Sundial 3

This is the last trip to the Sundial as it has now been fully explored. For the previous posts, check out Trip 1, Trip 2a, and Trip 2b.

Explorers in attendance were JuicyFruitKisses, our buddy neX, the ubiquitous phrenzee and his exploring partner Ms DeKay. As the day in question was stinking hot, we headed to the pool first.



We were able to get a better idea as to the flooding in the basement but did not DARE venture down due to the one of the most nasty mould / fungual blooms I ever saw.


Speaking of HOT, the crew discovered the hottest place in the known universe - the former hot tub / sauna room. The unique glass dome here allowed the killer heat in and then magnified it. I was rather surprised that none of the team members spontaneously combusted during the brief foray into this space.








Seeking any relief from this heat, the team stumbled over to the empty restaurant, then to the 'Starlite Room'.

















Finding no staff to revive us, we seated ourselves at the bar and then waited in beverage purgatory until phrenzee took it upon himself to serve us.
It did not take us very long at all to realise that there were no available staff to serve us . . . To this end, I took it upon myself to staff the facility after finding an appropriate name tag.








Phrenzee left a message for other future explorers in the front lobby shortly before we left this amazing abandonment.


Don't forget to visit the roof of this great hotel which overlooks beautiful lake Couchiching.
Until next time, Happy & Safe Exploring !

Quick Note : My other Blog, Lorwyn Unleashed has moved to
www.MTG-Realm.Blogspot.com

Sundial Reloaded 2

As promised in the previous post (here), this is part 2 of the recent Sundial Inn exploration.

As previously discussed, this exploration was somewhat close to magical given the very pristine shape of the abandonment, the massive volume of equipment / articles left behind, and the absence of any wanton destruction from local vandals (aka a$$-hats).

Here is the second video summarising our exploration . . . enjoy !

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As I had wandered though the hotel (being very careful to leave everything the way I had found it), I did start to think of the number of staff who had toiled here for years on end to keep the place looking good and their guests happy. It was not too difficult to imagine this as a large number of rooms appeared already made with linen / bedding and ready to receive guests.


I wondered about the day this place did close . . . how did management inform their staff - was it emotional, did it come as a surprise? I should think that staff would have seen the writing on the wall for some time (and many knew that doors would be closing eventually) - the closing of the kitchens in 2005, no expenditures provided for upgrades or repairs, and finally the long parade of dismal reviews by guests - some of which may be found here.

It must have been as cheery as working at a funeral home or perhaps keeping bar on a sinking ship - taking unending complaints from guests and knowing that the owners in Calagary would do absolutely nothing about it.

From the reviews I had, . . erm . . reviewed, it appears that the pool had also been closed down in the last year or so of the Sundial's operation due to a broken heater, a broken pump, ad nauseum.

Many poor reviews from guests did arise from the issue around false advertisement - specifically images on the website showing guests enjoying facilities that had since been closed - such as this one to the right.

I rather enjoy empty indoor pools in abandonments - I not sure why. Perhaps it is because these facilities had been witness to so much life before their close . . kids splashing, families playing, etc. And now just a dead husk that presents something almost macabre in its nature.









When one explores a pool room in an abandonment, the first thing one may notice is the distressing lack of any water within the pool itself. While I was snapping a few images and taking a some video, I thought about how staff may have drained the pool and perhaps even pulled the pump for a replacement that would never come. To delve further into this, I noticed a narrow stairs which most likely lead to the mechanical room and perhaps the exercise rooms.

I took only one, perhaps two steps down the stairs when something felt odd - specifically it was the sound of my foot-falls on the stairs. I stopped and then saw that the entire basement was approximately waist deep in water . . . given the brightness of the pool area above, it was not immediately noticeable in the darkness below very still waters.

Just glad I did not get a soaker here.

Until next time, safe and happy exploring everyone !

Sundial Reloaded 1

After the bitter disappointment of being skunked at the two previous hotels (see prior POST), I was left with a deep set yearning to see any hotel - preferably closer to home so it would not hurt too much at the gas pumps.

To this end, I headed off to the retrolicous / googie-riffic seat of popluxe luxury, the Sundial Inn. This recently abandoned location was briefly scouted / probed back in February, but not explored . . . Here is PART ONE of this most recent exploration.


Here is a short video of the first leg of the exploration covering the kitchens, bars, restaurant and offices.

