The Person

About Me…

My name is Derrick Lancaster and I was born and raised in North Frontenac, Ontario on my family’s summer resort (Lancaster’s Resort) on Mississagagon Lake. I attended North Addington Education Centre and was the quiet kid from junior kindergarten right up until graduating high school in 2004. After that, I got my degree from Brock University in Tourism and the Environment as well as a diploma from Fleming College in Fish and Wildlife, with lots of travelling in between studies and work. Among some of my favourite places include Alaska and the Canadian Territories, Cuba, Japan, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the Isle of Man. I was a caribou research technician in northern British Columbia and Ontario, an English teacher in Japan, and an intern at The Musk Ox Farm in Alaska during the winter of 2014-15. North Frontenac has always been home and, like a moth to a campfire, I always found my way back. It’s a special place.

In 2012, I purchased one of our rustic cabins (Cabin 16) and completely winterized it. I lived in it during the winters and would rent to our regular guests in the summers, but one blustery winter night in 2017 in front of my fire I thought to myself, “this place is so tranquil and relaxing, I bet people would pay to stay here in the winter too...”. Up it went on Airbnb. Since then, I’ve discovered I really do have a knack for hosting and have received over 180 five-star reviews - most of which were acquired during our typical “off-season”. It’s been so busy in the winter now that I can no longer live in it! It’s a little bittersweet actually... nevertheless I love hosting and purchased a little sliver of property along Ontario’s Mississippi River to create a private conservation area that a couple could rent for themselves for a few days. No large scale developments for this guy! I am also a newly minted Airbnb and Hipcamp Ambassador in order to assist others in setting up and sharing their own little paradises. How fun!

“Derrick was an amazing host, very helpful and quick to respond. We had an amazing stay at his place, it has so much character that in every nook you can find a thoughtful touch. The area was quite picturesque too, nestled in the woods, next to a frozen lake dotted with small islands. We will definitely be coming back here!”

— Guest Review for Cabin 16 - January 2021