Rooms
The hotel is an all-suite tower that has been refurbished in recent years. Its regular deluxe suites take one king or two double beds, and the resort lists a gas fireplace, living-room furniture, a large casting-ready television, a mini fridge, an in-room safe and climate controls in them. Above those sit parlour suites, where the bedroom is a separate room from the lounge, and a club level reached by its own elevator. Some suites have jetted tubs; if that matters to you, name it when you book rather than hoping for it at the desk.
Accessible rooms are listed with wider doorways, lower counters, support bars and strobe alerts for guests who are hard of hearing. Interior design draws on the setting and the history of the Rama community. Views differ a great deal from floor to floor, so if you would like to see trees or water from the window, ask what each room type faces when you reserve.
Pools & spa
Salt water fills the indoor pool, and tall windows bring in daylight, which makes it a pleasant place on a grey February afternoon. It shares a floor with a hot tub, steam rooms, saunas, locker rooms and a renovated fitness room. Opening hours and any guest-only rules are worth confirming at check-in.
The Spa at Rama Resort sits on the main floor near the hotel lobby and is open every day of the week. Its menu covers relaxation and hot-stone massage, registered massage therapy, facials and hand and foot care; some services carry minimum ages. The spa asks for a day's notice to cancel an appointment, and it suggests bringing your own sandals. Book treatments ahead on weekends, when appointments fill first.
Restaurants & bars
The headline room is ATLAS Steak + Fish, set in the space long known as St. Germain's, for a slower dinner with steaks and seafood. Around it are a pub-style eatery, a noodle bar, a buffet, a Tim Hortons for the morning coffee run, and The Weirs, where hotel guests take breakfast in the lobby. There are also a couple of lounges and bars for a drink before or after a concert.
Menus, opening days and the need for reservations change through the year and on show nights. If you are arriving late, or have a dietary need such as gluten-free or halal food, ask the hotel which kitchens will be open during your stay.
Shows & entertainment
The resort's Entertainment Centre is a proper concert hall with retractable seating, house technicians and full stage equipment, and over the years it has drawn well-known touring musicians alongside regional productions. For many guests the evening show is the real reason to stay the night, since it saves a long dark drive back down the highway.
The resort states that guests must be 19 or older, with government photo ID, to enter the Entertainment Centre. Check the event listing on the official site for start times, any age notes for a particular show and whether a hotel package is offered with tickets. The building also has a large block of meeting and event rooms, so a conference may be in town while you are there.
What's nearby
Rama First Nation lies along Lake Couchiching's eastern shore, and Lake Simcoe opens just to the south. Where the two lakes meet at the Atherley Narrows lie the Mnjikaning Fish Weirs, a National Historic Site: wooden fences built in the water by Indigenous peoples thousands of years ago to harvest fish, and still cared for today. It is worth reading about before you visit, and it is a short drive from the hotel.
Across the narrows is the city of Orillia, with an older main street of independent shops, bakeries and cafés, the Orillia Opera House, the Orillia Museum of Art and History and the Stephen Leacock Museum, the author's former summer house. The Trent-Severn Waterway passes through the area, and the whole region is classic Ontario cottage country: bright summers on the water, strong autumn colour, and quiet snowy winters.
How to get there
Most visitors drive. From Toronto, take Highway 400 north towards Barrie, continue on Highway 11 to Orillia, leave at the Highway 12 exit and follow the signs east to Rama Road. The resort's own estimate is around ninety minutes' driving; summer weekends and holiday Mondays can stretch that well beyond, so leave early or late.
The resort also mentions coach and charter options from some communities. Valet parking and bell service are listed for hotel guests; ask the hotel what self-parking is available and whether any parking charge applies. Flying in, Toronto Pearson is the nearest large airport; ask the hotel whether it can suggest a shuttle or private transfer for the rest of the way. In winter, check the road conditions on Highway 11 before setting out.
Practical information
Fees and policies change more often than anything else in a hotel review, so instead of quoting them we list what to ask.
| Topic | What to confirm | Where to check |
|---|
| Resort fee | Whether the rate includes a nightly resort or amenity charge, and what that pays for. | The hotel, before you pay |
|---|
| Parking | Valet is listed. Ask about self-parking, any charge for either, and space for larger vehicles. | Hotel front desk |
|---|
| Cancellation | The cut-off for a free cancellation, and whether prepaid or package rates follow different rules. | Your booking confirmation |
|---|
| Best season | Summer for the lakes, early autumn for colour and calmer roads, winter for a quiet indoor break. Check the concert listing for your dates. | Official events page |
|---|
| Check-in age | The minimum age to check in as the main guest, and what ID is needed. Several venues admit 19+ only. | The hotel directly |
|---|
| Accessibility | Which accessible room types are free on your dates and how far they are from the elevators. | Reservations team |
|---|
Two lakeside alternatives
When a quieter or more family-centred stay suits you better, these two properties near the water make sensible choices. Neither link carries a commission arrangement, and both are marked nofollow.
F
Fern Resort
Near Orillia, on Lake Couchiching
An all-inclusive lakeside resort with organized activities for children, so it suits families who want meals and entertainment handled in one place.
D
Deerhurst Resort
Huntsville, Muskoka, on Peninsula Lake
A large four-season lakeside resort further north; worth the extra drive if you want more forest, water and trails around you.
Questions people ask
Who publishes this review, and is it independent?
No. Our publisher, the Chippewas of Rama First Nation, has a stake in the property: the resort is on the First Nation's land, the First Nation holds property rights in it through an affiliate alongside OLG, and Gateway Casinos & Entertainment operates it under an agreement with OLG. Read the review with that interest in mind.
Is it worth staying if I mainly want rest and a concert?
That is the stay this page is written for. The suites, pool, spa and concert hall make a full weekend without leaving the building, and the lakes and Orillia fill a slow afternoon.
How long is the drive from Toronto?
The resort calls it about an hour and a half via Highway 400 and Highway 11. Traffic heading to cottage country on summer Fridays can add a lot of time.
Will I pay anything beyond the nightly rate?
It depends on the rate and the season. Ask the hotel whether a resort or amenity fee is charged, and whether parking costs anything, before you confirm the booking.
What is the minimum age?
The resort requires guests to be 19 or older, with photo ID, for the Entertainment Centre and some other areas. The minimum age to check in is a separate question to put to the hotel.
Which months suit a visit best?
July and August suit swimmers and boaters; September and October bring colour and lighter traffic; winter is quiet and best for a spa-and-show break.
Do bookings made through this page pay anyone?
Yes. Some links can pay us a commission, and because the publisher has an interest in the resort, direct bookings can benefit it too. Both routes are set out on our Affiliate Disclosure page.
Our method
Sources for every section were the resort's own published pages, cross-read with provincial tourism listings and news reporting on the property. Where a point resisted confirmation, the text stays broad or tells you what to ask at the front desk. You will find no invented guest quotes, grades or awards here, and no room counts or prices.
Repeated from the page head: This site contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you follow a link and make a booking/purchase or download, at no extra cost to you. Because the publisher has an interest in the resort, please compare this page with independent sources before you book. Corrections are welcome at contact@arcaneplay.com.