A private island on Annabessacook Lake for weddings, family reunions, retreats, or big gatherings. Sleep in whimsical stays, eat under event tents, paddle pristine water, and reset together in nature. Bring clothes, friends, off-leash pups & lots of food. We’ve got the rest: easy transport, comfy-real-beds, cooking options, hot shower & super clean, Maine Guide hospitality. All levels of nature lovers.
The space
Welcome to Eco-Island Events — your 14-acre island playground in the heart of Maine’s Annabessacook Lake. This isn’t just a venue… it’s a shared experience where comfort meets curiosity, and nature meets intentional mischief.
Bring your crew — family, friends, colleagues, or that eclectic group you’ve been meaning to celebrate with — because this space was made for big memories and big laughs. From unique glamping stays to communal gathering tents, every corner invites connection, play, and wonder.
Here’s what you’ll find:
✨ Five cozy, character-filled living spaces — treehouse, A-frame, glam tent, dome, and floating cabin — each with comfy beds and quirky charm.
✨ Two spacious event tents — for dinners, celebrations, retreats, or your own island shindig.
✨ Lots of hammocks, fire pits, and a cold plunge sauna.
✨ Compost toilets + hot shower, thoughtfully designed for comfort and eco-fun.
✨ Unlimited free boats & paddles — canoes, kayaks, SUPs — for exploring the lake.
✨ Miles of trails waiting for barefoot wanderings.
This is glamping with intention — wild enough to feel real, soft enough to feel kind, and supported by an experienced hospitality team. We'll help your crew settle into the rhythm of island life and return your crew refreshed, renewed, and inspired. For groups larger than 20, we offer the same logistical support, but with BYOTenting for the overflow crowd.
OUR FAQ:
HOW DO I GET TO THE ISLAND? Your Adventure Begins at the Dock.
Get here your way: paddle, ride the free island ferry, or bring your own boat. We make access part of the fun — no puzzles, just possibilities. Once you’re on island time, every day has options:
Swim, canoe, kayak, or stand-up paddleboard
Walk more than a mile of paths and find cozy nooks
Sunset rock views that whisper “stay a little longer”
Hammocks begging for naps and whispered secrets
Fireside chats under starlit Maine skies
RETURNING GUESTS: Got Island Withdrawal Syndrome? We hear you. Tell us your last stay date and we’ll send a new IWS coupon — because someone’s gotta make sure you come back. Minimum nights? We’re happily flexible for those who’ve played here before.
COOKING AND GEAR - Pack food, not gear.
We provide:
* Pots, pans, dishes, French press, coffee & tea
* Propane grill + stove + open fire cooking
* Drinking water from our well
* Camp chairs, lanterns, fire starter — and friendly instructions
Because cooking over flame tastes better when you’re laughing with friends, not unpacking a suitcase-full of stuff.
PUPS ON VACAY: We're dog people — most pups are welcome here! Just answer a few quick questions so we know your four-legged adventurer plays nice. If your dog prefers zero rules and lots of zoomies, check out our Naughty Dog Island listing instead. 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. With the entire island for your event, dogs can be leash free and worry free.
LARGE GROUP PRICING: For pricing above 16 guests, please send us a message and we'll work up a quote.
FREE PLANNING TOURS: Yep, we do that. If you want to scope out the island ahead of time to see the potential of the venue for your event, we're happy to give you a tour. It's best if your reach out to schedule while the leaves are still on the trees!
EZ EVENT ORGANIZING: Organizing an event shouldn’t require a spreadsheet empire or a heroic amount of email wrangling. Our event console keeps the whole expedition tidy in one place — invitations, guest lists, lodging assignments, ferry plans, meals, and the day-by-day schedule. Guests get their own simple planning screen to choose arrivals, sign up for potluck items, and share what they’re bringing. The result: fewer logistics headaches for you, more time for the good parts of gathering people together. 🌲
DANCE PARTY ALL NIGHT? Sound carries on the lake, and we love our neighbors. During the quiet hours (sunset to sunrise) we offer a silent disco headset system for music you might want to play (add $500 and 2 week advance notice). Create your own mix, play it from your phone, and dance till the moon sets.
FREE STUFF: Every Maine Island adventure includes: FREE island transportation, camp chairs, unlimited firewood, lanterns, fire starters, lighters, canoes, kayaks, or stand-up paddle boards with life vests and gear. You just need to bring coolers of food, vacay clothes, and a curious sense of adventure.
Guest access
ISLAND ENTERTAINMENT:
* Walking more than a mile of trails
* Swimming
* Cooking over an open fire
* Sunset Rock
* Hammock swim docks
* Fishing from dock or boat
* Canoeing, kayaking, and SUP
* Sauna/lake plunging
* Indoor games: cards and board games
* Outdoor games: Corn hole, Capture the Island Flag
* Two 20x30 event tents for dining and gathering.
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.
DAY VISITORS? Sure! It's your private island. Of course you can have visitors who don't spend a night. If you have a friends and family who want to visit for a ceremony, meal, or an afternoon of fun: no problem. We'll fit them into the existing ferry schedule or do a special ferry service at their convenience ($$).
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 building 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 created a 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!
I HAVE A MEDIUM SIZED GROUP
Not every gathering needs the whole island to itself. For medium-sized groups, you can combine a handful of island stays to create your own little neighborhood — close enough for shared meals, swims, and late-night campfires, but with enough breathing room for everyone to retreat and recharge. Our event console keeps the pieces stitched together behind the scenes, organizing who’s staying where, when people arrive, and what’s happening each day, so your group can feel coordinated without feeling over-scheduled. Additional services and dining tents can be added to your event alacarte.🌲🛶
I HAVE A SMALLER GROUP:
If 14 acres and 5 stays is too much for your needs, check out our smaller private island adventure at Naughty Dog Island, suitable for a group size of 1 to 8. It's private, remote, leash-free, on the same lake, and just as convenient - only for smaller groups:
airbnb.com/h/maine-island-log-cabin
THIS IS GLAMPING, NOT CAMPING, WE DO THE WORK, SO YOU CAN PACK LIGHT!
WHAT TO BRING?
• Cooler (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 (we're WAY overstocked on these!)
REMOTE WORK - Wifi, cell, and battery recharges
Cell reception registers 3 bars and 5G on the island . So, with any smartphone or laptop, remote work gets done. 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. We are also OK if you want to "pretend" that there is no remote work access: Mum's the word.
WHAT IS 1 BIG SUSTAINABLE ISLAND (1BSI)?
1BSI is a nonprofit, off-grid island retreat on Annabessacook Lake in Maine where curious humans come to unplug, wander, and remember how to breathe at lake speed. It’s part glamping getaway, part community experiment, and part gentle mischief — a place where thoughtfully designed island stays (cabins, domes, tents, treehouses, and floating oddities) make simple living feel surprisingly luxurious. We handle the boats, the basics, and the behind-the-scenes magic so you can focus on the good stuff: nature, connection, quiet moments, and getting pleasantly reset by island life.
