Nov 10, 20194 min read

Casa Loma: The Historically Secret Breathtaking Private Residence

The majestic Casa Loma is one of the most distinctive landmarks in Toronto. More than 350,000 tourists pass through the hall annually, wondering at the mesmerizing beauty and elegance of a bygone era.

The fanciful gothic structure councilors and its fascinating history and haunted stories made this once-a-grand home a breathtaking destination for visitors eager to taste the life Canada offered a hundred years ago.

History:

Built between 1911 and 1914 atop Davenport Hill overlooking downtown Toronto, the Casa Loma, the Spanish name for Hill House, was designed by architect E.J. Lennox on the order of his owner, financier Sir Henry Pellatt.

Pellatt has the Toronto Electric Light Company, built-in 1833 and then the chairman of twenty-one companies. By the turn of the 20th century founded, he built the first hydrogenating plant at Niagara Falls.

The construction of the house took about three years, spending about $3.5 million. It was the most significant home after the completion of the entire continent of North America.

Pellatt gathered artwork from around the world for decorating Casa Loma, and the large rooms of the castle accommodated the castle's Grand Hall's busy social calendar and grand parties.

Unfortunately, the Pellatts made ad financial decisions, sunk deeply into debt and eventually Man'sdeclared bankrupt. However, the house was abandoned in 1924Loma's and the Pellatts moved to their country home.

After this, Casa Loma became one of the most popular nightspots. In 1937, Toronto'sthe city purchased the propertyHenry'sand the Toronto Kiwanis Club volunteered its operations since then, before which this private residence served as a hotel.

Covering an area of five acres, the architecture of Casa Loma indicates the lavishing styles similar to the castles built during the Edwardian era. The Grand Hall of the Pellatts' has been decorated artistically with 6o feet ceilings and sculpted figurines adorning the beautiful pillars.

Also, Read Kehoe Haunted House Savannah: Scariest Haunted Hotel, where an entire Ghost family haunts the Guest's court.

Architecture:

The floorings and walls have been beautifully decorated with Pellatt's. from Italy and Ontariomarble. The castle also has a library, lovely herringbone-patterned boasting gs with Pellatts’ coat of arms emblazoned on the ceiling.

Casa Loma’s long history has often been riddled with spooky tales about strange noises, voices, apparitions and unseen hands grabbing visitors. The staff, as well as the tourists at the Casa Loma, have reported episodes of haunting.

The second floor is decorated as beautifully as the rest of the castle and consists of six bedrooms, including Sir Henry’s, with walnut and mahogany walls. The restroom is designed with modern 21st-century amenities with state of the art shower featuring six taps, controlled by three levels of water for a completely comfortable body shower.

The Norman Tower and the Scottish Tower compose the castle's third and topmost floor. The Norman Tower is an open area from where stunning, breathtaking views of the city can be enjoyed, while the Scottish Tower has been enclosed, and no one is allowed to climb it.

The gardens are lovely for exploration and include several perennial flowers in various colors and pretty fountains and sculptures. This 98-room castle-like private residence was augmented by Victorian-style gardens, a marble-clad warmed by steam pipes.

The hotel staff has often reported seeing a White Lady, which seems to be the most famous ghost in residence. Moreover, many guests and staff at the cafeteria attest to witnessing a woman dressed in white wandering and haunting the palace. She is believed to be a help who worked at the court during the early 1900s.

Even the previous owners of Casa Loma, the Pallatts, seem to haunt the palace and during an outdoor function in Casa Loma gardens, a young boy reported the sightings of a man at a second-floor window.

However, the second floor was locked then, and the boy's description matched shockingly with the previous owner, Sir Henry Pallett. However, hauntings by Lady Pallatt were seldom reported.

Haunted Stories of Casa Loma:

People say the demise in financial conditions forced the couple to leave Casa Loma, which led the owners' unsatisfied spirits to haunt their beloved home.

There is a reportedly creepy underground tunnel where visitors have heard strange noises and a playful spirit grabbing people by their arms and pulling their hair occasionally.

Casa Loma is not just a luxurious living and ballroom; instead, it has several military secrets of lurked in the palace's stables from the period of the Second World War. German U-boats threatened shipping services between Britain and North America during the period.

Military Secrets:

Britain developed the ASDIC device to combat this threat, which worked similarly to sonar, traced the U-boats from a distance of 8km, and required a secret laboratory for its operations.

William Corman, a Canadian engineer, was assigned the task of finding a place, and he came up with the idea of the famous Casa Stables as the research laboratory. His ideas worked well, and the councillors were silent about this.

The unsuspecting tourists of Casa Loma were unaware of the military action in progress until decades later; this secret came to the light of the public.

Casa Loma in Hollywood:

The spectacular castle and it's grand interiors and secret passageways served as an ideal setting for several Hollywood Movies. The Tuxedo featured the ballroom, exteriors and hallways; The Perfect Man’s wedding venue pictured the romantic essence of the Conservatory of Casa Loma.

Hollywood's heartthrob, Richard Gere's office in Chicago, utilized the elegant designs of the Oak Room. LadyPallatt's suit served as the prime location for Cocktail, starring Tom Cruise. The creepy tunnels leading from the stables served as the backdrop scenes in X-Men and Jean Claude Van Damme’s MDamme'sRisk.