Make a country getaway your next relaxation destination!
Enjoy country cozy charm in an Ontario small-town inn. Situated in the heart of Ontario’s West Coast, the Benmiller Inn’s historic Woollen Mill roots date back to 1878 and alongside, the cascading Sharpe’s Creek, which once powered the mill, 
meanders down to the renovated Grist Mill as it empties into the Maitland River.
The renovated main building maintains the “Old Mill” style with heavy dark wood posts and beams, wood floors and tall angled ceilings. Lots of perimeter windows added natural light to brighten the space as you watch Sharpe’s Creek flow by. Downstream, the renovated Grist Mill uses the expanse of space for large rooms and the building’s foundations make a great backdrop for the spa décor.
Enjoy a deep breath of fresh air, amazing country views, some fantastic food and options for spa services in your plans for your relaxing getaway.
Understand that the Benmiller Inn & Spa offers country cozy charm, not modern urban luxury – but from a quality of service the Benmiller Inn & Spa has received the CAA Four Diamond Award for Dining and the CAA Four Diamond Award for accommodations many, many years running. It’s no wonder it’s been a popular getaway destination for over 40 years.
Ah, the Benmiller Inn rooms!
For our weekend getaway, we opted to stay in one of the newly renovated rooms within Gledhill House. Our room allowed lots of space for relaxation (exactly what you want when you’re having a spa retreat weekend)
– the country cozy charm coming to life in the large sitting area with it’s comfy sofa, old wood rocking chair and smooth leather barrel chairs facing a warming gas fireplace. The King size bed, in its separate room, offered a wonderfully restful space for night-time relaxation. But the piece-de-resistance for our relaxation was the bathroom’s cedar lined dry sauna and 2-person soaker tub! Talk about melting the body’s stress away!
Of the Benmiller Inn’s 50 guest rooms, most are located in three main buildings on the estate property.
Woolen Mill Main Building – an almost 150-year-old woolen mill (est. 1877) has been restored and converted into the Inn’s central building. Housing the Ivey Dining Room, Jonathan’s Lounge, the Inn’s reception and 12 guest rooms, this becomes the hub for your out-of-room time. Choose the main woolen mill building if you want to have all your activities centralised to one building. Note the rooms are on the upper level and no elevator is available.
Gledhill House was the original estate house of the property. Two wings were added to offer 17 rooms – most overlooking Sharpe’s Pond (full pond in summer and drained to gently flowing creek fall and winter). Choose Gledhill House for large estate house rooms and balcony views of Sharpe’s Pond and the treelined hillside (especially in fall).
River Mill – a converted Grist Mill (est. 1878) as part of the Benmiller estate hosts 21 rooms with views of the picturesque Maitland River. The lower level of the Grist Mill houses the Petit Aveda Spa, with the original foundations and stonework built into the décor of the spa. Also, within the River Mill is the indoor heated pool and hot tub area – lots of large windows surround the pace to take advantage of the scenic Maitland River.
Sharpe’s Retreat – a 2-bedroom house made for a getaway weekend with your girlfriends or family. Your own space to unwind 
with all the amenities and space of home.
Keep in mind that this estate property covers a good area and the buildings are scattered strategically … Creekside, pondside and riverside. Unless you’re staying in the Woolen Mill rooms, it’s a 10 min walk (about 500m) from the River Mill, Gledhill House and River Mill rooms … perfect for walking off your delicious dinner and catching some fresh air before jumping into that soaker tub before bed.
Four Diamond dining, you say!
Another standout feature of the Benmiller Inn and Spa is the dining experience. The onsite restaurant, Ivey Dining Room, boasting it’s CAA Four Diamond Dining award serves up delicious dishes made from locally sourced ingredients. The menu changes seasonally to reflect the freshest ingredients available,
and the service is impeccable.
The chef’s creations are truly delicious! Whether breakfast, dinner or brunch, the selection offerings and the tastes were wonderfully put together. The Sunday Brunch buffet selection was broad with warming stations offering both breakfast and lunch items, an omelette station, a large cold cheese board and cold meat selection … and the desserts!!!
My concern was that there was only one vegetarian option on the menu (and we were there for 2 nights). Mentioning this to our server, the chef “whipped up” a separate creation for the second night … and let me say it didn’t disappoint either. We recommend communicating with the Inn in advance for dietary restrictions. With the skill and 
available local offerings, to make a vegan, vegetarian or gluten-free offering is well within their skill set.
The ambiance is what you’d expect from a historic Mill – tall ceilings, wooden beams, Sharpe’s Creek flowing by the large walls of windows. The space is warm and inviting complimenting the great food. After dinner, head out to Jonathan’s Lounge for a post-dinner cocktail fireside by the stone hearth.
A small but wonderful spa in the old Grist Mill
Along the Maitland River where Sharpe’s Creek joins is the old Grist Mill structure (est. 1878). Twenty-one rooms are housed here facing the Maitland River, but the lowest level houses their Petit Aveda Spa. The exposed foundations with river views make for a grounding solidity that encourages relaxation and offers an interesting view into the historic roots of the building.
Their Petit Aveda Spa offers a variety of treatments to rejuvenate the body and mind, including massages, facials, and body wraps. Blend a few options together to noodle out for a while or pick from a range of their Spa Packages. Offering both RMT and non-RMT services, the treatments are well priced when comparing against typical urban spas. Walk down from your room in your robe and you’re ready for delightful relaxation.
Additionally, the building hosts their pool, hot tub and sauna areas. Large windows open to the Maitland River capitalizing in the amazing countryside views.
What to Enjoy while in the Heart of Ontario’s West Coast
We love to hike, and we needed our 10,000 steps. While we LOVE the spa and the relaxation offering of the Benmiller Inn, our relaxation also involves fresh air and movement – we just wanted to make sure that after our winter hike we had good reason to crack a bottle of red wine fire up the cedar lined dry sauna after a soak in the 2-person soaker tub!
From the Benmiller Inn, you can begin right from your Maitland River rooms (our Alltrails link will help guide you). A few good inclines will get the heart rate up, but the trail delivers a wonderful hike along the Maitland River to the cascade alongside the Falls Reserve Conservation Area. We meandered back through the Conservations Area to explore its amenities and headed back to our room – it was January, you know!
If you’re interested in exploring the area otherwise, here’s some additional resource links to check out:
The Benmiller Inn’s country cozy charm is a hidden gem to add to your “need a getaway” list. Whether as a romantic getaway, a relaxing spa weekend, or an outdoor adventure weekend, this charming property can be a great base for your adventure. It's no wonder it’s been a popular getaway destination for over 40 years.
Connect with Benmiller Inn & Spa:
- Benmiller Inn & Spa, Goderich, Ontario, Canada
- Google Map: Where is the Benmiller Inn & Spa?
- Call Toll Free: 1-800-265-1711
- Book rooms online: Benmiller Inn
- Spa Contact: Benmiller Inn & Spa
- Facebook: Benmiller Inn & Spa
- TripAdvisor reviews: Benmiller Inn & Spa
Have you had the opportunity to travel west towards the shores of Lake Huron and experience the Benmiller Inn and Spa? Weren't the dinners amazing? Drop a comment below and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Check out our
Post new comment