A few minutes off Highway 11, tucked into the trees just outside Gravenhurst, a new summer destination is taking root in Muskoka. Hale Muskoka, a five-acre farm turned year-round culture hub, officially opens on August 10, bringing design-forward cabins, live music, local makers and fire pit feasts to cottage country.
Picture this: You’re roaming an open-air market filled with handmade pottery, linen jumpsuits and wildflower bouquets, the scent of charcoal and garlic wafting from a nearby food truck. In the background, a band plays an acoustic set as kids run through the grass and couples sip spritzes by a rusted steel fire bowl. Hale isn’t your average seasonal pop-up. It’s a thoughtfully built, multi-use destination designed to celebrate community, creativity and the outdoors.
The concept comes from Muskoka local and retail developer Eric Abugov, who says he wanted to create a space that “feels alive.” On opening weekend, that energy will come to life during the inaugural Smash & Sear: Best in Burger competition — a fire-forward culinary throwdown with chefs like Paul Boehmer and Joe Friday going spatula-to-spatula over who can craft the ultimate smash burger. Tickets are $40 and include tastings from all the competitors, plus drinks, dessert and access to the on-site artisan market and musical lineup.
Looking ahead, Hale will expand in 2026 with two stylish indoor event spaces for wedings and celebrations (a barn and a grange), fully equipped outdoor kitchens and event stages, and charming “107” square-foot cabanas that will be perfect for pop-ups.