about three stories high.
A foot bridge leads over rivulets of trickling water that run downhill and into a small tidal pool filled with rubber sea creatures. This dribbles lazily into the main swimming pool. Beyond the bridge, past an amazing snake-entwined, African mask and a series of authentic African spears - onto which phony skulls are impaled (non-paying guests?) - is the Tiki Bar. The bar itself is a roofed, bamboo platform that hangs over the edge of the grotto overlooking the pool. It is decorated with fan-backed chairs, hanging basket lamps, lanterns, blowfish, nautical bric-a-brac, sea creatures, Tiki masks, and a twelve-foot stuffed snake. Hawaiian music lends to the atmosphere. Behind the bar is a beaded doorway leading to a sauna, shower, bathroom, and steps down to the pool, hot-tub, and fireplace.
Standing on the edge of the pool is akin to being at the edge of a grotto in a quiet, underground cave. Along the edge of the far wall hang pink and white flowered vines. In the summer they turn the waterfall on, which cascades into the pool from the roof. The walkway runs behind this, and also leads to a dark corner with a scary surprise inside! Beside it stands a six-foot stone Moai. Right next to the fireplace, Mr. Agnew built a mountain, which can be climbed via stone slab steps, to the top of the pool slide. Underneath this mountain, a spiral staircase leads down to an underwater viewing deck, where one can watch people swimming. While the bar is pretty much self-serve, the ambiance alone and the obvious love that has gone into this amazing blast-from-the-past make it a very worthwhile stop.