Escape to Tree House Island Life in Monmouth, ME

Description

The Oaktagon Tree House is what happens when you decide to live with the forest instead of just visiting it. Built around a living red oak (her name is Annie), this octagonal tree house invites you up into the canopy, where birds provide the soundtrack and the lake glimmers below. Perched on a 14-acre island just a half-mile from shore, it’s a place to slow down, look outward through leaves and branches, and remember what it feels like to be held by trees.

TInside, the Oaktagon balances wonder with comfort. Cedar-scented air, a cathedral ceiling, and sunlight filtering through the canopy make the space feel both grounded and magical. There’s a queen bed in the loft, convertible futons below, an indoor hammock you can clip right to the tree, and a small woodstove that turns cool evenings into cozy ones. Electricity is intentionally limited, plumbing is eco-thoughtful, lighting is solar, and everything you need is here — which is exactly the point.

Getting here is part of the adventure, and we make it easy. Arrive by paddle, ferry, or your own boat, with free parking and island transportation included. Once settled, enjoy private access to the Oaktagon and shared access to the wider island: trails, hammocks, docks, swimming spots, fishing, fire pits, and canoes or kayaks ready to explore Annabessacook Lake. Daytime neighbors may wander through shared areas, as island tradition allows, but evenings are quiet and reserved for overnight guests.

The Oaktagon is pet-friendly for well-mannered pups, welcoming to families and groups, and ideal for anyone craving a reset rooted in life among the leaves. Come curious, pack light, and settle into canopy living — where the trees do the talking and the island takes care of the rest.

OUR FAQ:

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 rope swing, 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.

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.

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 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 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.

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.

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.

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.

ADDITIONAL RULES
Our Island-Life Vacationing Manual has all of our hints, tips, and rules for experiencing a memorable and inspiring island vacation. Let us know if you would like a copy.

And here is the fine print. We are strict about our House Rules and the additional rules below because we want folks to have a safe, enjoyable, peaceful island adventure. Like most people, we don't like surprises, but we do like questions, so if you have any about our house rules, feel free to ask beforehand.

We do not allow parties.
All overnight guests must be registered within the reservation request.
Day visitor guests must be pre-cleared before inviting them over.
All occupants of our canoes and kayaks are required to wear life vests.
All boats and swimmers are required to be off the water by dark.
When checking a boat out for paddling alone, you must text message to Kent.
When returning a boat from paddling alone, a text message to Kent is required.
There is no smoking allowed in any structure.
Smoking is allowed only outside, provided that smokers clean up.
Our smoking damage fee is:$300.
Illegal substances and fireworks are prohibited at all times.
Fires in the fire ring shall be attended to at all times.
A bucket of lake water should be filled and available whenever fires are active.
Fires in the wood stove should not exceed 375 degrees
Active wood stoves should be attended at all times.
Smelly garbage must be disposed of in the garbage cans outside.
Quiet hours are from 9pm to 8am.
No personal items should be left in shared spaces.
All requests for pets (service animals and others) are required at the time of booking.
All dogs shall be on leash at all times.
The lost key charge is $50.
All guests are liable for any and all damage (caused by themselves, individuals in their party, and their pets) to the buildings, common areas, and property, including legal fees.

Book your dream holiday glamping rental near Monmouth today!