Summary:
Rest easy in the Oaktagon Tree Yurt of 1 Big Sustainable Island. This off the grid unique home is perched on a 14 acre island 1/2 mile from shore on Lake Annabessacook. The 900 sq. ft. octagonal home, built around a live Red Oak tree, is designed to make your stay comfortable in the midst of the forest canopy.
Adventure! Canoe around the island, enjoy the sights and sounds of Maine's natural beauty: fresh air, clean water, and the songs of the loons.
Serving the naturally curious since 2015.
The Space:
The Oaktagon Tree House on 1 Big Sustainable Island is an octagonal home that gets its name from the live Red Oak tree (her name is Annie) that grows through the middle of the home. It's a great place to enjoy a family vacation, host a gathering, or just unplug from hustle and bustle. Step inside and you will be awestruck by the cedar panel aroma and the sounds of living in the canopy.
It has an open cathedral living/dining room with two fold out futon couches, a small breakfast table and a large dining table that seats six. Simple living is barely "roughing it" even though electricity is limited to the solar lighting system, battery powered devices, and plumbing is eco-unconventional.
RETURNING GUESTS: We appreciate folks who return year after year. Remind us of your last stay and we'll honor last year's nightly rates. If you are looking for an exception to our minimum night requirements, please reach out.
COOKING OPTIONS: Cooking is easy, so pack light. A compact and complete kitchen has all the cooking utensils you will need to prepare meals -- just bring a cooler with your favorite food, a block of ice, and we'll provide the kitchen to get the food prep done. We supply: kitchen utensils, dishes, pots and pans, French press, coffee, tea, sugar, salt, pepper, and drinking water from our homestead well. You also can cook on the gas grill with a side burner that’s on the back deck, or over an open fire.
A small indoor 1/2 bath adds modern convenience to the experience. It is equipped with a composting toilet and hand sink. Take a hot shower (available during the non-freezing season) in a separate, shared building a few steps down the path.
Warm your hands and feet in front of the small woodstove - kindling, and infinite firewood come with the accommodations. (You can't visit Maine without at least seeing a woodstove!). Use it for cooking, creating some ambiance, or just taking the chill off a cool evening breeze.
Sleep soundly in the queen size comfy bed in the sleeping loft that is made up with extra blankets and a comforter. The futon couch converts to a queen size bed in the living room. Another lounging option is to linger in the indoor hammock that you can attach to the tree in the living room. Island life is barely "roughing it", even though there is no grid-electricity and running water.
OUTSIDE THE OAKTAGON:
The large deck looks into the canopy. It is perfect for grilling and enjoying an outdoor meal, bird watching, and having a firefly counting contest. There is also an outdoor fire pit, complete with plenty of free firewood to enjoy a fire while enjoying an evening breeze.
The Oaktagon comes equipped with a few fishing poles and a small tackle box with an assortment of jigs, flies, and line. You are welcome to use them -- just be sure to get a fishing permit before you do so you can be on the right side of Maine's fishing laws. Annabessacook is known as a world class bass fishery -- we don't even have to stock 'em -- it's that good!
FREE STUFF: Every Maine Island adventure includes: camp chairs, unlimited firewood, lantern, fire starter, matches, canoe or kayaks with life vests and gear. Explore Annabessacook Lake! On the island there is a rope swing, a mile of walking paths, benches and hammocks.
VACATIONING WITH YOUR DOG? Send us a request! The Oaktagon is pet-friendly for most of our furry friends. The dog fee is $30 per night per dog. Request permission by sending us a picture and brief description of each dog's demeanor toward other pups and humans. During the day, dogs should be leashed as there might be others visiting the island.
Guest Access:
Guests enjoy exclusive access to the Oaktagon Tree House where they can enjoy privacy and shared access to 1 Big Sustainable Island.
There's lots to do on 1 Big Sustainable Island and (as has been the tradition for generations in the neighborhood) visitors are encouraged to stop by (so expect some company from the neighborhood on the island during daylight -- after dark, however, the island is closed to the public). Activities in these shared areas include:
Hiking or walking on more than a mile of trails
Swimming
Swinging off the rope swing at the lake's edge
Cooking over an open fire
Watching the sunset from Sunset Rock
Resting in one of the hammocks sprinkled about the island
Fishing off the dock
Canoeing and Kayaking
We are happy to provide safe luggage storage so you can enjoy free early arrival or free late departure. Guests can take advantage of the shared areas and activities either before check in or after check out.
