Summary:
Weddings, Retreats, & Family Reunions - Prepare for Adventure!
1BSI is a 14 acre playground for the naturally curious - A large treehouse, a tiny home A-frame, 2 glamorous tents, and a floating cabin/houseboat.
Remote & rustic doesn’t mean roughing it. Just bring clothes, friends, off-leash pups & coolers of food. We’ve got the rest: comfy-real-bed sleeping, cooking options, hot showers and super clean, Maine Guide hospitality since 2015. Away from the world, minutes to re-entry.
The Space:
Preparing for an island event is a breeze. We supply everything you need for a unique Maine island experience.
When you schedule your vacation for all of 1 Big Sustainable Island, you experience all five of the unique living spaces (Tree House, Aframe, and Glamour Tents and floating cabin) as well as the privacy of the entire island for your guests (staff available and on-call to address any needs). We also have special optional programs available.
Sleep soundly in comfy queen size beds made up with extra blankets and a comforter. Our futon couches convert to full-size beds. Lounge in the indoor hammock that you can hang inside in front of the wood stove or move outside to the firepit. Amenities include: four compost toilets and hot shower (available as long as temps at night are above freezing) with towels and soap nearby. Island life is barely "roughing it", even though the electricity is battery limited and plumbing is eco-unconventional.
HOW DO I GET TO THE ISLAND?
Every island adventure begins at our shoreside parking/dock area. From there, you've got options: Paddle, Ferry, or BYOBoat. See the details below for schedules, limitations, and FAQ. Know that we make island access for you, your crew, and your gear convenient, free, and part of your adventure.
RETURNING GUESTS: We appreciate folks who return year after year. If you've misplaced the Island Withdrawal Syndrome coupon code, remind us of your last stay and we'll send you a new one. We can't have you suffering from IWS, now can we! Also, if you are looking for an exception to our minimum night requirements, please reach out.
COOKING OPTIONS: Cooking is easy, so pack heavy on food, and light on gear. We supply: kitchen utensils, dishes, pots and pans, French press, coffee, tea, sugar, salt, pepper, drinking water from our homestead well. Cook inside at the Oaktagon treehouse, or cook outside on a gas grill with a side burner, griddle, or over the fire pit. For large groups, the Oaktagon is well suited for banquet-style group eating and we can help get you setup, if that's what you've got in mind.
FREE STUFF: Every Maine Island adventure includes: FREE island transportation, camp chairs, unlimited firewood, lantern, fire starter, matches, canoe, kayak, or stand-up paddle boards with life vests and gear. Explore Annabessacook Lake! On the island there is a rope swing, a mile of walking paths, benches and hammocks.
VACATION WITH YOUR DOG? Send us a request! 1 Big Sustainable Island 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. The good news is that when you rent the entire 1 Big Sustainable Island, dogs can be off leash without any worries!
Guest Access:
Island activities 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 sun go down from Sunset Rock
Resting in the island "emergency" hammocks or on the hammock swim docks
Fishing from dock or boat
Canoeing, Kayaking, and SUP
Sauna/Lake plunging
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 for convenient boat tie-up.
* Paddling yourself - Take one of our canoes or kayaks and paddle the 30 minute trip across the lake to your stay (weather permitting). 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 check in 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. We'll transport your gear and all your guests on this 10 minute boat ride.
FREE PARKING: Park in our private parking area for free. Cart your gear to our shoreside dock to begin your "Island Time" journey.
Other Things to Note:
A private island experience with a variety of off-the-grid stays: a houseboat / cabin, a tiny home A-frame, a large treehouse , 2 glam tents. Amazing scenic views, beachfront, 1/2 mile from shore, all off-the-grid.
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 and 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 (soon to be eight) of our Maine Island eco-retreat listings at 1 Big Sustainable Island.
Packing Advice for glampers: PACK LIGHT!
WHAT SHOULD I BRING?
• Cooler w/ ice (Free replacement ice packs available)
• Favorite foods and beverages
• Cell phone/laptop charging cables (We've got juice to keep them charged.)
• Sunscreen and bug repellent
• Layers of warm clothing
• Headlamp or flashlight with extra batteries
• Fishing permit if you're over 16
• Water shoes for swimming
• Curiosity and a good sense of humor
FREE stuff you DON'T need to bring:
• Free island transportation
• Free canoes, kayaks, stand-up paddle boards paddles and life vests
• Numerous dock spaces for parking boats
• Hammocks
• Camp chairs
• Unlimited firewood
• Out door fire pits
• Indoor woodstoves
• Adjustable grill for cooking over the fire
• Gas grills and stoves
• 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!
Interaction with Guests:
Kent is a Registered Maine Guide and Commercial Boat Operator. Guests typically enjoy a boat ride to and from the island via pontoon boat and then have access to canoes and kayaks to explore the lake throughout their stay.
He is available if and when needed, but otherwise the island will be all yours.
