A Pirate’s Paradise! $1 Million Home In ‘Canada’s Caribbean’ Overlooks Real-Life Shipwreck

There is a rare opportunity to own a waterfront property on "Canada’s Caribbean", with 132 Big Tub Road, Tobermory Ontario, hitting the market for C$1,350,000 (US$985,000).

Located at the very tip of the Bruce Peninsula, the home has a feature no ordinary lake house can claim: front-row seats to a shipwreck.

Big Tub Harbour itself is one of the deepest natural harbors in the Great Lakes, long known as a safe haven for ships traveling Georgian Bay. Today, it’s better known for its postcard-worthy scenery and as one of the most visited dive sites in Canada.

"This property sits right in front of one of the historic sunken ships in Big Tub Harbour," says listing agent Darlene Kentel. "It’s waterfront, it’s spacious, and it’s in a very special, historic location."

The three-bedroom, two-bath, 2,500-square-foot home looks out over the crystal waters of Fathom Five National Marine Park.

Below the surface lie the Sweepstakes and the City of Grand Rapids, 19th-century wooden schooners that sank in the harbor and are now among the most photographed shipwrecks in Canada.

"Tobermory is famous internationally," says Kentel, who lives in the area. "We have a lot of divers who come here because Georgian Bay’s fresh, cold water has preserved these ships so well. It looks like Caribbean water, but it’s a cold, cold lake."

Whether snorkeling, kayaking, or simply gazing from the deck, future owners can enjoy daily scenes that feel straight out of a seafaring adventure.

Private Retreat on Big Tub Harbour

While the shipwreck adds a touch of pirate drama, the home itself offers peace and privacy. Set back from the road, it’s surrounded by mature trees that screen it from passing boaters.

“The trees give a tremendous amount of privacy,” Kentel notes. “It was designed that way on purpose, you still get great views of the water, but you don’t feel like everyone’s looking in.”

The home also respects the protected shoreline. Because docks can’t be permanent within the marine park, the property includes removable docks, preserving the natural waterfront.

Inside, the home blends comfort with craftsmanship. A grand great room with vaulted white-pine ceilings frames views of Big Tub Harbour, while open-concept dining and a games-room bar make it ideal for entertaining.

Attention to detail is everywhere: locally crafted walnut stairs, custom bathroom vanities, and hand-finished woodwork designed by a local contractor. Large windows bring the outdoors in, allowing residents to enjoy the changing moods of the bay in every season- from golden summer sunsets to snow-dusted evergreens in winter. The home’s open layout and multiple decks make it equally well suited for quiet retreats or hosting friends after a day on the water.

“There’s been only one owner since it was built,” Kentel says. “It was lovingly designed and cared for.”

A Treasure Hard to Find

Homes on Big Tub Road rarely come up for sale, with many passed down through families for generations. Kentel, who lives nearby, calls it a “legacy area.”

“It’s a tight-knit community. Neighbors watch out for each other’s homes, feed each other’s cats when they’re away,” she says with a laugh. “It’s a little haven at the very end of the peninsula.”

The area is a paradise in the summer and it surges with visitors in warmer months who are drawn to the area for boating or hiking in the Bruce Peninsula National Park.

The small village also comes alive with boat tours and ice cream shops, and has earned a reputation as Ontario’s diving capital, attracting visitors from across Canada and beyond.

Winter brings snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and snowmobiling for locals who can embrace the solitude and natural beauty of the peninsula.

This rare listing offers more than a home. It’s a chance to claim a piece of Canadian maritime history, live in a protected UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, and wake up every day to views that would make a pirate jealous.

As Kentel puts it: “It’s just a beautiful, well-loved home in a very unique, special location.”