Echoes of Bond Lake - The Lost Hotel - Self-Guided Audio Experience

🌲 Wander the Woods: An Immersive Audio + Theatre Experience

✨ Wander the woods. Hear the past. Discover hidden structures and untold stories that once shaped this land.

Step into an immersive audio journey at Bond Lake. Roam the trails, uncover forgotten histories, and reflect on nature as you move through sound, story, and place. Become more than a visitor—🌱 become a steward of the land.

📖 Scenes unfold throughout the forest, inspired by Richmond Hill’s 1920s history—when Bond Lake was a bustling destination, the Bond Lake Hotel made headlines, and the railway + electric park brought the community together.

🎧 Two Ways to Experience the Story:

Self-Guided Audio Trail – Available all season. Download the journey using the QR codes in the forest or shared here or at shadowpaththeatre.ca and explore at your own pace.

Theatrical Performances – Shadowpath will activate the trails with live characters and scenes from history - future dates TBA.

Downloadable Audio Files Can Be Accessed At This Link Below

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1z-LdgC4AfqlyeXbV7FhzcN3wUp1NGOGY?usp=share_link

🗺️ Important Info

🚗 Parking:No parking at the site. Cars will be ticketed/towed.

👉 Park at Silver Maple Plaza (12300 Yonge St, Richmond Hill) between the RBC + LCBO. And walk 10 minutes back to the main parking lot, 12611 Yonge St.

👟 Trail Details:

• 2 unique theatrical trails (approx. 40 min each)
• Trail difficulty: 6/10 (unpaved, a few slopes)
• No washrooms 🚫🚻
• Recommended: comfy shoes, layered clothes, bug spray 🦟

💰 Funded By: City of Richmond Hill
🌎 Community Partner: Toronto and Region Conservation Authority
📚 Special Thanks: Richmond Hill Historical Society & Richmond Hill Public Library

This is a FREE experience, however if you would like to register, we will email you.the link to all the files needed for this experience including instructions, the audio tour, a map, corresponding photos and a video guide.

✨Created by Alex Karolyi with additional material by Maissa Bessada and Shivam Chopra

Clara - Chantal Forde

Lillian - Jona Villa

Edward /T reesar - Liam Armstrong

Florence / Watia - Grace Delamere

Fee-Fee / Rev.Phillips - Garrett Mallory Scott

George - Shivam Chopra

William - Rahul Chawla

Burnt Foundation Reporter - Maissa Bessada

Commercial Announcer - Alex Karolyi

Audio Experience edited by Shivam Chopra and Maissa Bessada

With special assistance by: India Morgan, Craig Barnes and Simone Granieri

🌿 Historical Background

The Bond Lake Hotel, established in 1834 in Richmond Hill, was a beloved gathering place. Nestled by scenic Bond Lake, it offered cozy rooms and a grand ballroom where locals and visitors celebrated dances, anniversaries and engagements. Many engagments.

The arrival of the Metropolitan Railway in 1899 made the hotel even more accessible, bringing in visitors from across the region. Nearby, Bond Lake Park became a popular destination, with illuminated promenades, concerts and recreational activities. Many couples marked their special moments with a boat ride on the lake or a festive dance at the hotel.

Though the hotel no longer stands, its memory lives on as a cherished part of Richmond Hill’s history.

🌟 Special Thanks To:

Richmond Hill Public Library
The City of Richmond Hill
Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, Darryl Gray, Andrew Morin, Joe Petta, Diana Wilson
TD Bank Group
Richmond Hill Historical Society
Jacquie Lazar and Lilita Tannis

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Bond Lake, 12611 Yonge St, Richmond Hill, Canada

Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.

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