Approximately 25 firefighters were dispatched to Wilson’s Lodge on Skeleton Lake early Sunday morning after a neighbour reported seeing fire at the property.

According to township deputy fire chief Carl Prochilo, when firefighters arrived, flames had already engulfed the main house on the site. Firefighters gained control of the blaze around 5:30 a.m., but not before it destroyed the home and another cabin on the property.

Fire damage was also reported at the property’s main lodge, which according to its website, acted as a lounge area and tuck shop for patrons.

Prochilo said the fire is not suspicious, but investigators are still working to determine a cause.

Attempts to reach Don and Jan Bemrose, listed as the main contacts on the lodge’s website, were unsuccessful as of press time.

According to Lenore Young, author of the book Two Muskoka Surprises, which details the history of Wilson’s Lodge, the cottage rental operation was started in the mid-1920s by Robert and Louisa Wilson. Wilson later passed on the business to his son Bill.

According to Young, the lodge was often a hub of activity in its day.

“In the old days, it was operated as kind of a community centre,” said Young. “They had dances and other activities. It was definitely the centre of activity for that side of the lake.”

According to Prochilo, no one was at the lodge at the time of the blaze.