Businessman and investor says area is 'the Hamptons of Canada'

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Shark Tank judge Robert Herjavec has opened the doors to his lakeside home in the Muskoka region of Ontario. Herjavec, who was born in Croatia and immigrated to Canada as a child, shares the retreat with his wife Kym Johnson-Herjavec and their eight-year-old twins.

In a tour with Homeworthy.com, he said that having a residence in the area was particularly significant since he grew up in a one-room apartment and his family didn’t have a lot of money.

“Muskoka is heaven on earth for many people,” said Herjavec, 64. “It is about two hours north of Toronto. Some people call it the Hamptons of Canada.”

Johnson-Herjavec, who’s originally from Australia, added that the home helps the family stay connected to life north of the 49th parallel.

“When we had our kids, I think it was really important to them to have a little bit of Canadian roots. I think it doesn’t get more Canadian than the lakes,” she said.

The property sits on three acres of land and holds a main house as well as a boathouse, guest house, garage, and detached gym. The kitchen and dining area have an open layout, allowing for unobstructed views outside.

“One of the great things about the house, and in this room is, it’s almost flat,” said Herjavec. “It’s almost like being on a ship. Everywhere you look you can see water, which is pretty rare up here.”

A folding glass wall leads to an indoor-outdoor area the couple dubs their “Muskoka room,” which boasts a fireplace, television, and barbecue setup. It’s all enclosed with a retractable screen that keeps insects at bay.

There’s plenty to do outside, with a pizza oven, hot tub, sauna, and pickleball court among the amenities. A detached boathouse sits at the bottom of a hill.

“Muskoka is all about the boathouse. I mean, if they would let you, people just have a boathouse and no house at all,” said Herjavec.

In recent interview with the Wall Street Journal, the businessman and investor spoke about moving to Canada in the early 1970s. He and his family arrived in Halifax with only “$50 and our suitcases” and none of them could “read, write or speak English.”

They moved to Toronto and lived in the basement of his mom’s friend before finding a one-bedroom apartment. His parents bought a two-bedroom house when he was 14.

Herjavec met his current wife while competing on Dancing With the Stars. They married in 2016 and spend most of their time in New York City and Los Angeles. Herjavec also has homes in Montana and Australia, according to People.