Reviews of Historic Fort Willow (Museum)

Emily

Just a nice place to walk, hike, or ride your bike while also taking in a bit of history!

Sophia Jiang

There is a back entrance where you can access it from the North Simcoe Trail. You can see the foundations of the houses that were built at the fort and some recreated structures. It makes you appreciate how good we have it now looking at the sizes of the old structures while trying to imagine how they lived in the fort.

Oride

Not much too see will not recommend

Dave Oliver

Great to learn about Canadian history and the war of 1812

Martin Jirgenson

I didn't like this place. Before you see anything you must pay for parking. Download app, install it, add your credit card and try to pay. Then we tried to find restroom and it was locked. I did not see any historical evidence here. Everything there is new made. Hopefully I am wrong but I was disappointed about this place.

Cody Holmes

It's okay! The trail behind is neat but the fort itself doesn't have too much to see

Steve Mayes

Historic Fort Willow is located between Barrie and Angus off of Grenfel Rd. Built in 1814, it was a Military Supply Depot for the British Army. The Soldiers would trek from York to Lake Simcoe and then walk the Nine Mile Portage to the Fort. Supplies were then transported up the Nottawasauga River to Georgian Bay. The Supplies then were shipped to Mackinac Island . This helped the British to control the North West for the remainder of the War. If you visit the Ft Willow on the last weekend of September, you see it thriving. This is when they have their annual Re-enactment. It makes the whole place come alive. You will enjoy it! ????????????

Gavin Doran

Parking is a cash grab in my opinion. Not much to do on re-visits. One time thing is a must if you enjoy history

John Van Hal

Not much to see, but still worthwhile

Bruce Lee

Cool place with a lot of history but there are hardly any facilities. I think it would benefit from a museum and maybe rebuild the fort as it once was. I would love to know more about the fort and the history of the area.

Jacob Richardson (Jake Brake)

nice place for a hike or a rest spot branching off of the rail trail.

Sarah Mallabar

Beautiful.

adrian h

Beautiful site...trails and trees

Audrey Pike

Fort Willow has beautiful scenery, there was so many trees, and learning about the war was very interesting.

Meaghan Armstrong

Awesome

Michael B

I just pass the historic park, go down the stairs and there’s a beautiful trail.

Doug Cleverley

For a former military fort, this is a very peaceful place. Excellent interpretative signage.

Pierre-Luc Verreault

Fun nature stop, with history and background for the kids. Not a whole lot but for the price of a coffee at Starbucks it is more then worth it.

Mark Schlumpf

Interesting place and history. Worth stopping in and supporting the fort when you're in the area.

Peter Doucette

Nice quiet place to soak up a little history. Be sure to pay for your parking at the gate. It's a little fiddly because they only accept payment through the McKay parking app but I'm sure Fort Willow gets a taste of the parking revenue. The guides are quite knowledgeable and very friendly. Directly across from the palisade gate there is a set of stairs leading to the Trans Canada trail. It's a nicely maintained trail and a great way to make a 'day' of your visit.

Aleksander Sobieraj

Away from major roads, quiet and secluded. Parking is paid ($7). There isn't much left of the fort itself but the info boards fill in the picture. There's a great walking and biking trail right behind the fort that goes on for miles through a forest.

kim tracey

Beautiful peaceful place

Tasha Sandbach

Love walking the trail, you would be nice if they were a little better maintained, but still enjoyable.

Joe Price

Well kept area with lots of history. Connects directly to walking, hiking and biking trails

John Rosart

History , knowledge , Place and Time . Learn of the Brick Kiln

jdurance

Great food and wonderful actors, patient with kids.

Mark Hall

Great historic little spot.

Irina VP

I honestly expected more. Volunteers did a great job trying to restore the place, but more needs to be done.

Yolanda Gallo

A LOVELY place for walks and family outings.

Dallis Favret

A fantastic piece of history. I wish it could be built up again as it was when it was a supply depot.

Kevin Scharf

A great, free site. Lots of signage gives context

CaSee

Nice walking trail, cool historic site.

shuttergang media

Fun place to adventure and take pictures of the beautiful sunset

J & J Hoffman

We've only visited during COVID restrictions so we can't comment on the festival that normally occurs. The grounds are lovely and the walking paths are great for all levels of fitness. There's a lovely little stream, trilliums in the spring, and as for critters, we saw a snapping turtle and some snakes.

Frieda Baldwin

Great site to visit even in the snow

Zsófia Halmai

It's a nice trail to walk around but not much for a historical site. Not too much too see, it's all up to your imagination. Nice vegetable garden by the way. Don't put your expectations too high.

Mike B

Amazing fort

Alex Courchesne

Quiet and small historic site nestled just outside of Barrie. Well preserved and maintained and the connections to the surrounding trails still exist. Recommend a visit if you are looking for a small adventure close to home.

O W

Haunted?

Lee CCA

To many bugs.

Steve Yearsley

This is an outstanding place. Lots of history here. Very informative! Great for all ages. There was even a reenactment going on when we were there.

Miranda Cooking Arts & Adventures

Pretty quiet area. I hiked the Ganaraska trail (passes through) a couple of years ago. We passed by yesterday. It's closed but there is really no much to do there.

Freda Baldwin

So full of history and love being there for education day

Simon James

Well cared for, good trails

Jason Tremblett

It was all right to explore on our own I probably way better to experience it when they do the reenactments

Dennis Voß

It is a nice place to experience some local history and to hike a little bit. The parking is not free even during the off-season. The public restrooms were closed as well. Overall, a good place to spend the time in nature.

Terry p

Exelent area to walk through. Nature walk and learn history.

Sandra Deforest

One of my favorite places

Cindy Swanson

Beautiful small historic fort with lots of trails. Nature is abundant.

Kevin Pendergast

Interesting historically. Nothing to see here though. Just a few outlines of previous structures on the ground. Not worth the $10 they are trying to charge for parking. Save your time and gas.

Keith Houg

Very interesting to see this location. Crazy to think it was left to decay after so much history but great to see some volunteers are taking the effort to dig up the history again.

Rivera Guillermo

It's an excellent site particularly for its history as a Supply Depot during the War of 1812

Raul Casal

Love this place and the history it offers - instrumental to the outcome of the War of 1812.

Donna Wingate

I enjoy walking the trails and reading the signs of the different structures that used to be there. Maybe one day they will be resurrected.

Nik Saturno

Great place to walk through it also has a long flat section that is great to jog

Ashley Clifford

Cute little place to investigate. Trails at the Fort are quickly explored. Head out to the main trail if you want more then a 20 minute break. Bring your own form of map as the maps at the Fort only show the immediate area and nothing beyond.

Stephen Barks

Great walking and cycling trails. Great place to take kids without having to pay a lot of money

Pete Binsted

$10 to park + hidden $2.50 fee. Just don't go, it is not worth it.

Ashley D

The trails are good to explore and the Fort itself is pretty cool

Jimmy Greenfield

It was okay, though I was expecting a lot more. However, just a big space full of foundation like buildings with history signs about each building. I do not think I would pay $6.50 to park and spend maybe 10 minutes there, again.

S. Gortmaker

Nice walking trails and interesting signage that highlights local history.

Jay Aloussis

Parking rate is INSANE

James Fletcher

lovely wheel chair accessible historic trail would recommend a fall walk for sure

Eenie Meenie

Super cool

Maurice Chevrier

Basically a couple of pools in the ground not very entertaining