1 Big Sustainable Island — Off-Grid Glamping on a Private Maine Island

The Architecture

1 Big Sustainable Island (1BSI) is a private 14-acre island on Annabessacook Lake, in Monmouth, Maine, an hour north of Portland and ten miles from Augusta, on the way to Acadia National Park. It is a nonprofit, off-grid island retreat with seven lakefront glamping sites: The Oaktagon Treehouse, an octagonal house built around a living red oak named Annie; the A-Frame Acorn Abode; the Loon Point tent; the Hammock Haven dome; Naughty Dog, a private log cabin; the Nautilus Waterhouse, a floating cabin moored beside the island; and The StarGazer, a transparent dome atop a houseboat for sleeping suspended between the lake and the stars.

Life here is deliberately simple: rustic does not mean roughing it. There are no crowds and no rush; you cook outdoors on grills and campfires (bring your food, not your gear), wood stoves warm the evenings with firewood included, and the composting toilets are clean, sanitary and nose-friendly. Arriving is part of the adventure: by canoe or kayak with gear provided, aboard the seasonal ferry, or with your own boat to the island's docks. The disconnection is real, but staying online is optional: here, the loons call the schedule.

1BSI is a nonprofit community inspiring the naturally curious to explore, create, and enjoy island life, with sustainability and lake stewardship at the heart of the project. The island holds the Environmental Leader certification awarded by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, which recognizes organizations that go beyond compliance and make thoughtful, measurable commitments to environmental stewardship and economic sustainability: intentional use of energy, careful resource management, protection of the lake, and a positive contribution to the surrounding community.

Days follow nature's rhythm: swimming from the floating docks and the island's beaches, fishing for abundant smallmouth and largemouth bass on a world-class fishing lake, paddling the shoreline, walking the mile-long trail around the island, or drifting in hammocks above the water. Evenings end around the campfire, with s'mores and a sky that fills with stars. The island also hosts weddings, retreats and family gatherings —from 10 to 85 people, with event tents and logistics support— and is a paradise for dogs, under the hospitality of a Registered Maine Guide.

The Environment

Annabessacook Lake is a world-class fishing lake in Monmouth, Maine, in the Winthrop Lakes Region, an hour from Portland and ten miles from Augusta. Its waters hold an abundance of smallmouth and largemouth bass. Loons and bald eagles are regular neighbours, and the woods of inland Maine surround the Winthrop lake region. The island is on the way to Acadia National Park and the Maine coast.