Cruise and Tour of Ruthven Park National Historic Site and Lunch

Ruthven Park National Historic Site is a remarkably intact 1,500-acre country estate located along the Grand River in Cayuga, Ontario, that chronicles five generations of the prominent Thompson family. Formally established in the mid-1840s, the estate reflects the political, military, and commercial evolution of 19th-century Upper Canada.  

The Thompson Dynasty (1840s–1993) 

• David Thompson I: A Scottish descendant and War of 1812 veteran, he built his wealth as a contractor on the Welland Canal and a primary promoter of the Grand River Navigation Company. He secured approximately 1,200 acres from the Crown to anchor his business enterprises.
• The Mansion (1845–1847): Thompson commissioned master builder John Latshaw to construct a majestic 33-room, 10,200-square-foot Greek Revival villa made of ashlar limestone. It is widely considered Latshaw’s residential masterpiece.

The Landscape and The Ghost Town of Indiana

The estate was masterfully modeled on the 19th-century British Picturesque style, intentionally blending structural elegance with raw nature. It features sweeping lawns, a family cemetery, a red-brick gatehouse (c. 1867), and outbuildings arranged around an enclosed central courtyard.

Directly north of the mansion lie the archaeological remnants of Indiana, a once-booming 19th-century industrial town. Founded around David Thompson’s regional milling businesses, Indiana thrived via river locks and dams. However, the bankruptcy of the Grand River Navigation Company in 1861, coupled with new railway lines bypassing the area, caused Indiana to decline into a ghost town by 1905.

The Niagara Corvette Club has arranged a private 45 minute tour for our group at 11 am on Sunday August 16^th.

We currently have room for 20 to 30 Members on this tour. If there is sufficient interest, we can try to book a second tour.

After the tour of Ruthven, we will cruise to Caledonia on the Grand River and have lunch at The Real Hammer Hogs BBQ, where we ate on a previous Grand River Fall tour.

We will then return back to Niagara along a scenic route on the south side of the Grand River, crossing at Dunnville.

Please use the RSVP button below to sign up for this tour. Please indicate the total number of Members attending (1 or 2 Guests).

The tour price is approximately $15 per couple, with members responsible for the cost of their meals. Final tour and cost details to be provided closer to the event date.

Please contact John Mytroen drive@niagaracorvetteclub.com for details.

If the event is listed as full, please email John and let him know you are interested in attending, if spaces become open, or a second tour is added.