Sunray, a Canadian hospitality development group that partners with companies like Marriott and Hilton, acquired the Isaiah Tubbs resort in the summer of 2024.

The 23-acre property is now managed by Choice Hotels Canada, alongside the Hidden Valley resort in Huntsville and the Comfort Inn and Suites series of hotels.

A multi-million dollar renovation is underway, new General Manager Ray Izzi tells the Gazette,  to bring the resort back to its original glory. 

With 2000 feet of waterfront along West Lake overlooking Sandbanks Provincial Park, the resort is in a prime location. It has  74 guest rooms, 12 chalets, a tennis court, a beach, a pool, and a legendary restaurant, The Knoll.

“We are coming to a beautiful location in Prince Edward County but it’s a little dated,” says Mr. Izzi. “People driving by on County Road 12 can see that we are hard at work, renovating the Annex.”

Once complete, the resort will offer upgraded versions of the amentities that have made the location iconic since original owner Fred Weeks’s vision  in the early 1980s.

New room furnishings and fixtures and a major update to the restaurant are in the works. The Knoll closes December 7 for about three months. In the meantime, lunch and dinner service will take place at nearby MacDonald Hall.

“It will still have that rustic lodge feel and spectacular view of the Dunes and West Lake, but we are really excited about the updates we are bringing to The Knoll in time for 2026,” says Mr. Izzi.

Meanwhile, expanded hours and better promotion have led to an increase in patrons. New Executive Chef Amir Ahmadi is taking part in this fall’s Countylicious, offering a two-course lunch and three-course dinner menus.

“Amir is young and very ambitious,” notes Mr. Izzi. “He takes a lot of pride in all of the dishes he creates and he’s eager to put his stamp on The Knoll. We are so lucky to have him.”

The bar and lounge were packed for the Toronto Blue Jays World Series this fall. The beer flowed, while the wings flew out of the kitchen.

“We are very busy with renovations that will go on into the winter,” says Mr. Izzi. “We’re focussed on bringing Isaiah Tubbs back as a family-focused resort. “We’re going to be rolling out all kinds of programming and activities that will appeal to guests with families,” he notes.

Despite all the renovation and rehabilitation activity, the beloved Festival of Trees fundraising event hosted at the resort by the Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Auxiliary takes place as usual on the weekend of November 28-30.

“You don’t have to be in Prince Edward County very long to find out how important the Festival of Trees is. 

“We are honoured to play a part again this year.”