Business Details
At this time, we are taking time off to come to terms with this terrible loss, and have closed all operations at the Forest Motel until further notice. Many of our guest rooms were destroyed in the fire, and we are expecting the restoration of our main building to take months at the very least. Unfortunately at this time we will be cancelling all reservations for 2021, as we are unsure of the restoration and rebuilding timing.
This includes reservations in our motel, McCarthy House, and B&B. If you had a reservation with us, please be patient as we figure out our process for how to cancel and refund your reservations. We are currently without a credit card machine and will likely be offering refunds via E-transfer or cheque by mail. Rest assured that your reservation will be refunded in whatever way possible, however please be patient with us as we create a temporary office to be able to process these cancellations.
Once our temporary office is set up, we will be contacting each of you individually to process your cancellations.
This includes reservations in our motel, McCarthy House, and B&B. If you had a reservation with us, please be patient as we figure out our process for how to cancel and refund your reservations. We are currently without a credit card machine and will likely be offering refunds via E-transfer or cheque by mail. Rest assured that your reservation will be refunded in whatever way possible, however please be patient with us as we create a temporary office to be able to process these cancellations.
Once our temporary office is set up, we will be contacting each of you individually to process your cancellations.
Services
About
For 15 years, the Forest Motel and Woodland Retreat has been under the ownership of Kim and Conroy Schelhaas and their family.
Over these 15 years our team has grown in size to accommodate our growth in customers.
Through our service in the hospitality industry, we have learned much about taking care of people, developing long-lasting friendships with our long-term customers.
We have put much of our time and effort into turning the Forest Motel and Woodland Retreat into a quiet, relaxing, and unique getaway for couples and families in Ontario; priding ourselves on immaculate rooms and inviting grounds.
Over these 15 years our team has grown in size to accommodate our growth in customers.
Through our service in the hospitality industry, we have learned much about taking care of people, developing long-lasting friendships with our long-term customers.
We have put much of our time and effort into turning the Forest Motel and Woodland Retreat into a quiet, relaxing, and unique getaway for couples and families in Ontario; priding ourselves on immaculate rooms and inviting grounds.
Bed & Breakfast
Our Bed and Breakfast accommodations are located in a home just across the road from the Forest Motel.
A shared entrance leads to three large private suites.
All rooms have their own private bathroom and living rooms, and all are more than 650 square feet.
While they are called "Bed and Breakfast" rooms, these rooms share the continental breakfast and outdoor amenities found across the road at the motel.
A shared entrance leads to three large private suites.
All rooms have their own private bathroom and living rooms, and all are more than 650 square feet.
While they are called "Bed and Breakfast" rooms, these rooms share the continental breakfast and outdoor amenities found across the road at the motel.
Canadian Suite
The "Canadian" Suite is our most recently-renovated Bed and Breakfast room.
On the ground floor with 650 square feet, one king bed, and one double bed, it offers plenty of space to relax at any time of year.
Along with a reading chair and love seat for watching TV, the room also includes semi-private access to a saltwater hot tub just steps outside the back door.
This unit also has private patio space, a grill, and a kitchenette with dishes, microwave and fridge/freezer.
The private bathroom includes toiletries and towels, and features a walk-in European shower.
On the ground floor with 650 square feet, one king bed, and one double bed, it offers plenty of space to relax at any time of year.
Along with a reading chair and love seat for watching TV, the room also includes semi-private access to a saltwater hot tub just steps outside the back door.
This unit also has private patio space, a grill, and a kitchenette with dishes, microwave and fridge/freezer.
The private bathroom includes toiletries and towels, and features a walk-in European shower.
Romance Suite
The "Romance Suite" is our spacious luxury suite located on the second floor in the Bed and Breakfast.
The romance suite has one king bed and a pullout sofa bed.
With its own private living room, dining area, kitchenette, reading nook, and marble bathroom, it is our largest suite on the Forest Motel property.
