About Inspire
Six acres on Shadow Lake, built from the ground up.
Inspire started with a simple idea: a weekend that actually feels like one. Sarah Larbi found six acres on Shadow Lake in Coboconk and brought in two partners, Harry James and Joe Ferrara, to build it with her. Three new cabins on the water, and a stretch of shoreline you don't have to share. Open year-round.
We bought the property to give people what we'd been chasing for years. A place where a weekend actually feels like one, and where the only thing on the schedule is what to do about dinner.
Sarah Larbi · Co-founder, Inspire Resort
The Founders
Sarah, Harry & Joe.
Inspire began with Sarah Larbi, who spent over a decade building businesses across Ontario before turning to hospitality. She had the idea for a set of small, themed cabins on the water, and asked Harry James and Joe Ferrara to build it with her.
The three of them bought the six-acre parcel on Shadow Lake in 2022 and got to work. Sarah still hosts a handful of retreats here each year, and answers the phone when you call.
The Land
Where the Kawarthas begin.
Coboconk sits at the northern tip of the Trent-Severn Waterway, where the patchwork of Kawartha lakes opens up into wilder country. We're on a private stretch of shoreline, 15 minutes from Balsam Lake Provincial Park, and walking distance from Coboconk's main street. Pancakes, butter tarts, and the kind of hardware store you remember.
The land is recognized traditional territory of the Mississauga Anishinaabeg, who stewarded these lakes long before any of the names changed. We acknowledge that history every day we're here.
The Build
New builds, not made-overs.
Every cabin here was built from scratch. Over two years, the three partners turned six acres of lakefront into three themed cabins, each with a private hot tub on its deck, heated bathroom floors, a full kitchen, cedar siding, and insulation built for Ontario winters.
Most of the work went to local trades from Lindsay and Bobcaygeon. They're proud of that.
What's next
The Inspire Lodge & Suites.
The next chapter is already underway. The Inspire Lodge & Suites breaks ground in spring 2026: a four-season main lodge and a set of suites that give larger groups, weddings, and retreats an indoor home on the water, alongside the three cabins.
Bookings open late 2026 or early 2027. Join the list and we'll send dates before they go public.
Press
Where this story belongs.
A short list of outlets we'd pitch for coverage: cottage-country and Toronto lifestyle media, plus design and wedding press. Real logos move up here as features land.
Suggested outreach targets · not yet confirmed coverage
Come find us
A weekend, a retreat, or all three cabins.
We're 2 hours from Toronto and open year-round. Pick a cabin, join a retreat, or take all three. We'd love to host you.