Lindsay
Lindsay is a community of about 20,000 people in the Kawarthas region of central Ontario 43 km west of Peterborough. It began as a lumbering and farming centre, and is home to Fleming College.
Fenelon Falls is a community of about 1,800 permanent residents that grew up around the 23 ft (7.0 m) waterfalls that were used to power a flour mill. Lumbering and agriculture were important for the village.
Understand
History
In 1825, settlers began to come to the region, and by 1827, the Purdys, an American family, built a dam on the Scugog River at the site of present-day Lindsay. The following year they built a sawmill, and in 1830, a grist mill was constructed. A small village grew up around the mills, and it was known as Purdy's Mills. In 1834, surveyor John Huston plotted the designated town site into streets and lots. During the survey, one of Huston's assistants, Mr. Lindsay, was accidentally shot in the leg and died of an infection. He was buried on the riverbank and his name and death were recorded on the surveyor's plan. The name Lindsay remained as the name of the town by government approval. Lindsay grew steadily and developed into a lumbering and farming centre.
Fenelon Falls, originally named Cameron's Falls, was renamed after the township, which was named after François de Salignac de la Mothe-Fénelon, who founded a mission on the Bay of Quinté. In 1876, the Victoria Railway reached Fenelon Falls. In 1885, construction of the lock between Cameron and Sturgeon lake began.
In 2001, the municipal governments of the Town of Lindsay and the Village of Fenelon Falls were dissolved and merged, with Victoria County, into the new City of Kawartha Lakes.
Get in
Can-ar Coach travels once a day from Toronto's Union Station to the Town of Haliburton stopping at Lindsay and Fenelon Falls.
Get around
Highway 28 forms a central spine through the Kawarthas and attractions such as Petroglyphs Provincial Park and Stoney Lake are easily accessible from the highway.
Outside of Lindsay, there is little in the way of public transportation - a car is close to being a necessity.
- Lindsay Transit, ☏ +1 705 324-9411. M-Sa 7AM-7PM. operates three routesin the former Town of Lindsay
- Kawartha Lakes Taxi, 28 N Bayou Rd., ☏ +1 705 928-1413. in Fenelon Falls.
- Kawartha Lakes Taxi, 22 Peel St. (in Lindsay), ☏ +1 705 880 8800.
- Poppa Ed's Taxi and Limosine, 81 Albert St S, Lindsay, ☏ +1 705 878-4343.
See
- Kawartha Art Gallery, 2nd Floor, Lindsay Public Library, 190 Kent St W, Lindsay, ☏ +1 705 324-1780, art@kawarthagallery.com. Tu-Sa 10AM-4PM. free.
- Maruboro Lodge, The Fenelon Falls Museum, 50 Oak St, ☏ +1 705 887-1044. Spring and Autumn: Sa Su 1-5PM; Jul Aug: daily 10AM-5PM. Housed in the 1837 squared timber home of James Wallis. The permanent exhibit showcases early life in the Kawarthas with a variety of native and settler artifacts.
- Fenelon Falls. If you're in Fenelon Falls, you must stop to see the falls for which the village was named. They are lovely.
- Lindsay Exhibition. Third weekend in September. Agricultural fair with animal shows, exhibits, midway rides, a parade, heritage agriculture equipment, demolition derbies. Adult $15, senior $10, youth 13-18 $10, child 6-12 $5, child 5 and under free, ride all day pass $42.
- The Fenelon Falls Fair. Third weekend in July. Agricultural fair with animal shows, exhibits, midway rides, tractor pulls, demolition derbies, bands and a dance. Daily pass: adults $7, teens $5, public school children $3, pre-school children free, parking $3.
Do
- Academy Theatre, 2 Lindsay St S, Lindsay, ☏ +1 705-324-9111, toll-free: +1 877-888-0038. Box office Tu-F 10AM-5PM, Sa 10AM-2PM. Theatre, concerts & shows. Historic theatre built in 1892.
- Ken Reid Conservation Area, 277 Kenrei Rd, Lindsay, ☏ +1 705-328-2271. Nature & wildlife areas, parks. Three picnic shelters washroom facilities. The family-friendly shoreline area offers a large playground structure. Howlers Corners Off-Leash Dog Park is located near the main parking lot. Several loop trails lead through forests, meadows, and wetlands. One route includes the floating boardwalk that winds through the provincially significant MacLaren Creek Wetland bordering Sturgeon Lake. During the summer months you can spot red bellied snakes, snapping turtles, and leopard frogs. Along the marsh are the Osprey on a nearby nesting platform. These and other birds living in the area make it a popular destination for birders. Deer, fox, hare, and other wildlife live in the meadows and forests of the park. Stay on the trails as poison ivy grows throughout the conservation area. Parking $2 per day.
