History
The History of Big Gull Lake
From a remote Clarendon Lake to one of Ontario's most cherished cottage destinations.
Clarendon Lake
Big Gull Lake was originally known as Clarendon Lake, named after Clarendon Township in what is now North Frontenac. The lake sits on the Canadian Shield in Frontenac County, stretching 21 km through granite ridges and boreal forest. European settlement of the area dates to the early 1800s, though Indigenous peoples used the waterway for centuries before that.
Viking Lodge — Pre-Confederation
One of the oldest European-built structures in the region, Viking Lodge was constructed in the late 1800s as a fishing and hunting camp. The log cabin still stands on the lake today and is believed to be one of the oldest continuously used cottage properties in North Frontenac. Its survival speaks to the enduring appeal of the lake — visitors have been coming here for well over a century.
Kirk Kove and the Water Ski Shows
Kirk Kove resort has operated for over 90 years on Big Gull Lake. In the 1950s and 1960s, it became famous for its spectacular water ski shows. Co-owners Guy and Bonnie Weese had performed at Cypress Gardens in Florida — widely regarded as the water-skiing capital of the world — before bringing their talents to North Frontenac.
The shows featured human pyramids, barefoot skiing, jump shows, and choreographed routines. Hundreds of spectators would line the shoreline on summer weekends to watch. The tradition put Big Gull Lake on the map as a recreational destination beyond just fishing.
Walleye Stocking and Conservation
The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources began stocking walleye in Big Gull Lake in 1925. Over the next 26 years, more than 12 million walleye fry were released into the lake. This systematic stocking effort established the walleye fishery that the lake is known for today.
In 1988, the Big Gull Lake East End Cottage Association (BGLEECA) partnered with the Ministry on a landmark habitat enhancement project. Volunteers hauled 64 tons of rock by boat to create and enhance walleye spawning beds in key locations. Follow-up surveys showed measurably increased walleye reproduction in the years following the project.
The BGLEECA continues to manage the cottage community today, running water quality monitoring programs, invasive species awareness campaigns, and shoreline stewardship initiatives. The association works with the Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority (MVC), which has monitored the lake's water quality since 1973.
The Lake Today
Big Gull Lake remains relatively undeveloped compared to many Ontario cottage lakes. There are no towns on the shoreline, no commercial strip, and no public beach — just 88 km of quiet Canadian Shield shoreline, 30+ islands, and the same crystal-clear water that drew the first settlers over 150 years ago.
The lake falls within Fisheries Management Zone 18 with carefully regulated catch limits. Water quality has steadily improved since the first measurements in 1975. And the cottage community — through BGLEECA and the broader North Frontenac Parklands system — continues to steward the lake for future generations.