Even though the Town of Wasaga Beach did not get to be official until January of 1974, its stature as the longest fresh water beach in the world has continually attracted both permanent and seasonal residents, especially from neighboring Toronto. As a result, the community has steadily increased– from 12,419 permanent occupants in 2001 to 15,029 when the 2006 census was taken.
Current population figures continue to rise, making Wasaga Beach one of the most rapidly growing communities in Canada. Ever since 2009, there has been a dramatic escalation in both the number of sales and the volume of Wasaga Beach real estate sold, indicating a good combination of new residential construction as well as seasonal and recreational properties springing up all along the popular beach front.
Locals and tourists alike are lured to Wasaga Beach by the the fourteen kilometers of family friendly sandy open beaches that include the Wasaga Beach Provincial Park, which was given the prestigious Blue Flag designation for its endeavors to manage Wasaga’s shoreline according to international environmental standards. The area provides recreation throughout the year along the sandy beaches — designated 1 through 6(with 1 and 2 being the most busy) — and in the spring and summer there are sports like various water sports or a game of frisbee to be enjoyed by everyone. The same expanse of beach turns into a wintertime gathering piont for sports enthusiasts who arrive to snowmobile and snow shoe on the well-groomed trails.
Even though a devastating fire demolished seventy percent of the main street, restaurants and apartments — along with the pedestrian mall — on November 30, 2007, Wasaga Beach growth has not stopped. Instead, the region is experiencing a massive building boom with construction currently taking place on a contemporary style beach front boardwalk with shopping, dining, and an all weather theme park attached to a monorail. To meet the requirements of the growing area, the local transit service, Georgian Coach Lines, has had to expand their routes twice since 2008 and offer service daily from 7AM to 7PM on an east-west route through the town.
Home sales soared in the first part of 2010 by 65 percent when matched against the same time last year. In March 2010, the sector experienced a huge 50 percent growth, probably because of the growing availability of services and products all over Wasaga Beach and including the Collingwood real estate sector which is close by. A large number of the recent sales were in the 350K to 500K range, which signifies a 172 percent hike for the Greater Toronto Area over the average price of residential real estate, which typically runs around 300K. This type of price surge can, partly, be attributed to recreational buyers, but it also indicates that Wasaga Beach is becoming a desirable retirement choice for more affluent residents who buy luxury properties. But undoubtedly the overall appeal of the Georgian Triangle ‘quality of life’will continue to attract the attention in a broad range of potential purchasers who are drawn by the rural beauty of Wasaga Beach, but take pleasure in the convenience of having the amenities of Toronto that is just a a short drive away.
