Wasaga Beach History
Wasaga Beach was on the main fur trading route to the great North West. During the War of 1812, the town became strategic when the Americans sank the Schooner Nancy to cut the British supply line to Fort Michillimacinac and points to the north and west.
Long before Europeans came to the area, the native people had established small communities near today’s Barrie, at the eastern end of a portage route between Lake Simcoe and the Nottawasaga River, which empties into Georgian Bay. This route became known as the Nine Mile Portage by trappers and fur traders. In the early 1800’s, the Hudson Bay Company established a storehouse on what is now Kempenfelt Bay on Lake Simcoe.
The Nine Mile Portage became important in the War of 1812 after the Americans at Detroit controlled the St. Clair River, and marine access to the upper Great Lakes. The British enlarged the Nine Mile Portage to accommodate wagons to move supplies and troops from Upper Canada to military posts on Lake Huron and Lake Superior.
During the 1940’s, servicemen stationed at the nearby Camp Borden military base visited Wasaga’s amusement park. After the war, Wasaga Beach continued to be a popular place for cottages and day trips. The community became a Local Improvement District in 1947, a Police Village in 1949, and an Incorporated Village status in 1951. The Town of Wasaga Beach was incorporated in 1974, when it had a permanent population of 4,000. Today, over 21,000 full time residents (2018) and 16,000 seasonal and part time residents reside
Wasaga Beach Attractions
Elmvale Jungle Zoo
Hwy 27 North
Box 3003, Elmvale, Ontario
(705) 322-1112 Fax: (705) 322-2245
Originally in 1967, the zoo covered two acres exhibiting mainly birds and reptiles. Since then, it has grown to include more than 300 animals from around the world, such as Australia, South America, Africa and Asia. Open Late May & June: Weekdays 9:30 am – 5 pm, Weekends 9:30 am – 6 pm; July 1 to Labour Day: 9:30 am – 7pm; Sept 4th to Oct 8th: 10 am – 5 pm (Weather permitting). Last admittance 1 hour before closing.
Admission $$. Special Group Rates Available.
Main Street Mall
30 Lewis Street Wasaga Beach, ON L9Z 1A1
705-429-3844
Get your swimwear, beach toys, souvenirs at the Main Street Mall. Spend time at the Arcade or brave the Haunted House. The Main Street Mall is alive with activity in the summer months, with many seasonal businesses.
Nancy Island Historic Site & Museum
c/o Wasaga Beach Provincial Park, Wasaga Beach,
(705) 429-2516 / (705) 429-2728 (Nancy Island – during operating season)
Seasonal attraction from Victoria Day to Thanksgiving. Please call ahead for hours of operations. Offers guided and self-guided tours, special weekly children’s programs and Thursday evening family programs. A memorial to the supply schooner Nancy, sole surviving British vessel on the Upper Lakes near the end of the War of 1812. She was attacked and destroyed there in August 1814. Her charred hull has been recovered and now rests inside an enclosure beside the museum, which houses displays and artifacts dealing with water travel in the early 1800’s and the War of 1812.
Off Duty Fishing Charters and River Cruises
16 Harbour Crescent
Wasaga Beach, ON L0L 2P0
705-429-1615 Cellular 705-446-4383
All tackle included for Salmon, Rainbow, Splake, and Lake Trout. English, French, and German spoken.
Rounds Ranch Farm Adventures
1922 County Road #92, 4 km west of Elmvale
(705) 322-MAZE (6293)
Canada’s most spectacular cornfield maze (435,000 sq. ft. – 5 km of trails) promising to be adventurous and entertaining for all ages. Other attractions include horse & tractor drawn wagon rides, pedal carts, giant straw maze, roped tree maze, soybean maze, apples away, plus much more. Exciting experiences for all ages, families, groups, clubs, and companies. Farm Market sells farm fresh eggs, meats, home baking, produce and preserves. Ample free parking for cars and buses.
Wasaga 500 Go-Karts Ltd.
Hwy. 92, two miles east of Wasaga Beach.
P.O. Box 180, Wasaga Beach, L0L 2P0
705-322-2594
50 tuned karts to drive around high-banked curves on a one mile go-kart track,. Fully lighted for safe night driving.Children age 9 & under ride free with an adult on our side-by-side two seater karts. Two challenging 18-hole mini-golf courses and nine baseball/softball batting cages are extremely popular. Snack bar and washrooms on site. Open daily 10:00 am to 11:00 pm (late June, July and August). Please phone for off-season hours (705) 322-2594.
Wasaga Beach Paintball Adventure
3600 Vigo Road (East of Wasaga Beach off Cty Rd 92 at Vigo Road)
RR#2 Elmvale, Ontario, L0L 1P0
705-429-5065
An indoor/outdoor paintball megapark with a 20,000 square foot playing arena and a park with 12 unique fields (such as a Western-themed town, tank-attack field, POW camp, etc) on over 70 acres of beautifully wooded, landscaped terrain designed specifically for paintball. Playing field site rated the best paintball in Canada. Top notch equipment. Safety is our main concern. Open April to November, Groups welcome, call for reservation.
Wasaga Beach Sea-Doo Rentals
Beach Area 1, right beside the Main Street bridge on the Nottawasaga River.
705-429-7065 or 705-429-3275 (Mobile)
Enjoy your stay in Wasaga Beach even more when you venture out into Georgian Bay on a rental Sea-Doo personal watercraft.
Wasaga Beach’s Beaches
Wasaga Beach has 14 km shoreline of the longest freshwater beach in the world. There are six gated beach areas (areas 1-6) and two ungated beach areas (Allenwood and New Wasaga Beach). Qualified lifeguards and a Park warden patrol the beach daily on ATV’s and mountain bikes. A patrol boat augments these teams, providing safe surroundings for a visit to the beach.
Wasaga Beach Provincial Park (Wasaga Dunes)
11-22nd Street North
Wasaga Beach, Ontario 9Z 2V9
705-429-2516 Park Office
The 30 km Blueberry Plains trail system takes you through the dunes area of Wasaga Beach park, including an area know as the raised beaches which are the remnants of a glacial lake that covered the Wasaga Beach area close to 10,000 years ago. These are the largest and least disturbed set of parabolic sand dunes in Ontario and are home to about 680 different types of plants and 230 species of birds. Recent improvements to hiking in the Wasaga Beach area include 17 kilometres of the Ganaraska Trail which travel through the dunes area.
Wasaga Waterworld Hwy 92 Location
Highway 92 East, Wasaga Beach, Ontario L0L 2P0,
705-429-4400 Fax: 705- 429-6520 Toll Free: 1- 800-809-0896
Two locations in Wasaga Beach. This complete water amusement park offers a kiddie playland, giant wave pool, speed slides, water slides, paddle boats and thermal pool. On the waterfront, between Beach Areas one and two, four high speed water slides provide lots of thrills and spills. 18 hole mini-putt winds around the water flumes. Groups of 20 to 3000 people welcome.
Wasaga Waterworld Beach Area 1
Beach Front Park, Area 1
Mail: P.O. Box 230, Wasaga Beach, ON. L9Z 1A3
705-429-4400 Fax: 705- 429-6520 Toll Free: 1- 800-809-0896
Two locations in Wasaga Beach. This complete water amusement park offers a kiddie playland, giant wave pool, speed slides, water slides, paddle boats and thermal pool. On the waterfront, between Beach Areas one and two, four high speed water slides provide lots of thrills and spills. 18 hole mini-putt winds around the water flumes. Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream bar. Groups of 20 to 3000 people welcome.