The park was formerly the site of an artist colony and is notable for its collection of relics saved from the demolition of buildings primarily in downtown Toronto arranged akin to ancient ruins.

Located on the Scarborough Bluffs, Guild Park and Gardens has an outdoor Greek stage and a 19th-century log cabin among the oldest in Toronto.

Along the bluffs, an east–west trail connects to Livingston Road to the west, with several points for viewing the lake.

It was first the "Ranelagh Park" estate of Col. Harold Bickford, then it became the China Mission Seminary, and the "Cliff Acres" estate of Richard Look, before it was bought in 1932 by Rosa Hewetson, who, along with her husband Spencer Clark converted it to "The Guild of all Arts" artists' colony and inn.

The plan intends to preserve the park, protect the forest, bluffs and lakeshore, and maintain the heritage buildings (inn and cabin).

Many of these had been standing for many decades and had been well-constructed, with stonework of a high quality and were considered historic to many.

They enlisted engineers, architects and hired stonemason Arthur Hibberd, and erected the remnants in the Guild gardens.

Eight marble columns, plus Corinthian capitals and arches were repurposed along with a concrete stage and steps to form an open-air theatre under the supervision of Hibberd.

James Humphreys bought the property in 1845, and his son and family are the first recorded residents in the cabin, in 1861.

As part of the 1978 sale of the Guild property, the land around the cabin came under the administration of the Conservation Authority.

The Guild Inn and surrounding area were used in the filming of The Skulls, the Warehouse 13 pilot and "Endless Terror" episodes.

It was also one of the main back settings for Canadian rapper Drake's music video for "Headlines" in 2011.