Two Spectacular Islands - 3 Houses - 11 BR - Sleeps 24 Port Clyde, Maine Vacation Rental by Owner Listing 188207

Aerial view of McGee and Barter Islands

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Location: Port Clyde, Mid-Coast & Islands, Maine, USA (2 Hrs. east-north-east of Portland, 30 Min. South of Camden) View Map

Accommodations:  Island, 11 Bedrooms + Office, 6.5 Baths (Sleeps 22-25)

This property occupies arguably one of the most spectacularly beautiful spots in the world. Three miles west-southwest of Port Clyde, Maine, the islands of McGee and Barter nestle together to form a deep-water natural harbor large enough to accommodate most yachts and power boats.

McGee Island is the larger of the two islands and has three residential structures, the Main House, the Cook House, and the Little Boat House. There are beds for 24 people, but we’ve used tents and sleeping bags to increase that number during family weddings.

The Main House is a beautiful, traditional, shingled "summer cottage" built between 1913 and 1915. The interior walls were left exposed showing the beautiful wood that was used to construct the building. While the mattress and bedding are new, many of the chairs, lamps, and decorations date from 1910’s giving the building a wonderful feeling of antiquity and a slower more relaxed pace of life.

The Main House has nine bedrooms which can sleep 17 adults / kids plus a crib. There is a newly built partially-enclosed outdoor shower hidden in the back as well as four full bathrooms each equipped with a full-length bath tub for those who enjoy soaking in the hot water.

Centrally located in the house and looking out over the water is a spacious, book-lined living room with a large fireplace. The living room is a favorite gathering place in the evening with comfortable chairs and a roaring fire that beckon us to curl up with a good book, engage in conversation, or gather around a table to play a card or board game. There also is a baby grand piano for the musically-inclined and for family sing-alongs.

The Main House is surrounded by both covered and sun-drenched porches providing ample space to congregate, talk, read a book, lie in the sun, or just gaze out on the Atlantic Ocean and neighboring islands. The front porch also offers a wonderful vantage point for watching the full moon rise and for marveling at the Milky Way unobstructed by the mainland’s light pollution.

The original portion of the Cook House was built in the late 1700’s and later expanded. The kitchen is equipped with modern appliances except there is no dishwasher. Although the kitchen table is designed for seven or eight people, it is the central focal point for breakfast and lunch despite our numbers. The kitchen also has a non-working old-fashion wood stove that provides a sense of quaint charm to the room. There is a separate dinning room that can seat up to 22 (more if everyone squeezes a bit) and has been the site of countless lobster dinners. The Cook House also has a full bathroom with a shower and a large bedroom upstairs that can sleep three.

The Little Boat House, also built in the early 1900’s, is located right on the water. It has a porch, a comfortable living room, a kitchen and a bathroom on the first floor and a large bedroom with two queen beds upstairs. This building is a favorite with our teenagers as it provides them with a place where they can be ‘on their own,’ yet close enough to the Cook House for late night cookie raids.

McGee offers visitors a number of activities. We have canoes and kayaks for paddling around one or both of the islands; an activity that can take 40 to 90 minutes depending on conditions and effort expended.

Walking around McGee Island looking at and occasionally collecting the flotsam and jetsam is popular though best done at half tide or lower. The island is populated with Osprey offering walkers the chance to see them wheeling overhead and screeching at anyone who wonders too close to their nests. The west end of McGee offers views of islands stretching into the Atlantic Ocean and truly spectacular sunsets.

McGee is blessed with a plethora of raspberry and blackberry bushes. The berries typically are most abundant from mid-July to mid-August and provide a delicious diversion while walking around the island. An hour of industrious picking can provide the ingredients of a delicious home-made raspberry and blackberry pie.

Games such as croquet, volleyball, and badminton are favorite activities for people feeling a competitive urge. The decision of who washes that night’s dinner dishes often has been decided by victory or defeat on the ‘field of battle.’ These games also have been the source of fond memories (n.b., usually on those rare occasions when the older generation actually beats the younger generation in a game).

One of the nice attributes of McGee is the ability to leave behind the hustle and bustle of daily life. There are no TV, radio, or land-line phone service. For those who wish to stay connected, newspapers can be purchased at the Port Clyde General Store and we do have a Wi-Fi Internet network on the island. There also is cellular phone reception but it can be problematic (n.b., Verizon and U.S. Cellular seem to work best).

The mainland offers activities as well. Port Clyde is a 15 to 20 minute boat ride away where one can catch the Laura B for a day trip to Monhegan Island, an artist's colony as well as a working fishing village, as well as excursions to see Puffins and seals depending on the time of the year. There also is shopping in Freeport, the Farnsworth Museum with a collection of Wyeth paintings and the Lobster Festival in Rockland, and golf at the Samoset. (N.b., please note, our boat can carry only six and ten passengers at a time depending on the weather and quantity of luggage. If you have a large group, you please consider renting another boat.)

