Rest easy in the Oaktagon Tree House 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. Since 2015, every treehouse island adventure includes enjoying the sights and sounds of Maine's natural beauty from a canoe or kayak: fresh air, clean water, and the songs of the loons.
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 natural canopy sound track. We'll help you settle into the rhythm of island life and return you refreshed, renewed, and inspired.
It's 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 and battery powered devices. 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 minimum night requirements, please reach out.
COOKING OPTIONS: We make cooking easy, so pack heavy on food, but light on gear. A compact and complete kitchen has all the cooking utensils you will need to prepare meals -- just bring a cooler with your favorite food and we'll provide the kitchen to get the food prep and serving 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 and stove on the back porch or the kitchen stove inside.
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. Two futon couches convert to a queen size and a full 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 and down to the dock. 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: Free island transportation, 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 mile of walking paths, benches and hammocks.
DOGS ON VACAY: We're dog people and the Oaktagon is pet-friendly for most pups. We screen all four legged visitors right after the reservation is made so that every island visitor is safe and prepared. If you can answer "YES" to each of our screening questions, your pup will be approved: Does your dog get along with other pups and humans? Is your dog’s history bite-free? Are you willing to keep your pup on leash during your stay? And, are you willing to be responsible for any damages your dog creates?
If there's a "NO" in there, DON'T WORRY! Check out our stay at Naughty Dog Island. It’s a private island with a log cabin where ANY dog - even unsociable ones - can be leash-free and worry-free. Our pet fees are $30/night per pet, which gets settled up after the reservation and screening are completed.
LOOKING FOR A SHORT STAY OR WANT A SUPER DEAL?
So that guests looking for longer stays have options, our minimum night stay requirements tend to start high early in the year and then drop by Summer. So if you've got a quick stay in mind and are surprised by our minimum night stay requirements, 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 a price you like, then save the link and check back. We have a first-come, first-served booking policy, but our pricing gets lower, the closer we are to an empty night.
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
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, Kayaking, and stand-up paddle boarding
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.
HOW PRIVATE IS THIS?
Each of our eco-island stays is designed with privacy in mind. There are 5 (soon to be 6) stays on 1 Big Sustainable Island. Unless you go looking for neighbors, you probably wouldn't know they are there. Every site has its own corner of the island. You might find folks in the public areas of the island (ie bathroom, boat rack, ferry ride, rope swing, and trails), but your sleeping and eating accommodations are private. Also know that our Island support team (if they're not already on island) they're a text away, if you need help.
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 (soon to be eight) of our Maine Island eco-retreat listings at 1 Big Sustainable Island.
Island Floating Cabin
airbnb.com/h/floatingislandwaterhouse
Island Luxury Dome
airbnb.com/h/maine-island-luxury-dome
Island Tent Overlook
airbnb.com/h/maine-island-tent-overlook
Island Aframe
airbnb.com/h/maine-island-a-frame
All the 1BSI Stays Combined for a Private Island Managed Event
airbnb.com/h/1-big-sustainable-island
Naughty Dog Private Island
airbnb.com/h/naughty-dog-private-island
WHAT SHOULD I BRING?
• Cooler w/ ice (Free replacement ice packs available)
• Favorite foods and beverages
• Cell phone/laptop charge cables (We've got juice for recharging.)
• Sunscreen and bug repellent
• Layers of warm clothing
• Headlamp or flashlight with extra batteries
• Fishing permit for anyone over 16
• Water shoes for swimming
• Curiosity and a sense of humor
Our Rates include:
• Free island transportation
• Free canoes, kayaks, standup paddle boards, paddles and life vests
• Free dock space for your boat
• Hammock
• Camp chairs
• Unlimited firewood
• Out door fire pit
• Indoor wood stove
• Adjustable grill for cooking over the fire
• Propane grill and stove
• 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 might be a catch: Telling the office or the teens how easy it is to get online on your island adventure will be up to you! If you need us to keep this on the low down: mum's the word.
