New restaurant ‘Lazy Bear Lodge’ to open at Canada’s Wonderland this summer
Grace Peacock
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Multi-level venue will be the largest dining facility in the park
The largest and newest dining facility at Canada’s Wonderland is due to open later this summer and by all accounts, the restaurant will be a stunning and welcome addition when complete. ‘Lazy Bear Lodge: Wood Fired Grille’ is the official name of the new two-level, rustic restaurant and the name was inspired by a sleeping black bear that’s featured prominently on the logo. Construction of the project has been ongoing since winter and guests can’t miss the progress, with the site in its prime location on the hill overlooking Frontier Canada.
“This is a special project for Canada’s Wonderland for a few reasons,” said Peter Switzer, director of maintenance and construction. “One, it’s the largest capital investment we’ve ever made in a dining facility and two, its location is right in the middle of the park. That’s presented us with a unique challenge: finding ways to continue construction and get equipment and materials to the site while the park is in operation.”
He said the restaurant’s design reflects a time when settlers explored the country’s vast frontier and its esthetic is inspired by the striking beauty of the Canadian wilderness. Lazy Bear Lodge will feature natural materials like flagstone and wood, as well as granite stone for the fireplaces and columns.
There will be seating for 500, with indoor seating on the upper and lower floors, plus on a deck and a sprawling patio with an outdoor natural gas firepit. The venue’s ID sign will be set into a 16-foot-tall granite fireplace feature. Two additional fireplaces will warm the interior and upper deck dining areas at the rear of the restaurant.
Lazy Bear Lodge will feature a Canadian-inspired grill and cookhouse menu with locally sourced, farm-fresh ingredients. Two meat smokers will infuse a deep, rich flavour to entrees like the Lazy Bear Spice-Rubbed Wellington County Smoked Beef Brisket. Guests can also look forward to dishes like Bradford Bay Smoked BBQ Chicken, Loaded Ontario Potatoes, the Catch of the Day, and – at the restaurant’s indoor/outdoor bar - a new lineup of Canadian drinks including the classic Caesar.
Our Creative Services team and Sign Shop associates are busy working on theming details like large interior murals of breathtaking Canadian vistas, and also fabricating, painting and bringing to life more than 15 black bear statues that will be featured in playful poses inside and outside the venue. To identify them, staff have given them names like Boo Boo, Huckle Beary, Beatrice and Bruno.
Other work continues, including electrical, door and window installation, millwork, flooring and drywall installation. Lazy Bear Lodge is expected to open later this summer.
VIDEO: Construction site tour of the new Lazy Bear Lodge restaurant