McGee and Barter Islands, in short, have played a magical role in our lives. They have provided sisters and brothers, aunts, uncles, and cousins, and young and old to congregate, renew their bonds, and create shared memories all the while enjoying the beauty the Maine coastline has to offer. We hope you, your family, and your friends will experience the same magic that brings us back year after year.

Vacation Rental Features

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• Amenities
  • Washer
  • Dryer
  • Linens Provided
  • Off Street Parking: Off-street parking is provided by Monhegan Boat Lines. Stop at their office at the end of Route 131 in Port Clyde and tell them how long you wish to park your car. they will direct you to an appropriate parking lot and provide a bus to bring you and your belongings to the Port Clyde Public Landing
  • Wood Fireplace: Although there are several fireplaces in the main house, only the fireplace in the living room is operational.
• Beds
  • King Bed (2)
  • Queen Bed (5)
  • Twin/Single Bed (9)
  • Child Bed: There is one cot available in the Main House
  • Crib: Although there is a crib in the Main House, it does not meet modern OSHA standards. Supposedly the bars are too far apart. we still use the crib but we weave blankets between the bars to prevent the babies from sticking their heads through the bars
• Entertainment
  • Sauna
• Kitchen
  • Full Kitchen
  • Cooking Utensils Provided
  • Refrigerator: The kitchen is equipped with a brand-new 25 ft.³ refrigerator / freezer. The refrigerator is on top in the freezer is a pullout drawer on the bottom.
  • Dishwasher: The kitchen does NOT have a dishwasher.
  • Microwave
• Outdoor Features
  • Gas/Electric BBQ Grill: The island comes equipped with eight gas BBQ grill
  • Deck/Patio
• View/Location
  • Oceanfront
• Communications
  • WiFi (Wireless Internet)
• Other Amenities
  • This is a magnificent estate on a private 110-acre island four miles off the coast of Maine in the most beautiful setting in the world. Extraordinary views of the sea and other islands in all directions. Huge lawns. Musseling.
• Suitability
  • No Pets Allowed
  • Kid Friendly
  • Smoking Not Allowed
  • 
• Activities (on site and nearby)
  • Kayaking
  • Sailing
  • Boating
  • Swimming
  • Hiking
  • Fishing
• Other Activities
  • volleyball, croquet, bocci ball

Rate Details (In US Dollars)

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Personal Currency Assistant™

Discounts available to groups of 12 or less.
$4,500/wk May
$5,000/wk June 1-15  $7,500/wk June 16-June 30
$9,900/wk July 1-Sept 6 (Labor Day)
$7,000/wk Sept 7-Sept 30
$4,500/wk October
State and local taxes are 7%.
Pymts can be made by check or by bank transfer via PayPal to McGeeIsland@Gmail.com

Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice.

Map & Owner's Profile

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Property Photos

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• All Photos (16)
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Guest Comments (6)

