12 May Street
P.O. Box 1192
Fenelon Falls, On
K0M 1N0
Phone: 705-887-9292
woodys@sympatico.ca
Fenelon Falls is located 2 hours northeast of Toronto. Contrary to the good-natured inquiry of the occasional visitor, the name Fenelon Falls is not a misnomer - there are definitely falls in Fenelon Falls. A miniature Niagara, the falls form the centre-point of our village. Located under the bridge, the Falls have been a source of beauty and enchantment for both seasonal visitors and long-time residents.
The falls are an integral component of the Trent-Severn Waterway which stretches from Lake Ontario to Georgian Bay. It is a little known fact that one could boat from Lake Ontario to Minnesota, U.S.A., via Fenelon Fals. The falls flow from Cameron Lake, the second highest body of water in the Trent-Severn Waterway, into a scenic limestone gorge which holds the Fenelon River. Local legend holds that years ago a steam train crashed over a bridge that once traversed the river and now lies at the bottom of the river's depths, just south of the foot of the falls.
Once portaged by the explorer Samuel de Champlain, the falls are a historic point of interest and have provided a focal point for the village since its incorporation when the lumber industry harnessed the power of the falls to move logs to local mills. Now primarily a tourist attraction, the falls have been recently called upon again for service.
The falls' energy has been harnessed to supply power to the surrounding area. A draw for many visitors, the base of the falls are dotted throughout the summer with hopeful people casting their lines for pickerel and bass. Children play "spot-the-crawfish' from the shore and many a wedding and Christmas card photo has been taken with the falls as a scenic back-drop. Scuba divers have found delightful treasures below the intriguing cascades. Barrel rides, however, are discouraged.
The falls are lit at night which make for an even more intriguing, or romantic viewing. The observant visitor will find an information plaque outlining the georgraphy and history of the falls and may even spot the historic bell whose home is at the falls, for reasons which the visitor will have to discover for him or herself. Accompanying the falls is a wonderful park great for picnics and as a vantage point for observing the many boats and yachts on their ways to and from the locks of the canal.
More information coming soon on other areas of interest including May Street shops.
The Falls
Canal in Winter
Early morning fog - Francis St
