December 10, 2004

"a mixture of 17th century Scotland and 20th Century Fox" Casa Loma, for a time North America's largest private home, was built by Toronto's answer to C. Montgomery Burns, Sir Henry Pellatt, early in the 20th century. It was the first fully electrified home in Toronto, and the first to have an elevator. Delightfully, it also has honest-to-God secret passages, which are open to modern visitors. Its construction bankrupted Pellatt, and he was forced to sell it. Since then, it's been a tourist attraction, a secret factory for the wartime development of Sonar's British precursor, ASDIC, and Professor Xavier's School for Gifted Children.
posted by jimbecile 19 years ago
  • That place is ginormous. It's fun to explore, but not when it's crowded with tourists.
  • This is an amazing house. Plan to spend at least two hours here, if you're in Toronto. The house is simply amazing. I'd suggest self-catering (taking a picnic) to eat on the grounds if you're there in good weather. I went during (U.S.) Thanksgiving and the crowds were very light.
  • There's also a ton of neat-o war material there, since Pellatt was involved with the Queen's Own Rifles. The guns and grenades have obviously been disabled, but I've always been tempted to take a crack at the D-Day kit, which clearly includes both speed and opiates. Those don't go bad, do they?
  • I'll second (third?) encouraging folks to check out Casa Loma if they have some time in Toronto... We've explored a number of famous estates, Casa Loma was one of the very best.... Another great one is the Gamble House designed by Greene and Greene (Pasadena, Ca)
  • Were those interior or exterior shots for the X-Men movie? I don't remember recognising the exterior as such, but the interior could have been Casa Loma. Anyone know what the exterior was?
  • nice post. *golf clap*
  • I love, love, love Casa Loma. Great post. There's even better secret passages than the one to the stables, though. There's one in the study (no joke! honest!) and I was sure there's another one, but I haven't been there in, oh, about 10 years. I want a house with a secret passage in it so bad. Yes, I realize there are more important aspects of a house, but what can I say, I've never really grown up, I guess. The gardens are fantabulous in the summer, as well.
  • I love the music of the Casa Loma Orchestra and had no idea they were named after this hotel (where, as the Orange Blossoms, they had a residency in 1928). So I've learned something. Thanks, MonkeyFilter!
  • Plan to spend at least two hours here, if you're in Toronto. Just don't bother paying for the tour, unless you *really* want to hear all about the bidet.
  • Behemoth Cat, I went on the tour but I can't remember the bidet. It must have been a boring bidet.