1959

Lou Biffis purchased land originally used to produce the first nursery-grown sod in Ontario.  It is here he dreamed of building a resort that would take advantage of the river location and the beautiful rolling hills of the Nottawasaga Valley.

1965

 Lou spent many long hours draining the marshy area to form parkland and then built a 120 ft. long, 4 ft wide bridge supported by cables over the Nottawasaga River. After the bridge was completed and named, a very good friend, impressed by what he had seen, bet Lou one bottle of Canadian Club whiskey that he could not obtain a liquor license in the former Township of Tecumseth, which had been dry since 1907.

1967

Not one to easily lose a bet, Lou went to work on a petition for a liquor plebiscite. In six months, he had sufficient names to make the plebiscite valid. In November 1967, with 47.7% of the eligible voters casting ballots, the plebiscite was won with 81.5% in favour. Within weeks, construction was underway.

1968

The Nottawasaga Inn opened to the public with forty guestrooms, a dining room, coffee shop and one banquet room after only 8 months of construction.

1977

The international sized soccer field was added to the recreational line-up.

1985

Lou Biffis has continued to expand, refurbish and develop the Nottawasaga Inn.  Construction on the award-winning adult lifestyle community of Green Briar begins, adding 497 homes to the community by 1998.

1986

The first 18 holes of the golf course are added to the Nottawasaga property. 

1987

 The first major expansion takes place at the hotel increasing the number of guestrooms and suites to 164. A new entry and reception atrium are added as well as a fine dining restaurant and a lounge. The banquet and convention facilities are also expanded adding additional ballrooms and meeting rooms bringing the total meeting space to 33 rooms.

1992

 The golf course receives an additional expansion adding 9 new holes, bringing the Nottawasaga Course to 27 holes of golf.

1993

 A regulation sized soccer field was added to the recreational line-up in preparation for the arrival of the World Cup German soccer team.

1994

The 70,000 sq. ft. Sports & Leisure Dome is built adding a spectacular line-up of recreation opportunities for guests.  Features include a 25 metre tropical pool, 100 ft waterslide, a 3,000 sq. ft. health & fitness centre, indoor Jungle Quest mini-golf adventure, 3 indoor tennis courts, squash and racquetball courts, games room and a trade centre.

1997

Construction on Briar Hill, a second adult lifestyle community begins catering to the 50+ age demographic. 

1998

The Ridge Course opens adding an additional 9 holes of golf to the resort.  Expansion at the hotel takes place with the addition of 27 deluxe suites with added features and amenities.

1999

Hotel expansion takes place again adding 78 deluxe guestrooms.  The resort now offers a total of 269 guestrooms and suites.

2000

The Ridge Course is expanded to add an additional 9 holes of golf and a second Pro Shop. The resort is now the only resort in Ontario surrounded by 45 regulation holes of golf and is awarded one of the Top 25 Golf Resorts in Canada and Best Family Golf Resort in Ontario!

2002

The Inn Café is remodelled.  Expansion takes place again adding 4000 sq. ft.  to the hotel, including four new meeting rooms.

2006

The Centre Ice Sportsplex area is opened after an unprecedented five months of construction. The arena features an NHL-size ice surface and is equipped with the necessary infrastructure to accommodate future expansion. The opening was made even more memorable with legendary Johnny Bower taking part in the official rink opening celebrations.

2007

Realizing the demand for ice time, the second Ice Pad is constructed and officially opened with hockey legend Gordie Howe joining the celebration. This milestone made the Nottawasaga Resort the only resort in Canada to feature two onsite NHL-sized ice surfaces.

2010

Renovations to guestrooms are completed. The renovated rooms feature a fresh new look suiting a range of needs from business and leisure travelers to sports teams and enthusiasts looking for a place to both stay and play.

2012

Extensive renovations to the lobby are completed. The renovated lobby features an open, bright and contemporary design complemented by elegant custom design features. Highlights of the newly revitalized space include additional seating space which is surrounded by natural stone walls and flooring, a unique feature wall with a canoe paddle design to tie into the natural surrounding of the Nottawasaga River, as well as a redesign of a larger and more inviting fireplace area. The popular gift shop was redesigned into a smaller and more elegant space to accommodate a new adjacent business centre and luggage cart storage.

2013

National sized soccer pitch is expanded to be international size.

2014

In early 2014 the Riverview Room reopened after undergoing an extensive renovation. The transformed space was designed to enhance the beautiful scenery of the surrounding Nottawasaga Valley resulting in an organic and contemporary fusion of natural materials. The use of natural elements throughout the Riverview Room flawlessly integrates the hotel’s new design aesthetic allowing for a seamless progression from the renovated lobby into the captivating new 200 seat restaurant. A mixture of seating options have been incorporated into the room offering a comfortable and private space for those looking to enjoy a business lunch, romantic date, or celebrate a special occasion.

2023

The contemporary stylings of the Lobby Bar provides a lively space to unwind at the end of a hectic day. Cheer on your favourite team on the 12.5 foot high definition 8K television while enjoying a pint of beer and pound of wings or dine on scaled up pub food. Tuck yourself away in a quiet corner for a private conversation in the comfortable armchairs, or gather up your girlfriends and indulge in an evening of lounging and chatting over Cosmopolitans. At the Lobby Bar, you decide your experience.

Accented with pops of regal royal blues, industrial materials, modern lighting and comfortable benches, chairs and high-tops compliment the vibe and colour palette throughout.

2026

The Nottawasaga Resort was selected as an official FIFA World Cup Base Camp, welcoming Team Panama during the world’s biggest sporting event. The milestone placed the resort on the international soccer stage, highlighting its premier hospitality, training facilities, and long-standing tradition of hosting elite athletes and teams. For Panama, the site provided two FIFA-quality training pitches, allowing players to train just steps from their accommodations while minimizing travel and distractions. The resort also implemented enhanced security and privacy measures to maintain a secure, controlled environment. Supporting the team’s performance extended to nutrition, with meals tailored to athletes’ dietary requirements, alongside authentic Panamanian food that offered a taste of home throughout their stay in Canada.