• Features
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• Guest Comments (6)
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• 10/10/09
  Positive Rating
  Sarah McNally , Hudson, Ohio
  • We’ve been visiting this island for over 20 years and this magical place seems almost lost in time. From the minute you hop on the boat that carries you from picturesque Port Clyde to the quiet of the island dock, you enter a world that recalls a time when people really got away from it all. The salt sea breeze, the sounds of harbor traffic and lobster fishermen, the screeches of seagulls and osprey, and the inherent beauty of the Maine landscape become the backdrop for some amazing memories. A week is hardly enough time to appreciate the property and all it has to offer. Our family rituals have evolved over the years. An exploratory hike around the island on the path and rocks at low tide is always the first thing. When our children were young that often turned into a bit of raspberry picking for the evening’s delicious desserts of cobblers or pies. Many favorite rituals seem to be centered around food: gut busting lobster nights; taking a boat ride to a local farm for fresh oyster appetizers; and picking chanterelles on the adjacent island. After dinner, everyone generally retires to the Main House for board games, chess, singalongs with family musical talents, or a good book next to the warm fire. In warmer months, children and braver adults often swim or play in the cold water along the shore of the cove, and end the bracing dip with a little sunbathing on the warm rocks by the boathouse. Treasure hunting for the perfect rock, shell, sand dollar or sea urchin is a favorite activity. The property and landscape are a treasure trove for the shutter bug. And kayaking is an exciting activity for active guests, as well as rounds of volleyball, badmitton or ultimate frisbee. Then there’s croquet and bocce ball for a slower pace. The accommodations are what I would call “rustic elegance”... not fancy, but tasteful and comfortable. This is a beautiful and historical place for people to spend time together, with no schedule, no agenda, no entertainment guide and no catered meals. It takes a certain amount of planning and cooperation but it is an extraordinary place.
• 09/23/09
  Positive Rating
  Phyl Harmon , Strafford, Vermont
  • Our stay on McGee Island was just wonderful. Each of us, ranging in age from 3 to 75 years, had plenty to do … hiking, canoeing, kayaking, playing games, and exploring the island. Most importantly, we were in a lovely setting without the distractions of everyday life. The slower, simpler pace gave us, both young and old, the time and space to connect and truly enjoy being together. It was the most successful family reunion we've had to date. We all highly recommend it! Phyl Harmon
• 09/12/09
  Positive Rating
  Mary J. Roberts , Birmingham, MI 48009
  • If you want to truly get away from the rush of daily life, McGee Island is the place. McGee is a private island with no one there but those you've invited. Rather than staying in a 5 star hotel,the house on McGee is like being in someone's home---only for the time you are there it's your home. No schedules to follow---no need to wear makeup, no need to dress for dinner. This is a great place for a large family to spend time together---catching up on each other's lives---renewing relationships. There is no TV so you can really escape the world and all it's many intrusions into your life. Those who have been to McGee frequently use the word "magical" and it is just that. Lots of exercise, lots of rest and relaxation, long walks, kayaking,sitting on the deck and reading, cooking great meals together---just wonderful. The house is not for people who need hotel style bathrooms and beds---while immaculate, each room has a special personality, a character of its own. I feel lucky to have stayed on McGee and would go back anytime.
• 09/12/09
  Positive Rating
  Ilene Roberts , Baltimore MD
  • My husband and I have been guests on the island a many times over the past 22 years. It is truly an unbelievable place - a step back in time with all the modern conveniences. Some of my favorite memories include: Singalongs in the living room in the evening in front of a roaring fire Being serenaded by flute, piano, violin, sax and guitar Making bread in the cook house with two of my nieces (about 6 and 8 at the time) Crabbing with my nine year old nephew Watching the kids put the lobsters to sleep (search on Youtube for how to put a lobster to sleep) before cooking (outside in a humongous lobster pot over a propane burner) Playing Dungeons and Dragons with the kids Taking canoes, kayaks, and rowboats to the far side of the island for a picnic Picking gooseberries and raspberries for pies Exploring the big boathouse Hiking around McGee Hiking around Barter Island Showering in the outdoor showers Eating lobster just bought straight from a nearby lobster boat Extreme frisbee tournaments Chics only swim and sauna after dinner Watching the dogs race around the island, learn to swim and become avid kayakers Collecting mussels for dinner Beading parties on the main house porch Awarding the winner of the FIRST ONE TO TIE A MONKEY FIST KNOT contest Giving the kids my husband's Tilley hat to tie dye it Homemade sailboat races Sleeping in unbelievably comfortable beds Watching the kids grow up OK, now that I've described some of the wonderful parts, it is time for some objective criticism. Thinking back to when I've thought --I wish...hmmm.....hmmm.....that the sailboat was always available... that there was a gas grill (oh, there is now)... that there was more than one coffee pot (oh, there is now) ... sorry, that's all I can think of - it is pretty near perfect. McGee is a unique and magical place. The outside world seems so far away (but is really only a quick 15 minute boat ride into Port Clyde if you need a mid-week food shopping trip). Now that there is wireless internet, it is easy to keep up with the outside world if you wish. And, if you really must use your cell phone, there is usually some spot on the island where you can get reception. Spending a week at McGee is an experience you will never forget. Thank you to Jim and Elizabeth for allowing us to share it with you. Bill and Ilene Roberts
• 08/11/09
  Positive Rating
  
  • If you’re looking for an authentic downeast Maine vacation destination for a large group, you can do no better than McGee Island. Starting with your arrival in Port Clyde, a quintessential Maine Coast fishing village, to the rocky shores of McGee and Barter Islands and even the somewhat salty but always helpful caretaker Don Winchenbach, a trip to McGee will immerse you in the Maine experience like almost nowhere else. Our group of 8 adults and 9 children (ages 1-5) were the island’s very first non-family tenants in its 100+ year history. We knew this going in, and expected to hit some snags as a result, but we found the Ericksons and Don to be incredibly helpful and accommodating. It was clear to us that they wanted to make sure that we had a fantastic experience on McGee . . . and we did. You have probably already seen the beautiful pictures on the website, and I can tell you that they paint an accurate picture. Bring an extra memory stick for your camera (who uses film anymore?) because you will be taking a lot of pictures. There is natural beauty everywhere you look on McGee and Baxter, yielding hikes and canoe/kayak trips as pleasing to the eye as to the soul. If you’ve read the descriptions you have no doubt also seen the long list of other activities on the island, but frankly it makes no sense to visit the islands if you are not also looking forward to a good dose of solitude. It’s hard for most people to picture just how large a 115 acre island is, but let us just say that with 17 people on the island we could have easily gone whole days without seeing another soul (even those within our own group) if that was what we had wanted to do. We heartily and unreservedly recommend the islands. However, here are some things to keep in mind if you are considering a trip: • This is not the Ritz. The Main House is a charming and not-too-rustic 9 bedroom cabin; it is well appointed as a summer vacation home, but it is not fancy. The Cook House and the Little Boat House are perfectly functional for their purposes, but are one further step toward the rustic end of the spectrum. In particular, keep in mind that you will be washing a lot of dishes (N.B., a dishwasher is rumored to be in store in 2010)

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