Riverbend Inn & Vineyard

This historic property which sits on the banks of the Niagara River at the nexus of the Commons, the Parkway, and old town Niagara-On-The-Lake, dates back to 1809. The property was originally deeded to William McClellan, a fruit farmer who built a modest stone farmhouse on the land. In 1860, the farm was purchased by Dr. Thomas Halliday Watt, a consulting surgeon who was born in the United Kingdom. Dr. Watt and his wife Emily had nine children, farmed the fruit trees on the property, and built a large 6500 square foot red brick Georgian mansion. After his first wife died in 1880, Dr. Watt married Millicent Wright and had three more children. Dr. Watt continued to practice medicine until his death in 1902 and is buried in St. Mark’s cemetery. After remaining in the Watt family until 1908, the property was sold several times until Brigadier-General Charles Nelles purchased it. In 1920, General Nelles, a distinguished Canadian veteran who served with the Royal Canadian Dragoons, planted the majestic oak trees that still grace the property and hence named the land “Oaklands”. He served as mayor of Niagara-On-The-Lake from 1929-1930 and became the first president of the N-O-T-L Legion, Branch 124. His son, Admiral Percy W. Nelles, was a flag officer in the Royal Canadian Navy and had an illustrious naval career. With our comfortable boardroom on the first floor, our Coach House a few steps away, Riverbend Inn & Vineyard offers an intimate venue for any social or business event, with all of Niagara Wine Country at your disposal to add on an activity that will delight your guests. Plus, with Peller Estates just across the vineyards, the hotel has easy access to all of their event spaces.