Put this 170-year-old refurbished historic inn at the top of your Ontario travel bucket list.

If you’ve never heard of Cataract, Ont., you’re in good company (guilty!). With a tiny population and arguably smaller geography, the quaint Caledon hamlet is the epitome of serene countryside. It’s also home to a charming new Nordic spa retreat: The Liberty Inn.

The inn—a warmly curated five-suite property about an hour-and-a-half from Toronto—reopened in February after a breathtaking renovation by its new owners, Jacqui Liberty and Bruno Roldan.

In 2021, the building unexpectedly came up for sale—around the same time that Bruno and Jacqui were renovating their Erin, Ont., home with Kingsgate Construction and Tiffany Leigh Design. “Knowing how well we worked with them, buying the inn didn’t seem as crazy as it should’ve seemed,” says Bruno. 

Though the pair had virtually no collective background in hospitality, they embarked on a grand reimagining of the property that celebrates its heritage past.

 

 

 

 

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An ode to the past

Originally a post office and general store, with stints as various other inns, a restaurant, and even a speakeasy, the property has a storied past layered with multiple renovations. “We tried to be conscientious of any updates to make sure they suited the building and the neighbourhood,” says Jacqui. 

During its latest renovation, the innkeepers took care to salvage what they could of the original design. Historic fixtures, from exposed stone and beams to stained glass, adorn the suites. A limestone fish tank from 1891, discovered under overgrown brush on the property, now serves as a fountain in the courtyard.

“By not changing the floorplan, we kept a lot of character,” says Bruno. Combined with designer Tiffany Leigh’s signature serene style, the inn was transformed into a quietly luxurious home away from home.

That’s not to say the renovation was easy. The pandemic presented its fair share of challenges, ultimately steering the owners away from implementing the restaurant they planned to include. But the delays gave them plenty of time to curate the smallest of details. “We spent a lot of time thinking about how guests would walk through and use the space,” says Jacqui. 

Jacqui developed a signature scent for the inn, made with plants harvested on-site and distilled into a dreamy room spray. It also gave Jacqui and her local pottery studio the breadth to create over 10,000 hand-glazed tiles that would come to decorate the suites.

Celebrating local

“One of the cool things we’ve realized is we have this effect of bringing tourism into Caledon,” says Bruno. While the inn is a retreat in and of itself, it’s also a bridge to the community.

The suites feature locally-made skincare and body products, hand soaps, sparkling drinks, and artwork. 

On the cusp of Forks of the Credit Provincial Park and the Elora Catarac Trail that connects to the charming town of Elora, the inn is in a prime location for adventure. 

Home away from home 

The multi-dwelling inn houses five apartment-esque suites. While the property originally featured more rooms in a traditional hotel style, the new innkeepers made the largely pandemic-driven decision to implement outdoor access to each suite.

Less rooms created more space for lounging, cooking, and dining. If you’re curious to learn more about the history of your suite, check out the provided guest book (the Florian Suite, which I stayed in, was the original post office).

Each suite comes stocked with everything you could need for a relaxing stay, including cookware, a red-light therapy mask, Ontario-made skincare products, and a portable white noise machine. The walls are also decorated with art from five local artists that you can purchase.

Peaceful haven

Though it’s now a hallmark of the property, a designated spa wasn’t part of the original plan. Bruno and Jacqui wanted to have some spa-like features, such as infrared saunas, in the suites, but the age of the building wasn’t friendly to a feat like that. So, the duo pivoted. “We had to figure out how to keep that private element but do it outside,” says Bruno.

The Liberty’s Nordic spa is different from most you’ll find in Ontario. Nestled in the corner of the courtyard, you won’t encounter any other guests during your private designated 50-minute timeslot. The spa features a hydrotherapy-style cycle with a cedar hot tub, Finnish sauna, and cold plunge. 

The inn’s quiet setting guarantees a serene experience, as does the privacy fence that surrounds the space. Whether you're planning a romantic escape, a girls weekend, or are just looking to get out of the city, make sure you add The Liberty Inn to your travel list. 

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