The Neighborhood:
Annabessacook Lake is our 1400 acre backyard of clear water, good fishing, and great neighbors. Whether they are year-round residents, summer vacationers, or visitors, most folks you'll meet will tell you that they have been coming here since they were a kid.
Getting Around:
Getting to the Island: You’ve got check in options
CHECK IN YOURSELF by:
* Bringing your own boat or boat plane - we have a public boat launch, free parking for your rig at our place, and free island dock space available.
* Paddling yourself - Take one of our canoes or kayaks and paddle the 30 minute trip across the lake to your stay. We can shuttle your gear on the next ferry if you want. Or,
CHECK IN WITH FERRY SERVICE:
Free ferry service to the island runs at:
* 9:45 Early Arrival - We’ll shuttle you to 1 Big Sustainable Island early and while your stay is being prepared, you can begin your “Island Time” early. We’ll safely stow your gear and let you know as soon as your accommodations are ready.
* 3pm and 5pm - With the standard checkin ferry, we’ll move your crew and your gear to the island and help get you settled in.
Pre-arranged Ferry Service is available at other times for a one-way Fee. All paddled boats need to be off the water by sundown. Seats on all of our ferry services are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so it's important to make your reservation early. We'll transport your gear and all your guests on this 10 minute private boat ride.
FREE PARKING: Park in our private parking area for free. Cart your gear to our dock and begin your "Island Time" journey.
Other Things to Note:
OUTHOUSAPHOBES: We're with you!
New guests might wonder about our island, off-the-grid bathrooms. Rest assured that our compost toilets are designed with usability in mind. They smell great!
We have all been to rural outhouses where this is not the case. It's the number 1 complaint (or is that #2?). Which is why, when we built each of our toilets facilities, we did something different. Through management of airflow, separation of liquids from solids, application of saw dust, and optimizing the force of gravity, we have a composting toilet system that has been in place for years with very little odor and maximum sanitation. So rest easy: if a member of your party is an "outhousaphobe", know that so are we!
CAN'T FIND THE DATES YOU'RE LOOKING FOR?
Check out all seven of our Maine Island eco-retreat listings at 1 Big Sustainable Island.
LOOKING FOR A SHORT STAY OR WANT A SUPER DEAL?
So that guests looking for longer stays have options, our minimum night stay (MNS) requirements tend to start high in the season and then fade away. So if you've got a quick stay in mind and are surprised by our MNS requirements, please check back with us. The closer we get to an empty night, the more flexible we will be.
Same goes for our pricing: if you've got specific dates or stay in mind, book early for the sure thing. But if you're flexible on dates, flexible on which stay you want, and don't mind biting your nails while waiting for the price you like, then save the link and check back with us later. We have a first-come, first-served booking policy, but our pricing gets lower, the closer we are to an empty night.
Packing Advice for glampers: PACK LIGHT!
WHAT SHOULD I BRING?
• Cooler with ice (We'll replace thawed ice for FREE)
• Favorite foods and beverages
• Cable for your cell phone (We'll provide juice for your phone recharge)
• Sunscreen and bug repellent
• Layers of warm clothing
• Headlamp or flashlight with extra batteries
• Fishing permit, if you're over 16 and plan to fish
• Water shoes for swimming
• Curiosity and a sense of humor
Our Rates include:
• Free canoes, kayaks, paddles and life vests
• Dock access
• Hammock
• Camp chairs
• Unlimited firewood
• Out door fire pit
• Indoor woodstove
• Adjustable grill for cooking over the fire
• Gas grill with side burner
• Pots, pans
• Dishes
• Utensils
• Biodegradable soap
• Sheets
• Towels
• Playing Cards
• Lanterns
• Dad jokes and exclamation points!
REMOTE WORK - Wifi, cell, and battery recharges
Cell reception registers 3 bars and 5G on the island . So, with any smartphone, you can work remotely. Bring your cord and we'll take phone and laptop battery charging from there. If you need our data plan, we offer a mobile hotspot upon request. There is a catch, however. We can keep a secret, if you need us to. Telling the office how easy it is to get work done on your island adventure will be up to you!
