While most locals know it as the backdrop for lavish weddings or Hollywood film shoots, the true magic of Canada’s grandest castle lies in the secrets hidden beneath its polished oak floors.
Commissioned in 1911 by the eccentric financier Sir Henry Pellatt, this Gothic Revival masterpiece was the embodiment of unapologetic ambition. Pellatt invested his vast fortune to create a 98-room estate of extraordinary scale, complete with hidden passageways, grand sweeping staircases, and even an oven large enough to roast an entire ox.
The story of Casa Loma is as tragic as it is beautiful. Financial ruin forced Pellatt to abandon his beloved home just a decade after its completion, leaving behind a monument to a gilded age that faded too soon.
But the castle’s story didn’t end with Pellatt’s departure. If you venture past the opulent Great Hall and the sun-drenched Conservatory, you will discover the estate’s most thrilling feature: an 800-foot subterranean tunnel.
Plunging deep beneath Austin Terrace, this dimly lit corridor connects the main house to the magnificent stables and carriage house. Walking through the damp, echoing stone passageway feels like stepping into a gothic novel.
Even more fascinating is the castle’s clandestine role during the Second World War. Hidden away from the public eye, Casa Loma housed “Station M,” a top-secret facility where Allied forces manufactured covert spy gadgets and espionage equipment. It is a piece of history that feels straight out of a novel, right in our backyard.
Today, wandering through Casa Loma is an invitation to step out of the relentless pace of the city and into a world of romantic ambition and quiet mystery. Whether you are marvelling at the vintage cars in the carriage room or tracing the steps of wartime spies, the castle offers a deeply atmospheric escape that never loses its charm.
Admissions
Experiencing the grandeur of Casa Loma requires a ticket, which includes access to the documentary film and a complimentary mobile audio guide.
- Adults (18–64): $40.00
- Seniors (65+) & Youth (14–17): $35.00
- Children (4–13): $25.00
- Children under 3: Free
- Hours: Open daily, 9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (Last admission: 4:30 p.m.)
How to Get There
Address: 1 Austin Terrace, Toronto, ON
- By Transit (TTC): The most scenic route is to take the subway to Dupont Station on the Spadina–University line. Walk two blocks north on Spadina Avenue, and you will be greeted by the historic Baldwin Steps. Climb to the top, and the castle will emerge before you like something out of a storybook. Alternatively, take the subway to St. Clair West Station and enjoy a leisurely 15-minute walk south. Along Spadina Road to the estate.
- By Car: Paid parking is available onsite at a flat rate of $20 per vehicle (cash, credit, or debit accepted). Additional parking is available at George Brown College, just south of the castle off Macpherson Avenue.
- By Rideshare: Uber, Lyft, and taxis are permitted to enter the East Parking lot for drop-off and pick-up. No charge.
