ELORA, Ont. — A husband-and-wife team composed of local archaeologist and former professor Teal Parkinson and fire captain Eric Parkinson are realizing their family dream of opening The Ayrshire Hotel in Canadian legacy building The Dalby in Elora, Ont.
The Ayrshire Hotel will open in late June as a 16-room designer hotel that seamlessly blends modern luxuries and nods to Scottish heritage.
The couple’s journey into hospitality originally began with the transformation of 249 Geddes Street, the former residence of the first wife of Sir Frederick Banting, the discoverer of insulin, into the six-room Ayrshire House. Over the past five years, the historically designated estate became a standout in Elora’s tourism landscape.
“This is a deeply personal endeavour for our family,” says Teal Parkinson, who taught Canadian Studies at Wilfred Laurier University with a research focus on early Canadian settlement and vernacular architecture. “Realizing a years-long vision of restoring and revitalizing our town’s landmark flatiron into its next chapter as The Ayrshire Hotel is a tremendous honour.”
Founded in 1865, the Dalby building has had a storied history as one of Elora’s first hotels, hosting council and society meetings, banquets, and even court sessions for the early villagers. It also ran Elora’s early stagecoach operation, has housed doctors’ offices and long provided the base for a popular, local watering hole.
“We keep hearing more and more fun stories about the former lives of the building from people around our community,” says Eric Parkinson, “many have great memories here already. We’re deeply conscious of the importance of this deeply special piece of Elora history that we’re working incredibly hard to restore to its deserved beauty and use.”
The upscale hotel will feature guestrooms varying from studio style to multi-bedroom, each entirely unique in its interior design thanks to the unusual shape of the building but also the individually curated décor. “Every nook of this hotel is so special and we’re designing it as such,” says Teal. “There’s elegant vintage and Scottish touches throughout that naturally connect to the spirit of this place, but paired with ultra-modern comforts and luxuries for exceptional holidaying.”
On the ground level of the heritage hotel sits The Lobby Bar, perfect for check-in afternoon cocktails all the way to later evening dinner and wine. The Lobby Bar will also provide the in-room dining service for guests of The Ayrshire Hotel. Also at the building’s base, the picturesque Terre Bleu lavender shop carries boutique edibles and fine beauty and wellness products (which are also featured in the rooms of the hotel), all homemade using their own farm flowers.
“The risk is real, but so is the dream,” says Parkinson. “We believe in Elora, and we’re all in on making this a destination that guests will fall in love with, just as much as my wife and children do.”
