Summary:
The Hemlock Haven tent overlooks Annabessacook Lake. Sleep comfortably, cook your favorite meals, nap in the hammock, bask in the glow of the fire or woodstove, listen to the calls of the loons, play on the rope swing, canoe or kayak the lake, and walk the trails of this 14 acre wooded island. We greet you at our dock on shore, ferry you and your gear to the island, and ease you into island-life until you are settled. Enjoy super clean, Superhost, Maine Guide hospitality.
The Space:
We supply everything you need for a unique Maine island experience. You bring a cooler with ice, your favorite food and beverage. Then prepare to unplug. Serving the naturally curious since 2015.
Sleep soundly in a comfy queen size bed made up with extra blankets and a comforter. Modern amenities include: a compost toilet and hot shower (available during the non-freezing seasons) with towels and soap nearby. Island life is barely "roughing it", even though electricity is battery-limited 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. We supply: kitchen utensils, dishes, pots and pans, French press, coffee, tea, sugar, salt, pepper, and drinking water from our homestead well. You can cook on the gas grill with a side burner, or over an open fire.
FREE STUFF: Every Maine Island adventure includes: camp chairs, unlimited firewood, lantern, fire starter, matches, canoe, kayak, or SUP paddle board 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? Hemlock Haven 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.
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 a 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.
Guest Access:
Guests enjoy exclusive access to Hemlock Haven 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, kayaking, and SUPing
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 our Maine Island eco-retreat listings at 1 Big Sustainable Island.
Packing Advice for glampers: PACK LIGHT!
WHAT SHOULD I BRING?
• Cooler with ice (We'll replace thawed ice for FREE)
• Favorite foods and beverages
• Battery charger and cable for your cell phone
• Sunscreen and bug repellent
• Layers of warm clothing
• Headlamp or flashlight with extra batteries
• Fishing permit, if you plan to fish
• Water shoes for swimming
• Curiosity and a good 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 lots of 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 needed. During the daylight hours, the island receives visitors from the surrounding lake community who want to hike, explore, or take the rope swing for a ride! At night, the island is quiet, peaceful, and restricted to our overnight guests. Four other sites are remotely located on the island , as well.
