Elora Mill Hotel & Spa is adding nine new hotel rooms this October inside a restored piece of local history, the Walser Building, a structure that dates to 1851 and sits across the river from the main property in Elora, Ontario. The new rooms will overlook the Elora Gorge, expanding the destination’s accommodations while putting a long-neglected building back to work.
According to the hotel, the project marks the eighth heritage restoration on the property. The Walser Building spent roughly two decades as a roofless ruin before being brought back into use.
Along with the guest rooms, the building will feature an unusual rooftop amenity: a hot tub with views over the gorge. Parties that book all nine rooms will be able to reserve the rooftop exclusively.
The top floor will include the premium Walser Suite, with an outdoor terrace, a private dining room, and wide views of the gorge. On the main level, the building will house a Bardō restaurant. A lower-level space called the Riverview Room is planned as a gathering and collaboration area for corporate retreats and interactive dining.
Originally built as a mid-19th-century manufacturing hub, the Walser Building survived fires and multiple ownership changes before falling into disrepair. Pearle Hospitality acquired the building in 2017 and began a restoration intended to preserve its historic character, working in partnership with the Township of Centre Wellington. The hotel said traditional masonry techniques were used as part of that restoration, a detail that highlights how skilled craft labor still plays a central role when communities choose rehabilitation over replacement.
Rooms in the Walser Building are now available to book for stays beginning in October 2026.
Read the full, original article from FTN news here.