Casselodge Bed and Breakfast: a house with a story

Nicole and François Coallier agree that their house gives everyone a different experience, depending on what guests are seeking. One thing’s for certain about Casselodge Bed and Breakfast: the property is re-energizing and unforgettable.

Beautiful backstory

François said Casselodge is the culmination of a vision. He said what started as 28 acres of vacant land at the end of a dead end road in Casselman quickly switched gears to accommodate an historic home and a lot of foresight. Four weeks after purchasing it, they found a free house being given away by someone in the nearby community of Bourget – under the condition that they had to move it in a tight timeline. “It was truly meant to be,” François said.

It wasn’t just any house. Under layers of clapboard they discovered it was a French Canadian square-log home built in 1890 with a lot of history and heart. That house formed the basis of Casselodge as it is today, and in fact, it still exists in the middle of the recently constructed house. François said it became the heart and soul of their bed and breakfast, making up the interior room walls. The 1890 portion of the house still has its characteristic square logs, and the newer portion has 15-inch round logs.

Indeed, guests walking in the front door will see the original home right in front of them, the telltale sign of the square logs still providing cozy accommodation 130 years later.

“It’s a house within a house,” said François, noting the uniqueness of the building. The décor is matched to blend old and new, with antiques sitting beside pieces with a more modern feel. There is wood everywhere you turn at Casselodge, from the walls to the ceilings to the floors and it gives both a rustic and welcoming energy for guests.

Throughout the initial seven years of construction, Nicole and Francois ensured that every decision made had to include a “wow factor”. Now every time new guests walk in, François said their eyes widen and they remark in awe of the space. “That’s exactly when we were hoping for,” he said.

The house certainly has stories and it’s now creating new ones for the people who stay there.

The Rooms

There are four guest rooms in the main house as well as a barn loft which families or groups enjoy. Common areas like the Grand Room with a piano and large screen TV are a favourite gathering place, or the lower level living area with games, fully-stocked kitchenette, coffee and tea station and more. The icing on the cake is the spa area, with a sauna and therapeutic massage chair, coupled with a hot tub.

Two of the bedrooms are in the 1890 portion of the bed and breakfast and two are in the recently-constructed portion. The Antique offers guests go back in time to 1890 and enjoy old-fashioned surroundings as well as a stunning morning sunrise through the dormer window.  The Belvedere promises cozy rustic surroundings and fun watching the hobby farm animals from the balcony patio furniture. The Escapade is a bright and comfy room with a walk-out patio to enjoy a view of the pond, the gardens, the swing and the Castor River, while The Serenity offers a quiet and peaceful ambiance perfect for re-energizing and treating yourself to a memorable experience. Lastly, The Barn Loft accommodates up to six people, is fully furnished over two floors allowing guests to get away from it all in a natural setting.

The outside grounds of Casselodge are peaceful. Located on the banks of the Castor River, Casselodge maintains its privacy on a large lot. François notes that even though they are only 30 minutes from Ottawa and 10 minutes to various villages, it feels remote and secluded enough that people seek out the bed and breakfast as a place to disconnect.

François said that guests come from Montreal, Toronto, across Quebec and Ontario, as well as the Maritime and Alberta, with some Americans and Europeans calling Casselodge home base for a time as well.

A huge drawing card is the animals. With 10 acres of the property devoted to the animals, Casselodge is known for its furry friends. Horses, miniature horses, an alpaca, a miniature pig, chickens, ducks, a miniature donkey, dogs and cats are all outside and all accessible for interacting with the guests and showing off their friendly sides.

Add that to kayaks to use as well as a hot tub on site for guests to soak in and it all equals tranquil and memorable time.

What’s on the horizon

Nicole and François aren’t ones to sit idle. Always adding new projects, this year will be no different. They are clearing more acreage for the animals to improve grazing land with drainage and seeding to elevate the property even more. A new chicken coop is on the list, a new barn and new fencing, embellishing the property for the animals.

As always, there are more surprises for guests on the way at Casselodge this summer. Be sure to check back for more information, visit www.casselodge.ca or find them on Facebook @Casselodge or call to chat with them at 613-443-1838.

Situated in a peaceful setting in Prescott-Russell, just minutes away from Canada’s biggest waterpark, Calypso!