The Liberty Inn, Caledon: What’s the Draw
Toronto is not without its share of localized retreats, from sauna and ice bath studios like Alter to Leslieville's movement space Chi Junky. However, there's something special about leaving the Big Smoke behind, turning your phone on airplane mode, and fully zenning out without all of that city static in the background.
One hour north of the city, I check into The Liberty Inn, a Nordic spa hotel in Caledon. The boutique property, just off the scenic Forks of The Credit Provincial Park, is a labour of love several years in the making, from co-founders Jacqui Liberty and Bruno Roldan.
"The project took four years from start to finish," says Roldan. "What inspired us most was the chance to breathe new life into a building with deep history. We saw the potential to create something that honoured the past while offering a completely unique experience for today’s guests — a place rooted in connection, craft and care."
The beautifully restored 1855 stone building is immediately striking. Once a post office, general store and speakeasy, the historic property at 1498 Cataract Road is now home to five uniquely designed suites and a private woodland spa. Once I'm through the gate, I grab my bags from the trunk and race to The Norwood Suite, my home for the night.
The Liberty Inn, Caledon: The Rooms
I'm barely through the door before the oohs and aahs start dripping from my mouth. Every turn of the head unveils another stunning design touch, from high-end appliances like the Smeg fridge and Nespresso machine, to the farmhouse-style sink and beautiful handcrafted vases and bowls from Liberty's company Soft Fire Ceramics.
"The design is a conversation between past and present," says Liberty. "We worked closely with Tiffany Leigh Design to preserve the soul of the original building — limestone walls, exposed beams, old windows — while layering in modern comfort and hand-crafted elements. Much of what you see — the tiles, the dishware — I made by hand in our studio down the road."
It feels like I've stepped into a modern-day Little House on the Prairie, full of warm wood accents, beautiful brickwork and 21st-century conveniences like heated floors. There's even a configuration of dials that transforms the shower into a steam room.
"The renovation process was long and at times unpredictable — but that actually became a gift," admits Roldan. "It gave us the time and space to imagine how every detail could make a guest’s stay feel truly personal. Many of those touches came from asking, 'What would make this moment feel just a bit more special?' We both worked collectively on these details."
Those touches include a record player in the bedroom and vinyls to choose from, and weighted Hush bathrobes hanging from a peg in the bedroom. On the nightstand, there's a red light therapy mask so guests can roll back the years while admiring the flickering flames in the fireplace at the end of the bed.
There is also information inside the suites about the local area, from biking trails to local coffee and craft breweries in the area worth a stop. It's obvious that Liberty and Roldan see the significance of incorporating the local voice into the boutique inn.
"It was incredibly important: I’m a potter myself, so I deeply value the time, skill, and heart that go into handmade work," says Liberty. "This building already had a strong sense of place. Inviting local makers deepened that. It brings the region’s spirit into every corner of the inn."
The Liberty Inn, Caledon: What else?
Despite all of these quirky touches, the most unique element of this boutique inn is still the Nordic spa. Hotel guests will receive a link when they book their stay at The Liberty Inn, giving them the option to select a slot ($35 for an hour). I pick a 6 p.m. session, just as the light is beginning to fade, giving a magical air to the spa area. When I slip into the hot tub and tip my head back towards the sky, it feels as if the white spruce trees have leaned in to make a stunning backdrop just for me.
"We wanted to create an intimate space for guests to fully unwind," says Liberty. "There’s so much to do in the area — golf, skiing, weddings, cycling, hiking — but we also wanted to offer something inward-facing. With the spa, guests come not just to explore, but to simply be here. It’s shifted the inn into a destination in its own right."
Liberty and Roldan believe that the spa is a deeply personal experience, which is why each session is a private affair. Over the hour, I cycle through dips in the hot tub, invigorating plunges into icy cold water and trips inside the barrel sauna — all in glorious solitude.
At The Liberty Inn, there's no communal towel waving inside the sauna, or even awkward small talk in hotel lobbies (guests receive key codes by email, allowing them to enter their suites). The experience has been curated so guests can slip in and out as they please, relaxed and unbothered. That's my kind of wellness.
Rooms from $500 per night, thelibertyinn.ca