The spacious bathroom includes a full European-style walk-in marble shower, and a two-person jetted Jacuzzi tub.
This room is perfect for anniversaries, honeymoons, or relaxing getaways.
The romance suite has one king bed and a pullout sofa bed.
With its own private living room, dining area, kitchenette, reading nook, and marble bathroom, it is our largest suite on the Forest Motel property.
The spacious bathroom includes a full European-style walk-in marble shower, and a two-person jetted Jacuzzi tub.
This room is perfect for anniversaries, honeymoons, or relaxing getaways.
B&B Queen Suite
Our B&B Suite is also located on the second floor in our Bed and Breakfast, across the road from the motel.
This room includes a gorgeous queen-sized four-poster bed, a living room with pullout couch, reading area, kitchenette, and spacious marble bathroom with walk-in shower.
His and her sinks and cozy bathrobes are included as well.
This is one of our largest suites on the Forest Motel property.
This room includes a gorgeous queen-sized four-poster bed, a living room with pullout couch, reading area, kitchenette, and spacious marble bathroom with walk-in shower.
His and her sinks and cozy bathrobes are included as well.
This is one of our largest suites on the Forest Motel property.
Woodland Cabins
Our woodland cabins in the McCarthy House are the perfect place for any ladies, family, or couple's getaway and retreat!
The McCarthy House is split into two cabins so you can rent just one side or the whole building to yourself.
These rooms are just beyond the main motel building and overlook McCarthy Lake.
The McCarthy House is split into two cabins so you can rent just one side or the whole building to yourself.
These rooms are just beyond the main motel building and overlook McCarthy Lake.
McCarthy Cottage
Our McCarthy Cottage is a private cabin located at the back of the property that overlooks McCarthy Lake.
The McCarthy Cottage is split into two separate units, each unit has two queen beds and a single pullout couch.
Each unit is fully wheelchair accessible including ramps into the room and a roll-in shower.
With a kitchenette, sitting area, and private grill these suites are perfect for longer stays or families.
Both units share a front deck, and they each have their own private saltwater hot tub out front that guests can add to these units for $40 per night plus taxes.
The McCarthy Cottage is split into two separate units, each unit has two queen beds and a single pullout couch.
Each unit is fully wheelchair accessible including ramps into the room and a roll-in shower.
With a kitchenette, sitting area, and private grill these suites are perfect for longer stays or families.
Both units share a front deck, and they each have their own private saltwater hot tub out front that guests can add to these units for $40 per night plus taxes.
Lakefront Motel
Our lakefront motel hosts the majority of our units with fifteen rooms in five different configurations.
All these units are located within 300 feet of McCarthy Lake, and the majority of them overlook the forest.
All units include microwaves, mini fridges, free WIFI and cable TV.
Click the different room configurations below for more details.
All these units are located within 300 feet of McCarthy Lake, and the majority of them overlook the forest.
All units include microwaves, mini fridges, free WIFI and cable TV.
Click the different room configurations below for more details.
Premium Doubles
Our Premium Double rooms include two double-sized beds, plus a double-sized pullout couch.
These rooms are well-suited for families of up to 5 people, however we do not recommend that adults sleep on pullout couches.
These rooms also include a fridge/freezer, microwave and Keurig coffee & tea machine.
One of these three units has a tub/shower, while the other two have a walk-in shower.
These rooms are well-suited for families of up to 5 people, however we do not recommend that adults sleep on pullout couches.
These rooms also include a fridge/freezer, microwave and Keurig coffee & tea machine.
One of these three units has a tub/shower, while the other two have a walk-in shower.
An Outdoor Getaway
All reservations come with a free continental breakfast.
Our breakfast includes fresh-baked muffins daily, cereals, fruits, yogurt, breads and bagels and of course fresh hot coffee.
We provide free bicycle use to all guests staying at the Forest Motel and Woodland Retreat: from cruisers to tandem bikes in an assortment of sizes from children to adult!
Helmets of all sizes are also available.
