The Lofty Pines Cabin, Sundridge Ontario
Some properties are built around a view. The Lofty Pines Cabin in Sundridge, Ontario is built around a direction: west, toward the sunsets, from a private dock surrounded by towering white pines.
Kyle and Kelsey Croonen host guests there year round. The wood fired AlumiTub sits tucked into the woods, and by their own account it has become the single thing people remember.
The property
Northern Ontario cabin country, with a private dock, a fire pit, kayaks and a canoe, and a bunkie for overflow sleeping. The lake is cold enough in October to make a plunge memorable, which several guests seem to treat as part of the appeal rather than a deterrent.
The tub is deliberately not on the deck. It sits back in the trees.
Why the tub, in the owners' words
We can honestly share that our wood fired hot tub from AlumiTubs has been by far the top highlight for guests visiting our cabin. The natural aesthetic of the hot tub offers guests the time to connect with surrounding nature and be present in time during their stay. With no electricity needed, our hot tub is tucked away in the woods, which allows us to recycle the water into the environment. We are grateful to have an AlumiTub for personal use with friends and family, and for our guests to thoroughly enjoy.
Kyle and Kelsey Croonen, Sundridge Ontario
That last point is worth drawing out, because it is the practical consequence of a decision made much earlier. A tub with no power requirement can be sited wherever it makes sense rather than wherever the cable reaches. And a fresh fill, left untreated, can be returned to the ground it came from. More on that in handling water access at a remote property.
What guests say
We stayed at The Lofty Pines Cabin over the Thanksgiving long weekend and from start to finish everything was perfect. I booked this as my parents were visiting for the first time from England and I wanted to show them a true Canadian cottage experience, and this place did not disappoint. Cold plunges in the lake, relaxing in the hot tub and warming round a fire at night are just some of the highlights.
Guest review, Sundridge Ontario
The Lofty Pines cabin is simply a wonderful place to stay. We particularly enjoyed the wood fired hot tub and days just relaxing in Muskoka chairs by the water.
Guest review, Sundridge Ontario
The hot tub was incredible. Easy to use and so economical. The kayaks and canoe were an awesome adventure for us, and the lake was perfect. A bit chilly for a skinny dip in October, but we made memories.
Guest review, Sundridge Ontario
What makes it work as a guest property
Three things recur in what guests write, and none of them are about specification.
The tub is easy enough that first-timers use it without help. It pairs with the lake rather than replacing it, so the cold plunge becomes part of the evening. More on that pairing in the science of cold plunging. And it sits in the trees rather than on a deck, which is what makes it feel like part of the place instead of an amenity bolted to it.
For hosts weighing the same decision, a host's guide to wood fired hot tubs covers turnover, guest instructions and winter planning.
More owner stories: Beaver Valley Cabin, also in Ontario but sited on the deck rather than in the trees, and Cabin on the River in the Catskills.
See more properties at where AlumiTubs live, or explore the Wood Fired.