--- title: "The Eddie: Where a stay becomes part of the Prince Edward County experience" date: 2026-10-19T12:27:00-04:00 author: Laurie Weir canonical_url: "https://www.southeasternontario.ca/articles/the-eddie-where-a-stay-becomes-part-of-the-prince-edward-county-experience/" section: Articles --- ![](https://www.southeasternontario.ca/images/transforms/_maxWidth2400px/IMG_4959.jpeg) # The Eddie: Where a stay becomes part of the Prince Edward County experience Laurie Weir Chickens wander the grounds. You can hop on your bike and head for the Millennium Trail. Across the road, six acres on West Lake give you a place to swim, catch a sunset or spend some time by the water. And that's before you head out to explore Prince Edward County. At The Eddie, a historic farm in the heart of the County, where you stay can become part of what you came to experience. Spread across more than 87 acres, the property combines a historic house and barn with farmland, a pond, a half-kilometre of waterfront, wildlife and plenty of room to breathe. Your morning starts with breakfast, including eggs from chickens raised right on the property. From there, you get to decide what kind of County getaway you want. ### **Make The Eddie your home base** If exploring by bicycle is on your list, The Eddie offers access to the Millennium Trail, giving you another way to see Prince Edward County without spending the whole day in the car. If you'd rather head for the water, Sandbanks Provincial Park is nearby. The Eddie also has a newer six-acre property across the road on West Lake, with a small beach and a peninsula where owner Alex Portman says you'll find some pretty spectacular sunsets and plenty of places to relax and unwind. Wander the Resort is also directly across the road, where you can add a restaurant visit or spa experience to your stay. Then there are the wineries, restaurants, galleries, antique shops and other stops scattered throughout the County. The trick isn't finding something to do. It's deciding what you don't want to miss. If you've got your eye on a particular restaurant, make a reservation. If you're coming to cycle, map out a route and choose a few places you'd like to stop along the way. If your getaway means considerably less effort, you might want to make that spa reservation first. “The County is a busy place,” Portman said. “There’s always lots happening, and there’s no shortage of things to do.” You don't have to arrive armed with an itinerary, either. Tell The Eddie team what you're interested in, and they can point you in the right direction. Or take Portman's considerably simpler approach. “Just pack your bags, come to The Eddie, and we will help you make the most of your trip.” ### **Pick your season** When you visit can completely change your stay. If beaches, cycling and long days outside are on your wish list, summer gives you plenty of options. You can also catch outdoor theatre, with County Stage presenting performances at The Eddie during its summer season. Prefer cooler days, changing leaves and harvest season? Portman makes a strong case for fall. “Fall is my favourite time in the County,” he said. It's a chance to experience the agricultural side of Prince Edward County while farms are in harvest mode, with plenty of reasons to spend the day outside without the heat of midsummer. Winter is a different kind of getaway. You can borrow snowshoes from The Eddie and explore the property before heading inside for Fondue Fridays, a four-course Swiss-style cheese fondue dinner served in the speakeasy in the foundation of the barn. The Red Barn Christmas Market is held on the final weekend of November each year, bringing local vendors and visitors into the historic barn. The space is decked out for Christmas, including decorations Portman and his partner, Michael von Teichman, have collected from film sets. Come spring, two apple orchards burst into blossom, and The Eddie hosts an annual Easter event. Before choosing your dates, check The Eddie's current events and seasonal programming. You may find there's a particular time of year that suits the getaway you have in mind. ### **A little farm, a little history** You don't have to leave The Eddie to find some of the character Prince Edward County is known for. Portman said the main house and barn date to 1860, with roots in the Loyalist history that shaped this part of Eastern Ontario. Inside, you'll find original architectural details, including doors, hardware and mouldings, alongside Canadian, international and Indigenous art and an eclectic collection of furnishings. Outside, the farm remains part of the experience. Those chickens wandering around aren't there just for the atmosphere. Their eggs make their way to the breakfast table. > *You’re reconnecting with nature, you’re reconnecting with farming, you’re reconnecting with the food that you eat.* > > Alex Portman- co-owner- The Eddie, And yes, you can bring your dog. The Eddie is dog-friendly, although your four-legged travelling companion may have some competition for attention from Ruby, Portman and von Teichman's goldendoodle and the property's unofficial mascot. ### **They were looking for a two-bedroom cottage** In 2020, Portman and von Teichman were living in Toronto and looking for a small cottage they could rent to visitors. Then, at about 3 a.m., von Teichman found a Prince Edward County property advertised in a magazine. “Mike found this property in a magazine and proceeded to wake me up with a very abrasive, ‘Look at this listing. Look at this listing,’” Portman recalled. They drove to Prince Edward County to see it. Then they walked into the barn. “We love throwing parties,” Portman said. “We’ve been to lots of parties in lots of cool international places, and we thought, ‘Wow, wouldn’t it be cool to throw parties in this barn?’” They told the real estate agents they wanted to make an offer. There was just one problem. They hadn’t even peeked inside the house yet. When they did, it was love at first sight. The couple bought the property, sold their Toronto home and moved to Prince Edward County in November 2020. Then they had to furnish 10 bedrooms. They turned to Toronto film-set auctions, buying furniture, art and props that could help fill the sprawling property. By moving day, their belongings filled 19 moving trucks, including an 18-wheeler. Some of those finds remain part of The Eddie's eclectic character today. And the film connection didn't stop there. ### **The Eddie's Tragically Hip connection** If you're a Tragically Hip fan, there's another story hiding at The Eddie. Before the property officially opened, it became a filming location for the band's “Ouch” music video in spring 2021. The song was among previously unreleased material included on *Saskadelphia*. The production arrived while pandemic restrictions were still in place and The Eddie wasn't ready to open. “We weren’t quite ready to open yet, so some of them slept on mattresses and box springs in a bedroom,” Portman recalled. The experience helped push Portman and von Teichman toward opening The Eddie, and by later that spring they were welcoming guests and hosting small outdoor weddings. Today, the barn that convinced them to buy the property before they'd even toured the house is used for weddings, theatre, seasonal markets and winter fondue dinners. Which isn't bad for two people who set out looking for a two-bedroom cottage. Check [The Eddie's website](https://theeddie.ca/) before your trip for current accommodation options and rates, availability, seasonal events and market dates. If there's a particular restaurant, spa experience or County attraction you don't want to miss, consider making those reservations when you book your stay. Follow them on socials for upcoming events-[ Facebook ](https://www.facebook.com/EddiePEC)and Instagram [@eddiepec](eddiepec) READ ALSO - [ ![](https://www.southeasternontario.ca/images/transforms/_maxWidth250px/PXL_20251010_194021180.jpg) Food & Drink Wineries, Cideries & Craft Producers in Prince Edward County ](https://www.southeasternontario.ca/articles/wineries-cideries-craft-producers-in-prince-edward-county/) - [ ![](https://www.southeasternontario.ca/images/transforms/_maxWidth250px/PXL_20251010_150423484.jpg) Outdoor & Adventure Explore the Great Outdoors of Prince Edward County ](https://www.southeasternontario.ca/articles/explore-the-great-outdoors-in-prince-edward-county/)