A couple obsessedwith buildingproper days off.
2017
A cottage on Leonard Lake.
Joel and Devon bought a four-bedroom cottage in Muskoka to use themselves and rent out the rest of the time. It booked so well they could barely get a weekend in it. That was the first clue: people in the city wanted a slower place to go, and there were not enough of them.
2020
A listing for a motel called Jocko’s.
In the fall of 2020, a friend sent over a listing for a 1970s roadside motel in Calabogie, that had served hunters, anglers and snowmobilers. It hadn’t been touched in twenty years. They knew of the place. They had driven past it while visiting friends. It was exactly what they had in mind.
2021
Four months, eleven rooms, no front desk.
Joel left a twelve-year telecom career in Toronto in March and moved to Calabogie. Grey carpet, drop ceilings, pleated lamp shades and brown coverlets came out; fireplaces, soaker tubs and a lobby wine bar went in. Somewhere Inn Calabogie opened on Labour Day weekend. Guests were met by a bartender with a glass of wine instead of a check-in counter, and it has stayed that way.
Visit Calabogie2024
Somewhere, again. Collingwood.
The second inn opened twelve minutes from Blue Mountain and a short walk to main street in downtown Collingwood, with the same idea in a different landscape: rooms you want to stay in, a wine bar in the lobby, and a town worth exploring on foot. Ridge light and bay air instead of lake and pines.
Visit CollingwoodNext
More small towns.
We are looking at the Niagara Bench, Prince Edward County and Muskoka. Same rules apply: a place we would drive to ourselves, local partners over in-house everything, and no televisions.
Work with us0
Months from keys to first guest
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Rooms in the original lodge
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Boutique hotels so far
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TVs in the rooms
How we run a hotel
01
Purposefully analog.
No TVs in the rooms. Fireplaces, tubs, and cozy reading nooks. Linens made for spending the morning in bed, and the afternoon out exploring.
02
Amenities you actually want.
Saunas, cold plunges, wine bars, a movement studio. Each stay is like a love letter to the town: we want our guests to get out and have an authentically local experience.
03
A bartender, not a front desk.
You check in at the wine bar with a glass in hand. Taco Tuesdays, music nights and long tables are how guests end up talking to each other.
04
Built on gratitude.
Grateful to the local teams that run these places. And to the guests that choose to spend their days off with us. Days off matter.
Our community
How we show up.
For the people who run these places, the towns that hold them and the trails, lakes and main streets we get to call home.
Our people
Rainbow Registered
We are a proud 2SLGBTQI+ inclusive and Rainbow Registered business. That means we're committed to creating a safe, supportive space where every team member feels respected, valued and empowered to show up fully as themselves.
Living Wage employer
Great hospitality starts with great people - and we believe they should be paid like it. That's why we're a certified Living Wage employer, ensuring our team earns a fair wage that reflects the real impact they have every day.
Not 9 to 5
A career in hospitality comes with its own set of challenges, so we work closely with Not 9 to 5, a non-profit global leader in mental health advocacy for the service and hospitality industries.
Our towns
Regional tourism boards
We're actively shaping the future of sustainable travel as board members of our regional tourism organizations.
Local, first
We champion sustainable travel through local partnerships, support for small businesses and low-impact tourism. When you stay with us, you're supporting the local community in real, lasting ways.
Our footprint
Climate Fund
We reduce our climate impact by minimizing water and energy use, promoting renewable energy and charging a $10 Climate Fund Fee per night. It moves us toward climate neutrality and supports sustainable travel for years to come.
Plastic-free, by design
We aim for a plastic-free stay by cutting down on single-use products and choosing eco-responsible amenities wherever we can.
The founders
"My favourite day to work is Sunday. That's when most guests check out, and I get to hear how it went."
Joel Greaves spent fifteen years in telecom marketing in Toronto before moving to Calabogie to run the first inn. Devon Vaillancourt owns a concierge business looking after luxury homes, and brought the eye for detail. They met at a Jays game in 2010, married in 2017, and bought a motel four years later.
Read the long version
Toronto Life
This couple bought a 1970s hunting lodge in Calabogie and converted it into a boutique hotel
2021 →
Ottawa Business Journal
From Jocko’s Motel to Somewhere Inn: how a first-time hotelier made an award-winning transformation
2024 →
blogTO
Husband and wife’s side project has become Ontario’s trendiest motel chain
2025 →
