Elliot Lake population to burst with cottagers.

• Author: Ross, Ian
• Position: SPECIAL REPORT: ELLIOT LAKE/NORTH SHORE - Survey

'Buy land. They ain't making any more of the stuff.'

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More than a few 40-ish couples are taking humourist Will Rogers' time-honoured advice.

For years, the City of Elliot Lake has been branding itself as the retirement capital of Canada.

But there's a younger crowd snapping up prime lakefront lots in the North Shore community of 11,500. And it's a far cry from being shuffleboard city.

They're not yuppies or wealthy Torontonians. They're teachers, engineers, plumbers, computer programmers; solid middle class people with better than average incomes.

A Laurentian University study released last winter indicates couples in their mid-40s are willing to drive five or more hours from Sudbury, Kitchener, London, Barrie, and the communities of the Golden Horseshoe, to get their slice of vacation wilderness heaven in Elliot Lake.

"This is a whole new element to the city," says Norm O'Reilly, the director of Laurentian University's school of sports administration, who released the findings to Elliot Lake community leaders of a consumer-based survey of 80 new property owners. "It's cottage country"

The dream of owning some coveted waterfront recreational property is a motivating factor for those who've purchased lots on Dunlop and Quirke Lakes, located about 10 kilometres north of town.

Many buyers are savvy enough to realize its investment potential as well as having a future retirement home.

But most of all, "it's enjoyment now," says O'Reilly.

Price point is Elliot Lake's big advantage. Many cottage seekers want a weekend getaway at less-than-Muskoka prices.

Most popular are the one acre to one-and-half acre undeveloped lots ranging between $40,000 to $60,000.

It's resulted in a cottage building frenzy north of the city on former Crown land.

The revival of Elliot Lake from hard-luck uranium mining town to retirement community is the stuff of Northern Ontario legend. But the arrival and expansion of new cottage development may usher in a new wave of population with a waterfront development project that marries sound business tactics with 'green' development practices.

Elliot Lake's cottage development was mentioned in a recent Re/Max national snapshot as being among the best bargains in waterfront recreational properties in Canada with a price point under $250,000.

The Laurentian survey results are no surprise to Wayne Wilcox, CEO of Lakeshore Properties. It only confirms what he's known anecdotally from clients.

The survey...