Casa Loma continuing to share over a century of history

When you think of the landmarks of Toronto, it’s hard to forget Casa Loma. While the community of Rathnelly is a standout on its own, it does lie in the shadows of the only castle in the city.

Construction began on this marvel in 1911 and was completed in 1914 by financier Sir Henry Pellant, who lived there with his wife Mary.

Now, hundreds of thousands of people have passed through the halls to visit historic spots, like the oak room now transformed into a steakhouse.

The General Manager of Casa Loma Catriona Delaney said they call it the oak room because the oak paneling is the same as the paneling installed by the Titanic, by the same craftsman in the same oak shop.

“While unfortunately the titanic went down, but the castle went up and these walls still live as a reminder of incredible craftsmanship that occurred at that time,” said Delaney.

The Castle was designed by architect EJ Lennox and cost about $3.5 million at the time.

After Pellant was removed from the home in 1924 when he went bankrupt, the castle was turned into a hotel before turning becoming a tourist attraction in 1937. While many things have been updated, staff here do their best to preserve the items that have been here since the beginning.”

“This family really did a tremendous amount for the growth and development of Toronto, and being able to see and touch and look and feel these pieces is part of the heritage that we need to take in and absorb as Canadians,” explained Delaney.

The castle itself is massive, spanning over 64,000 square feet across seven floors. Over the years, the staff have found hidden gems within the Castle.

“In keeping with trying to preserve and restore the castle we are always doing renovations and in 2014 we knocked down some drywall we found the original wine cellar that sir henry had built back in 1911,” shared Delaney.

“We tore it down, we unearthed it, and we restored it and used it. So, these are some of the ways we keep people coming back because when you come to Casa Loma, you don’t know what new thing we found and restored.”

With over 100 years of history under its belt, the staff hop to continue that history for another century to come.

For now, people can come and tour the space or take in events like the Twilight Symphony. It’s also used for film and tv productions and you can even get married there.

More information on visiting the castle and its history can be found on their website.