The 32 acre property at the Forest Motel boasts over 2 km of walking trails.
We are also part of the Avon Trail which travels over 100km through the Ontario countryside.
Our breakfast includes fresh-baked muffins daily, cereals, fruits, yogurt, breads and bagels and of course fresh hot coffee.
We provide free bicycle use to all guests staying at the Forest Motel and Woodland Retreat: from cruisers to tandem bikes in an assortment of sizes from children to adult!
Helmets of all sizes are also available.
The 32 acre property at the Forest Motel boasts over 2 km of walking trails.
We are also part of the Avon Trail which travels over 100km through the Ontario countryside.
Walking Tours, Lake, Swans and History
Come explore Stratford's hidden gem & enjoy a Guided Walking Tour through 2 kilometers of our man-made trails that surround our 30-acre property.
We provide brand new snowshoes to each tour guest which you'll be able to use throughout our 1-hour tour.
There are multiple trail markers on the property and trail systems that distinguish the individual type of tree of plant species.
Each trail marker has an individual QR code that can be scanned for additional photos and information of the species, so make sure to bring your phones!
We provide brand new snowshoes to each tour guest which you'll be able to use throughout our 1-hour tour.
There are multiple trail markers on the property and trail systems that distinguish the individual type of tree of plant species.
Each trail marker has an individual QR code that can be scanned for additional photos and information of the species, so make sure to bring your phones!
Reviews
The Forest Motel and Woodland Retreat centre has undergone extensive changes over the past 6 seasons.
Each year our repeat visitors have anticipated new changes to the property and buildings and we have not disappointed.
Now, entirely refreshed, we invite you to experience this special place here in Stratford.
The Forest Motel & Woodland Retreat has received a number of nominations for the Helen Kirkpatrick Award for Hospitality and was Stratford's Tourism hospitality winner in 2010.
It was a real pleasure meeting you both, also your children, also to know we can continue into the future with our annual Stratford visit at the Forest Motel.
Each year our repeat visitors have anticipated new changes to the property and buildings and we have not disappointed.
Now, entirely refreshed, we invite you to experience this special place here in Stratford.
The Forest Motel & Woodland Retreat has received a number of nominations for the Helen Kirkpatrick Award for Hospitality and was Stratford's Tourism hospitality winner in 2010.
It was a real pleasure meeting you both, also your children, also to know we can continue into the future with our annual Stratford visit at the Forest Motel.
Guest Loyalty Program
We are so grateful for all the support and rave reviews from our return guests, and it is time for us to pass some savings on to you!
All guests who have stayed with us once or more in the past are eligible!
This program will be retroactive to your past stays with us, so if you have already stayed with us in the past 15 years, you are already eligible for a discount on your next stay!
The program is quite simple, and gives guests different discount percentages depending on how many times you have stayed with us in the past.
All guests who have stayed with us once or more in the past are eligible!
This program will be retroactive to your past stays with us, so if you have already stayed with us in the past 15 years, you are already eligible for a discount on your next stay!
The program is quite simple, and gives guests different discount percentages depending on how many times you have stayed with us in the past.
Meet Your Hosts
Many families have a life story to share with others.
Kim & Conroy Schelhaas, along with their 3 children, all of Dutch descent, have dedicated their lives to family, church, schools, the Stratford Community, and mission work to the Haitian immigrants living in the Dominican Republic for over 30 years.
They bring a lifetime of professional and volunteer experience to their creative hospitality at the Forest Motel.
Conroy has 30 years of experience as a general contractor, new home builder, interior/exterior designer and master tradesman.
Kim & Conroy Schelhaas, along with their 3 children, all of Dutch descent, have dedicated their lives to family, church, schools, the Stratford Community, and mission work to the Haitian immigrants living in the Dominican Republic for over 30 years.
They bring a lifetime of professional and volunteer experience to their creative hospitality at the Forest Motel.
Conroy has 30 years of experience as a general contractor, new home builder, interior/exterior designer and master tradesman.
