Casa Loma

Due to its unique Toronto architectural, Casa Loma has been a popular location for movies and TV. For example, it has served as a location for movies such as X-Men, Strange Brew, Chicago, The Tuxedo, and The Pacifier.

In 1903 Sir Henry Pellatt commissioned Canadian architect E.J. Lennox to design Casa Loma with construction beginning in 1911. The house cost approximately $3.5 million and took a team of 300 workers three years to build from start to finish. Unfortunately, due to the start of World War I construction on the house was halted. At 98 rooms, it was the largest private residence in Canada. Notable amenities included an elevator, an oven large enough to cook an ox, two vertical passages for pipe organs, central vacuum, two secret passages in Sir Henry's ground-floor office.
During the depression that followed World War One, the City of Toronto increased Casa Loma's annual property taxes from $600 per year to $1,000 a month, and Pellatt, already experiencing financial difficulties, was forced to auction off $1.5 million in art and furnishings for only $250,000. Sir Henry was able to enjoy life in the house for less than ten years, leaving in 1923.
It was later operated for a short time as a luxury hotel. During the late 1920s Casa Loma was also a popular nightspot. The Orange Blossoms, later known as Glen Gray and the Casa Loma Orchestra, played there for eight months in 1927–1928. Shortly thereafter, they went on tour of North America and became a major swing era dance band. The city then seized Casa Loma in 1933 for $27,303 in back taxes.
Casa Loma has five acres of gardens. An underground tunnel connects Casa Loma to the Hunting Lodge and to The Stables (Garage, Potting Shed, Stalls, Carriage Room and Tack Rooms).
Due to its unique architectural character in Toronto, Casa Loma has been a popular location for movies and TV. For example, it has served as a location for movies such as X-Men, Strange Brew, Chicago, The Tuxedo, and The Pacifier. Comic books and children's novels that have used it include the Scott Pilgrim series and Eric Wilson's murder mystery, The Lost Treasure of Casa Loma. It was also temporarily transformed into "Hogwarts" for the release of the 7th Harry Potter book. In the CBC Television show Being Erica, the episode "Mi Casa, Su Casa Loma" features Casa Loma prominently as the place where main character Erica Strange works. Casa Loma also served in the movie adaptation of R.L. Stine's novel A Night In Terror Tower
This picture was taken during a trip to Canada celebrating our 30th wedding anniversary. It is my wife Valerie and I in front of our 1963 Chrysler Newport. We were fortunate to travel to Canada in the late 1990's on various business trips. During these trips my wife and I became enamored with Canada, the city of Toronto, Casa Loma and the people we encountered along the way.
The next six images are of the meticulously maintained flower gardens in the rear of Casa Loma.
The next five images are a few favorite shots from inside Casa Loma.