Ontario’s most beautiful village has a hotel in Canada’s oldest Flatiron building

Elora is known as Ontario’s most beautiful village, and if you’ve been, you know that statement is absolutely true. The area peaks in the summertime, with a stunning gorge to explore and so many local shops to check out along its historic streets. Well, you’re going to need a place to stay if you’re planning a visit and this summer, you can do so at Elora’s boutique hotel landmark: the Ayrshire Hotel.

The hotel is located in the Canadian legacy building, The Dalby, aka the oldest Flatiron building in Canada. The space boasts 10 gorgeous guest rooms, all sprinkled with modern charm and touches of Scottish heritage.

Let’s start with how the Ayrshire came to be. Local archaeologist and former Professor Teal Parkinson, and Fire Captain Eric Parkinson are the husband-and-wife team behind the hotel, and are both locals in Elora.

The pair were always fascinated with 249 Geddes St., which used to be the home of the first wife of Sir Frederick Banting, the discoverer of insulin. The residence was eventually turned into the six-room Ayrshire House.

Founded in 1865, the Dalby building was one of Elora’s first hotels.

“This is a deeply personal endeavour for our family,” says Teal. “Realizing a years-long vision of restoring and revitalizing our town’s landmark Flatiron into its next chapter as the Ayrshire Hotel is a tremendous honour.”

“We keep hearing more and more fun stories about the former lives of the building from people around our community,” adds Eric. “Many have great memories here already. We’re deeply conscious of the importance of this deeply special piece of Elora history that we’re working incredibly hard to restore to its deserved beauty and use.”

Today, the Parkinsons have transformed (while still keeping the building’s roots in mind) the space into one of the most stunning boutique hotels I’ve ever seen.

On the ground level, guests can enjoy the Lobby Bar, serving everything from afternoon cocktails to delicious dinner options. According to the Ayrshire Hotel, the Lobby Bar will also provide in-room dining service.

The Terre Bleu lavender shop can also be found on the ground level. Here, you’ll find treats, plus beauty and wellness products, which are all homemade.

Trust me, Elora is just as beautiful in the winter, so if you’ve been considering a weekend away, let this be your sign.

Booking can be done on the hotel’s website or by phone.

The Ayrshire Hotel

Where: 143 Metcalfe St., Elora, Ont.

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Taylor Lucas

Associate Editor – Taylor is a Toronto-based journalist with a passion for storytelling. Whether chasing a story, writing, or editing, she brings a creative spin to the media world and has a blast doing it. Taylor brings years of journalism experience in sports, local/national news, and entertainment. In her spare time, you can typically find Taylor trying out a new restaurant or cocktail bar, cooking, golfing or binge-watching true crime documentaries.

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