The Abandoned Mountain Ash Inn once stood along Highway 17 in Heyden, Ontario. It was known locally as a convenient stop for travellers heading north or south. A small restaurant and motel rooms were offered here. The building served tourists, workers, and families passing through the region. Its simple roadside design fit the era when long drives were common and independent motels were easy to find.
Over time, travel patterns shifted. Larger hotel chains opened in nearby Sault Ste. Marie. Maintenance costs increased, and traffic along the route changed. The property experienced fewer guests with each passing year. The restaurant eventually closed, and the rooms sat empty. The building remained in place for a while, even as weather and neglect took their toll.
For many locals, the Abandoned Mountain Ash Inn became a familiar landmark. Its faded sign could be seen from the highway. The windows were broken or boarded. Peeling paint and overgrown grass suggested its long decline. The building stood as a memory of mid-century road culture in Northern Ontario.
Explorers and curious passersby sometimes stopped to look. The hallways and former dining area showed decay and quiet. Items left behind suggested the building had once been lively. The property gained attention online as part of a broader interest in abandoned roadside motels. Stories were shared by former visitors who remembered meals or overnight stays.
In recent years, the Abandoned Mountain Ash Inn was demolished. Nothing substantial remains on the site now. Only the open land and the passing traffic mark where it once stood. Though the building is gone, its role in regional travel history continues to be remembered by those who knew it or passed by often.
