Summary:
Be alone with your pup enjoying leash freedom on this remote island. Your 1400 acre backyard is Annabessacook Lake. Enjoy pristine surroundings, a rustic, off-the-grid log cabin, with solar lighting and a hot shower. Swimming, boating, fishing, birding, and relaxing by the fire - do it all (or not). Prepare for adventure! Pack light: Bring your vacay clothes, pups, favorite food, & be ready for a blissful, private island get away. It's AWAY away.
The Space:
Naughty Dog Island is the perfect place to unwind and relax. There are lots of possibilities without a whole lot of interruptions from the outside world. Think of it as a place with a timezone of its own, where one can just be centered and present without a care in the world. It's also the worry-free place for any dog to have the freedom to explore their inner canine: even naughty dogs deserve a vacation.
Life is simple when you visit Naughty Dog Island on Annabessacook Lake. Enjoy an amazing sunrise from the front porch of your very own private island cabin, take a swim off the dock, or paddle around and explore the pristine 1400 acre lake. Unwind by the campfire, watch the sunset, and listen to the loons as they settle in for the night. Catch a glimpse of the eagles and osprey roosting in the trees overhead. If you're the fishing type, get ready for world-class bass fishing in Annabessacook Lake!
Island life is barely "roughing it", even though electricity is battery limited and plumbing is eco-unconventional. Modern amenities include: an indoor composting toilet, a private, outdoor hot shower (available during the non-freezing season), and a toasty wood stove with an infinite firewood supply. You've got choices if you need a hammock: Indoor, shoreside, or on the swim dock - hammock "emergencies" can be solved anyway you like.
COOKING: We make cooking easy: Pack heavy on food, light on gear. 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 propane grill and stove, or over an open fire. Naughty Dog Island adventures involve minimal visitor preparation because this is GLAMPING: bring lots of food, vacay clothes, and your pup. We'll take it from there.
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.
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!
DOGS ON VACAY: We're dog people and Naughty Dog Island is pet-friendly for all pups. We screen all four legged visitors right after the reservation is made so that every island visitor and ferry passenger is safe and prepared. The process has the following questions: 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 trip out? And, are you willing to be responsible for any damages your dog creates?
If there's a "NO" in there, DON'T WORRY! Because Naughty Dog Island is a private island, ANY dog - even unsociable ones - can be leash-free and worry-free. We just need to know about our four-legged challenges on the ferry-ride. 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 private and exclusive access to the entire Naughty Dog Island.
You are also invited to explore the shared areas of 1 Big Sustainable Island from sunrise to sunset, a 1/2 mile paddle from Naughty Dog Island. You're welcome to take the early arrival ferry there, explore during the day, and check in at the appointed time. Or, you can paddle over on your own schedule.
ACTIVITIES:
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 you might have 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
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.
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. 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 Special Ferry Service is available at other times for a $60 one-way fee during regular hours (between 8pm and 7am, the cost is $100 and a hot cup of coffee for the Boat Captain). 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 shoreside dock to 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 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 cables (We supply recharge juice)
• 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
THIS IS GLAMPING, NOT CAMPING!
(don't worry about these, we got it covered)
• Free island transportation
• Free canoes, kayaks, 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 with stove
• 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 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.
