The Windjammer Inn | Port Stanley, ON

Situated in the heart of Port Stanley, this elegant Pre Confederation home (circa 1854) has been tastefully restored to become The Windjammer Inn, and we welcome you! Our heritage inn boasts airy, comfortable rooms, modern amenities and award winning cuisine, with the focus on local ingredients prepared with global inspirations.

The Shepard House (1854) was built by Samuel Shepard, a prominent local business man and grain merchant. It was noted that his Windjammer Ships were the finest ship to grace Port Stanley’s harbour at the time and to this day the tradition of giving to ‘Shepard Top Hat’ to the first boat into the harbour in the spring of each year continues.

The Shepard family lived in the house until 1947. After that the Walton family used the residence as their family home for the next 25 years. After a few incarnations and owners, the Seaton’s ( Bill & Carmen) turned the House into a Bed & Breakfast for the first time. The restaurant on the main floor was added later. Eventually, the spirit of the house decided it needed Kim’s energy and determination to bring it to where it is today – and it would not take ‘no’ for an answer!

The perfect place to relax, reconnect and rejuvenate. Port Stanley offers beautiful beaches, a diverse arts community, live theatre, unique shopping, golf and heritage railway.

Many of the original architectural details remain throughout the house – the carved fireplace mantle and newel post on the stairs are rumoured to have come from one of Sam’s ships. The mouldings and detail on the ground floor, the wide plank floorboards on the second level, all beautifully preserved through the years, add to the charm and inviting atmosphere of this ‘grand old girl’. Modernization has had its challenges, but the character remains!

Local area attractions include Carolinian Forest, Hawk’s Cliff, Winter Wheat, Moore Water Gardens, The Arts and Cookery Bank, Sparta Country Candles and many more possibilities to explore from sailing charters to winery tours. Or simply relax, and get away from it all!

Growing up on a farm in Southwestern Ontario, Kim never imagined the life she leads today.

An avid equestrian and animal lover she set her sights on veterinary college or other medical profession after high school.

The lure of the big city took her to University of Toronto and a series of restaurant jobs to help pay for school and horses eventually took her down the hospitality path for good.

Even at that point, cooking was something she did in her spare time, much to the delight of room mates and friends – early on she showed a great talent for recreating dishes from restaurant menus and magazines. (She often quips that she was encouraged to ‘play with her food’ as a kid)

After completing a B. Comm. at Ryerson University (for a while professional student seemed a likely career choice) she honed her management skills and dreamed of opening her own restaurant.

Kim Saunders & Loyal Companion Josephine

Finally in 2007 the opportunity arose and she opened Mistral at Yonge St. and St. Clair Avenue in Toronto. During this period her first taste of commercial cooking came by way of pastry. The pastry chef at Mistral went on vacation and phoned one day to say she was staying in the islands – Kim’s partner handed her a bunch of smudged recipes and the reins to the pastry department.

Over the next few years, and restaurant ventures, including Verveine and Barrio Lounge in Toronto, she worked more closely with the chefs, in and out of the kitchen.

By the time she packed her bags and moved to Port Stanley in 2006 to take ownership of The Windjammer Inn, she was ready to stay in the kitchen and has not stopped loving it! The food loving farm girl moves to the city and comes back a chef – who knew?!?

Pets Welcome







©2010 The Windjammer Inn 324 Smith Street, Port Stanley, ON 519-782-4173 / info@thewindjammerinn.com