ABOUT

Michael and Paulette Carroll are the current owners of Grand Falls Camp

Terry Carroll, Michael’s father, was introduced to the natural wonders of the Mississauga Valley In 1945 when his parents purchased land on the shores of Chub Lake and built a family cottage. In the fall of 1969 Grand Falls Camp was purchased by Terry and his wife, Pat, moved their four children from Traverse City Michigan to the north woods. Terry was an avid outdoorsman and the Camp soon offered guiding for moose and bear hunts as well as excellent fishing and family vacations.

In 1988 Terry’s youngest son, Michael Carroll, and his wife, Paulette began running Grand Falls. Two large cottages, named Ellery and Alex after their two children, were added to the Tunnel Lake side of the property, reclaiming the old McFadden Lumber Camp site of the 1940’s. Mike and Paulette have been host to some 4 generation guests recently even though they have never attended a trade show. The Camp motto ‘The Camp More People Return To’ remains true after all these years.

Cummings Lake began in the early 1930’s with the Harry Forder Family. In the days of coal lamps and ice houses the Mississaugi River ran the length of the lake and had several natural falls, Squaw Chutes, War Eagle Rapids, The Funnel, the Tunnel Cliffs and the largest, Grand Falls. The river was used to transport logs to the McFadden Lumber Mill and a few small cottages sat at the mouth of the then Cummings Creek to house workers in the logging industry. Tunnel Lake did not yet exist.

In the mid 1940’s a plan began for the construction of the Wells Rayner Hydro Electric Dams on the Tunnel Cliffs. At this time the road to Grand Falls was a rough two track that left the small village of Hooverville and travelled past Cummings Creek to the Camp. Another 2 dams were to be built above and below the Tunnel Lake dam at Aubrey Falls and Red Rock Fall.

WWII ended and construction began with a new supply road, the area was booming. In 1948 a new highway was built and the construction of the Wells Rayner dams began. Hooverville, Slate Falls, Grand Falls and the Tunnel Gorge lay beneath the flooded area we now call Tunnel Lake. 1948 Jack and Ruth Becker purchased the property from Mr. Forder and named it Grand Falls Camp.

The relocation of the McFadden Lumber camp structures from the Cummings Creek area to the shores of Cummings Lake along with the construction of new cottages began. Grand Falls Camp soon grew to twelve cottages with modern conveniences. Construction of the last dam at Aubrey Falls was completed 1970.