By Rose Simpson
Pangea House sits just steps from the quaint shops and restaurants in Gananoque, a small Eastern Ontario town that proudly advertises itself as “The Gateway to the Thousand Islands.” Located conveniently on the Highway 401 corridor, “Gan” is a jewel of a town with a vibrant arts and cultural community, a stunning waterfront and biking and ski trails that seem to go on forever.
There are many beautiful and well-appointed bed and breakfasts to serve guests who come for a getaway to cozy up with a good book, meet up with friends or take a helicopter ride around the region.
But Pangea stands out from the crowd—literally. It is a sprawling and imposing 6,000-square-foot heritage mansion one might expect to be the home of a railway baron or an eccentric scion of a wealthy family. You can’t miss it. It’s big and painted the yellow of a Post-it note, bringing to mind a house that might teeter on the side of a cliff in Newfoundland.
It could easily stand in as the perfect setting for a Hallmark movie or a murder mystery with secret staircases and candlesticks. As one might expect in a B & B, the first floor is appointed with antiques and artifacts and boasts a library, sunroom, lounge and games room. A maximum of 10 adult guests can discover its nooks and crannies to hide away from the world or snuggle by the fireplace. The more social guests are often found around a long dining table swapping travel stories and tucking into gourmet meals prepared by “Cheoff” Geoff Dennis, who owns the place with his partner Jody Lundigran.
Typical, you might say. But like the setting of a murder mystery, Pangea is a place of twists and turns where everything is not always what it seems.
As guests ascend the staircase to the second floor, they enter a completely new world. Each room is decorated in a different theme: Africa, Antarctica, South America, Australia and Asia. You choose the setting you desire, discovering it’s the perfect place for a staycation to chill, dream of new adventures and reminisce about past ones.
“We knew we wanted this place to be travel-themed,” says Jody. “As a couple, what connected us was our love of travel and we have travelled to many, many countries. We’ve done all continents—and the name Pangea comes from the name of the supercontinent which existed before the continents separated.”
The food is also inspired by their travels. Breakfast can include such exotic international offerings as shakshuka, a North African dish of eggs poached in a spicey tomato sauce, or Ful medames (Egyptian fava bean stew) served with poached eggs. These delights are accompanied with homemade baked goods.
Pangea House also offers guests the option of adding a five-course dining experience that includes dishes from all over the world. Geoff sends visitors the menu to ensure that there are no allergies or aversions to the food and he encourages guests to give his sampling a try, even if the food might seem exotic.
“When I send them the menu, it’s their chance to say if they can’t eat something,” Geoff says. “It’s fun because sometimes I can convert people to new foods they’ve never tried, like duck or lamb. I’m grateful when people have an open mind and try something they’ve never had.
“We wanted the culinary program to be a real factor to set us apart from the many inns in town,” says Geoff. “The culinary side is a draw for people and ties into our celebration of a place or region.”
Seasoned travellers are attracted to the ambience of Pangea House because the rooms remind them of past travel, says Jody.
“They definitely come for rooms,” she says. “One visitor wanted the Asian room because they once taught English as a second language there for a year. Another wants the Australia room because they come from there. Another came because they’ve always wanted to do an African safari.
“It’s a great conversation starter when they pick a room and have a travel story and we have our own travel stories.”
Running Pangea House wasn’t always in the cards for the Toronto-based couple, who once dreamed of opening a spot in Belize and were saving up for their dream when the pandemic hit.
“We asked ourselves what would happen if we were away from home, away from our families,” explains Jody. “We decided, instead of doing something internationally, we should do something at home.”
At the time, Geoff was working as a chef/manager in an industry with no customers and Jody was a fundraising and marketing executive working with clients who were also adversely affected by the pandemic economy.
They realized the time was right, sold their condo and found Pangea House on the advice of a family friend.
“I was looking for a three bedroom,” Geoff laughs. “Not 6,000 square feet and nine different bathrooms. But we realized Gan was perfect as a tourist destination. It’s a kind of hidden gem with boaters, islanders. It is so special and the people are so nice.
“And the house was well kept, and it’s become a beacon because of the colour. It has an East Coast vibe to it.”
For more information, visit www.pangeahouse.ca.
