Killbear Marina
After many, many years and three boats, we are finally leaving Killbear Marina. Our boat, the Split Crow, is being launched by Will and Ed Reichenbacher for the last time this morning. Dennis is planning on bringing the boat to Bob’s Point today and we will keep it there until June 29th. That’s when I finish work and we can start our summer vacation and the beginning of our trip out to the East coast.
Staying at Killbear Marina has been great for a number of reasons. First of all, it is located on Georgian Bay, near the outskirts, so we don’t have to motor for two hours to get out of the Big Sound area in Parry Sound. There are many great places near Killbear to sail and to anchor. For example, Regatta Bay, one of our favourite anchorages, is just around the corner.
Killbear is also a full service marina and probably the best place in the Parry Sound area to launch big boats. The marina has a travel lift, grocery store, restaurant and a marine supply store so we can always get what we need without having to drive the 40 minutes into Parry Sound.
We have stayed at Killbear for many years, since we first moved to Parry Sound in 1997 when we had Hetarae. The owners of the marina are Will and Ed Reichenbacher – two brothers who have taken over the operation of the marina from their father Deiter, who started the marina many years ago. Will and his wife Wendy, have two girls and Ed and his wife Sharon have a boy and girl. The kids all attended Nobel School where I taught for many years. Our son Nick has also worked at Killbear since he was 15 being a dock boy and general helper in the summers.
So, although we are happy to get going on our next adventure, we are sad to leave to leave the marina. However, it is time to get going on our adventure and I am counting the days until school is done!
After many, many years and three boats, we are finally leaving Killbear Marina. Our boat, the Split Crow, is being launched by Will and Ed Reichenbacher for the last time this morning. Dennis is planning on bringing the boat to Bob’s Point today and we will keep it there until June 29th. That’s when I finish work and we can start our summer vacation and the beginning of our trip out to the East coast.
Split Crow 
Monika Will (maiden name)
October 17, 2015 at 11:53 pm
Hope all is well. you all came into my mind this evening. Omi (Margret Will) is now 81 and suffers from memory loss, dementia.She does speak of you often. Best wishes, Monika.
Lisa Smider
July 16, 2018 at 12:39 am
Hmmm, this is the 2nd time I’ve read that Killbear Marina was started by the Reichenbacher family. That is not correct!
My family, the Smider’s, sold Killbear Marina to the Reichenbacher’s in 1984 after 17 years of building the Marina up from next to nothing. The owner before us was named Art Forshaw and he bought the Marina from Roy Smith, who actually started the Marina (in the 1960’s).
Skip Allen
June 23, 2021 at 7:38 pm
To Lisa Smider… Our family has been vacationing on Bateau Island since 1941 (Mason Douglas clan). I am now trying to write up some history on the islanders around Bateau, and would live to include some info and a few pictures on Killbear Marina. It would be wonderful if you had any pictures of your family during their time owning the Marina…. I personally remember the Smiders fondly during the years 1974 to 1984.
If you do, you can contact me at bsbagby@comcast.net
Skip Allen Bateau Island
610-745-3602