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First off, I want to thank the gods of UrbEx that be that this location has not attracted the attention of local miscreants / vandals / a$$-hat tag-monkeys. I should think that the fencing erected around the property does provide a level of security to thwart some of these parasites of society.










The former hotel appears relatively intact and still fully equipped. With the exception of the collapsed entry canopy (picture below showing the inside view), one could imagine that the place simply closed down for the week and guests would be welcome back at any time.

I especially enjoyed the 'timeless-ness' of this headline from the National Post sport page, "Leafs Eaten Alive" - this could be a headline from any season within the last several decades.









The thing that I love most about this place is the funky decor last updated in the early 80's. There are other decorative elements which had survived since the construction intact . . . finding these, in my opinion are one of the reasons I have a passion for exploration.










When I carefully picked my way though this abandonment, it took very little imaginative effort to transport myself decades back into time to this hotel's golden age . . . a time when few cared little about about the negative effects of alcohol or deep-fried food.










With the exception of any food stocks within the freezer lockers downstairs, the kitchen also appeared ready to be put into action with no great effort.


















Although the Sunshine cafe closed it's door to guests back in 2005 (a paper found here hints at the date), the hotel still offered conference / meeting rooms - this had left me wondering if the kitchens were still in operation or whether organisers had to cater in the food.








The headline from this April 2005 Orillia paper speaks onto the decision to close the Huronia Regional Centre (HRC), which should be discharging its last patient sometime this year. This is a MASSIVE facility and certainly an UrbEx gem in this region.

Stay tuned for PART 2 of the Sundial Inn exploration within a week or two.

Happy & Safe Exploring,
Remember - I and all who explore with me 'Take ONLY photos, and Leave only footprints' as we respect the properties we visit.

Sundial Inn

The once-famous Sundial Inn built in the early 1960's was a landmark on the northern edge of Orillia which greeted travelers heading too and returning from vacation in the Muskokas.

This swanky hotel and adjacent restaurant incorporated a 'Googie' or 'Popluxe' design into its architecture (a style which I absolutely love). Googie was a style popular in the late 1950's and 1960's and originated in southern California. This type of futurist architecture, influenced by car culture, and the Space / Atomic Age featured bold angles, upswept roofs (often cantilevered), geometric designs, colourful signs, and daring use of glass, steel, and neon.









Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately for this post's purpose), very little effort was made to renovate and update the Sundial Inn. With business starting to decline, the Inn was sold to Travelodge in the mid 1990's. This was a time when area business was beginning to pick up with Casino Rama (located a short drive away) becoming a popular destination.











Again, unfortunately, the new owners did very little to improve the facilities at the Inn. A small tower was added to increase the number of rooms to just under a hundred for the increased demand for accommodations from the nearby Casino.











By 2004, the round 'Googie-riffic' restaurant had closed it's doors and Travel Advisor members were already cautioning would-be guests not to venture into the pool. Coupled with the opening of the luxury 300-room hotel at Casino Rama, the end was in site.










Last year, the courtesy shuttle, operated by the Casino was canceled which may very well have been the last nail in the coffin. The Sundial Inn closed its doors on Friday 1st, 2008.











There was an interest to have the Sundial redeveloped to serve as a senior's residence but that too had fallen through. Lamentable as it is, there is very little nostalgia in Central Ontario for a wonderful hotel such as this. I can only hope that the wrecker's ball will spare the sundial on the restaurant's roof.

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UPDATE -

Approximately 4 hours after JFK and I left the saucer-shaped canopy at the Sundial Inn caved, tearing a hole in the roof.
Fire & Emergency as well as the mayor attended the scene to survey the damage. A combination of snow load and metal fatigue are thought to be contributing factors.
Royal Host, the owner has fenced the area off and are collecting repair estimates . . . I personally think they would rather see the buildings demolished and the property sold.

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Odd to think that I may have been one of the last people to walk though the restaurant entryway before the structural collapse. I also have a feeling that a few people are riding on my coat-tails on this one . . .

The old place is starting to get a lot of attention from the Orillia Packet & Times as well as the Orillia Municipal Heritage Committee. I hate to tell Joanna Fonseca (past chair of the Committee shown below snapping a pic) that the only way to save this building is to amputate the hotel and find a developer willing to drop a lot of money into restoration of a unique 'retro-trendy' restaurant.