The Briars has evolved over 150 years, from a working farm to a prominent Ontario resort. The owners, the Sibbald family, have owned the property since 1880. The property is recognized by the Ontario Heritage Foundation and the Arboretum of the University of Guelph, marking its historical and natural significance. Here is the Briars story...

The original grant for this land was made to the British Navy Captain, William Bourchier (bow-cher). Captain Bourchier built the regency manor house that overlooks Lake Simcoe in 1840.

He named the property "The Briars" after the residence of friends in St. Helena. The captain died four years later, leaving his wife and children to survive the harshness of this new land on their own.

In the late 1870's, while visiting his neighbours, Dr. Frank Sibbald fell in love with The Briars and found Mrs. Bourchier happy to part with the property. After purchasing The Briars, Frank added two wings to the main house, a coach house, stables, a gatehouse, a barn for his championship shorthorns (now the Red Barn Theatre, Canada's oldest summer theatre) and a peacock house (the only like it in Ontario). All of the buildings are still standing.

Frank also planted many trees, now majestic in their maturity, including Austrian Pine, Norway Spruce and Gingko, and so many cedar hedges that the road is called Hedge Road.

(Guests particularly enjoy looking down "the Avenue" from the dining room, the original driveway lined with century-old trees.)

In an area still sparsely populated at the time, especially in the winter when the cottagers had returned to Toronto, The Briars
became a focal point in the area for agriculture and hospitality.

The Briars passed through the generations and the property evolved as the society needed. The Briars Dairy was started, its prize-winning butter a trophy local farmers proudly displayed. A golf course was opened in 1924 in an effort to increase the area's cottagers summer enjoyment. During the Depression, pieces of property were sold and purchased to meet bills.

During World War II, many cottagers could not find help (cooking and cleaning) for their summer places. They asked Jack Sibbald to hire staff to centralize this effort. Using the Club House and moving in some buildings to make cottages, The Briars Inn & Country Club was born [1942].

The focus of the property became the resort and by the mid-1970's the family home was in disrepair. The choices were tear down and sell or renovate in a way where the property would pay the taxes. Fulfilling a dream shared with his father, John Sibbald and his wife Barbara renovated the Manor House as a new centre for the resort.

From the Manor House bedrooms, a kitchen and living room, six guestrooms were created and furnished with antiques. The Library and Drawing Room were refurbished. The Old Galley became a games room. The West Wing held the offices.

The Manor House was joined across the driveway to the Coach House to make the Garden Court dining room. The Coach House's lofts became small meeting rooms. An outdoor pool was placed between the Manor House and the new guestroom wing [the Bourchier Wing]. A large meeting room [Jalna] and the kitchen rounded out the efforts. In late 1977, just in time for start of the cross-country boom, the Lieutenant Governor Pauline McGibbon opened The Briars as a year-round resort.

Five years later another guestroom wing was built named after the Canadian humorist, Stephen Leacock, who grew up in the area. Leacock Wing's Lower Level houses our solarium pool, whirlpool & sauna, games rooms and fitness room. It's main floor houses the lounge "Drinkwaters'". As well the Great Hall, the Gathering Place and the Front Room were built to create more space to meet and relax.

In 1990, a six-story Tower was opened. It looks over the property and Lake Simcoe. Our guests love watching the canoeists, kayakers, tennis players, the birds and the woods from The Top.

More recently, space has been renovated to meet new needs. In 2000 a office section on the second floor was converted to a lovely Spa with six treatment rooms,a state-of-the-arts facility. In the winter of 2001, several of the cottages Jack built in 1942 were totally renovated--an opportunity to investigate what could be done during the World War II when supplies were very limited.

We celebrated our 50th anniversary as a resort in the summer of 1992. It was a big party, with Briars guests from all over, a Big Band... and a terrible windstorm that knocked out the power. Who could be upset about a 1940's party without light and amplified sound? By dinner time, power was back on to cook; everybody was disappointed! It certainly was a party to remember!

As it has evolved over the years, The Briars has maintained its reputation for true hospitality. Claimed by our guests as "Another World", guests relax and are looked after, enjoy the fine country dining, cozy up in a corner or venture out on the property and lake.

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John & Barbara Sibbald continue to own and operate The Briars with the help of their younger sons, Hugh and Andrew. Their oldest son, Peter, is a photojournalist; you can see much of his work on this web site!

The next generation are a little young to serve you. They are about, though, and are experiencing and learning the warmth of hospitality to keep the Briars traditions alive for future generations.

Hey you History Nuts!
Every Saturday morning and often mid-week, history and nature walks are available while you stay. Our hiking hosts will embellish on this story with anecdotes about your 'second home', The Briars.