- Victoria Rail Trail. A 55-km trail that stretches from Lindsay 22 km through Cameron to Fenelon Falls, then 33 km to Kinmount. The trail is used year-round for hiking, horseback riding, cycling, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling. The trail follows the former CN rail line. During the summer months the bridge crossing this waterway is swung open to allow boater traffic through. Therefore it is necessary to detour through the downtown and along highway 121. North of Cameron the trail travels towards Ken Reid Conservation Area.
Buy
- Grr8 Finds Markets, 27 Colborne St, Fenelon Falls, ☏ +1 705-887-4778. Daily 10AM-5PM. A multi-vendor market with over 5,000 ft² (460 m2) of antiques, collectables and vintage finds. Lots of quality furniture, china, glass and silverware, vintage decor, nostalgia, advertising signs, jewellery.
- Curious?, 10-B Water Street, Fenelon Falls, ☏ +1 705 887-7712. Tu-Sa 10AM-5PM, Su 11AM-4PM. Fine art, home décor, body products, jewellery, pottery, toys, bedding.
Eat
- The Perch, 9 Lindsay Street, Fenelon Falls, ☏ +1 705-887-7888. Daily noon-8PM. Nice view of the lock.
- [dead link] The Cow and Sow Eatery, 38 Colborne St, Fenelon Falls. Summer: Su-Th 11AM-midnight; F Sa 11AM-2AM. Winter: Su-Tu 11AM-10PM; W Th 11AM-11PM; F Sa 11AM-midnight. Salads ($9-13), wings (1 pound $13), ribs ($16 half, $28 full rack), hot dogs and hamburgers ($13-15), poutines ($13-15), sandwiches ($13-14).
Drink
- Fenelon Falls Brewing Co., 4 May Street, Fenelon Falls, ☏ +1 705-215-9898. Hand-crafted premium beer made in small batches in a Canadian-made brewhouse in the old village blacksmith's shop. It was founded by a Vietnamese immigrant who arrived in Fenelon Falls in the 1970s with no English, and his Polish-Canadian wife. Available in Fenelon Falls at the LCBO store, Sobeys supermarket and some restaurants. Tours, a taproom and kitchen are planned.
Sleep
In Lindsay:
- Days Inn and Suites Lindsay, 134 Angeline St S, ☏ +1-705-328-0100. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. 3-star hotel near Fleming College, Lindsay Exhibition Grounds, and Ross Memorial Hospital. Free hot breakfast, indoor heated saltwater pool, fitness centre, free large-vehicle parking, free WiFi, business center and laundry facilities. Each non-smoking room is equipped with a mini-refrigerator and flat-screen HDTV. From $120.
- Victoria Motel, 256 Lindsay Street South, ☏ +1 705-328-2111. 2-star hotel located near Lindsay Golf & Country Club. 21 rooms. Fridge, microwave, TV, general kitchen, Wifi available, no breakfast provided. From $70.
In Fenelon Falls:
- Fenelon Inn, 36 Helen Street, ☏ +1 705 887-9000, toll-free: +1 877-617-2396.
Stay safe
Blue-green algae is a toxic form of algae that can be an occasional problem in this region. Do not swim or wade in water where this algae is present, do not drink the water, and do not let pets in the water. Blooms most commonly occur in late summer and early fall. They thrive in areas where the water is shallow, slow moving and warm, but they may be present in deeper, cooler water. Dense blue-green algae blooms may make the water look bluish-green, or like green pea soup or turquoise paint. Very dense blooms may form solid-looking clumps. Fresh blooms often smell like newly mown grass, while older blooms may smell like rotting garbage.
Poison ivy is common in wooded areas. All parts of poison ivy, including the roots, contain a poisonous substance which causes an irritating inflammation of the skin of most people, the inflamed areas frequently developing blisters and accompanied by intense itchiness.
Go next
| Routes through Lindsay |
| Markham ← Brock ← | W   E |
→ Peterborough → Ottawa |
Toronto via  ← Clarington ← |
S  N |
→ Haliburton Highlands → ENDS at W  E |