A Tiny Private, Manmade Island in Maine Is Back on Sale: Photos

On a 600-acre lake in Maine is a tiny island constructed by its authentic proprietor near a century in the past. The island, nicknamed Rocky Mecca, just lately hit the marketplace for $400,000.

Rustic islands on the market in Maine do not come round fairly often. And after they do, they have a tendency to draw individuals fascinated with nature, solitude, and a way of life exterior the norm. 

Nothing fairly suits that invoice like Rocky Mecca, a man-made personal island on Lake Anasagunticook in Canton, Maine, which hit the marketplace for $400,000 in Could. After an preliminary sale fell by means of in June, it was re-listed and is now underneath contract. 

Rebecca LaBrie, a Meservier & Associates realtor engaged on the sale, advised Insider the distinctive property was constructed by its authentic proprietor in 1934 who “simply thought it might be a enjoyable undertaking.”

“He discovered a bunch of stones from outdated stone partitions and native locations, and constructed the island,” she stated. 

It helped that the island is partially constructed on some of the shallow factors of the lake, LaBrie added. “Then there is a half that is a bit deeper on the far facet of the island. So I am undecided how lengthy that took him,” she stated, laughing. 

The one different downside the unique proprietor confronted was having to safe a deed for his island dwelling, which did not seem on any maps earlier than the Nineteen Thirties. 

“It did not beforehand exist,” she stated.

Rocky Mecca’s present proprietor advised Insider she purchased it a yr in the past “on a whim,” however shortly found it wasn’t proper for her.

Non-public islands have a tendency to return with hefty worth tags. However as comparatively reasonably priced as Rocky Mecca is, a brand new proprietor ought to be ready for some shocking challenges its predecessor confronted.

For the reason that Nineteen Nineties, when the island first modified possession, it bought a number of occasions to individuals trying to make use of it as a getaway trip dwelling, LaBrie stated.

Its present proprietor is 62-year-old retired educator Mary Seaman, nicknamed the “Pond Princess,” who advised Insider she purchased the island a yr in the past “on a whim” however shortly found it wasn’t a very good match for her.

“It is like attempting on pants,” she stated. “You get them dwelling and also you stroll round, they don’t seem to be fairly the proper match.”

A part of the explanation why she stated she could not “emotionally” choose Rocky Mecca is as a result of she longed to have a house on a smaller lake in Maine the place she grew up.

She stated she has since purchased a property in her hometown, which makes now the proper time to promote Rocky Mecca. 

One of many greatest challenges Seaman confronted proudly owning Rocky Mecca was how she would get “caught” on the island throughout tough climate.

In line with Seaman, Rocky Mecca is roughly between 600 and 700 ft from the shore. However such a brief distance can really feel large relying on the climate. 

“I discovered it very windy on the market, which made it very daunting going forwards and backwards in a kayak,” she stated. 

Infrequently, Seaman stated she’d even be pressured to spend an unplanned evening out on the island attributable to tough climate. “I’ve gotten caught on the market as a result of it will get so windy,” she stated. 

The windy situations on the lake may be perilous, and never only for the proprietor of Rocky Mecca.

On one such event when Seaman stated she was stranded on the island, she stated she noticed a capsized kayak on the lake and referred to as a good friend on land who was capable of rescue the individual utilizing a motorboat. 

“They stated one other 5 minutes they might’ve drowned,” Seaman stated. 

Rocky Mecca comes with a small cottage providing 360-degree views of the lake.

The person-made island comes with a mini lighthouse, a dock, and a tiny 480-square-foot stone cottage. In line with the itemizing on Zillow, the small dwelling was final renovated in 2022. 

Seaman stated when she purchased the island, she made a number of updates to the tiny dwelling, together with giving it a much-needed deep clear.

“We took every part out of the within of the cottage,” she stated. “The previous proprietor left behind trinkets about lighthouses, his outdated coats, and issues that collect in a household dwelling over time.”

One other change Seaman made was sealing the stone partitions of the cottage to bolster it.

The cottage can sleep as much as 5 individuals, although one among them must “courageous” the highest bunk of a custom-made three-tier bunk mattress, LaBrie stated.

“It is all one room,” LaBrie stated of the cottage, which homes a bed room, lounge area, eating space, and a kitchen. 

The mattress scenario is fairly quirky, nevertheless. 

“If the fifth individual was courageous, there are custom-built bunk beds within the wall, and so they’re three-tiered,” she stated.

“I do not know if I would wanna sleep up there,” LaBrie stated, including that she’s positive “youngsters would not care.”

Total the cottage is fairly rustic, and LaBrie stated it is not essentially the most ultimate place to remain in a single day within the winter.

Moreover not having a septic tank or bathe, the cottage additionally depends on a small propane heater, making stays throughout the colder months a lot more durable.

“If any person needed to exit and ice fish, you can set traps and go inside and switch the heater on and sit in your winter garments,” LaBrie stated. “However I do not think about it might be snug to sleep.”

Seaman stated some of the tough elements about staying on Rocky Mecca in a single day, whatever the season, is the dearth of electrical energy. 

“There isn’t a gentle,” Seaman stated, and “no strategy to get electrical on the island.”

In line with Seaman, the earlier homeowners resorted to hanging a flashlight by a rope to the ceiling of the cabin. The draw back? Bugs. 

“I discovered it attracted the mosquitoes,” Seaman stated. 

That stated, the sale does include all of the furnishings Seaman saved within the cottage, together with a rocking chair and the kitchen desk.

The one factor that is lacking is a sofa, LaBrie stated. 

“No sofa,” she stated. “Only a rocking chair and a kitchen desk.”

Steps away from the tiny house is the stone lighthouse. It is purely ornamental, however a brand new proprietor might make it work in the event that they needed.

The lighthouse on Rocky Mecca has existed almost so long as the island itself, LaBrie stated. 

“It is purely for adornment,” she added, as Lake Anasagunticook just isn’t the type of physique of water the place “that you must have a lighthouse.”

It does not at the moment have a light-weight put in, nevertheless it does have a sequence and a hanger on its ceiling, so if a future proprietor had goals of proudly owning a lighthouse, they might make it occur, LaBrie stated.

“You could possibly hold a photo voltaic gentle in it, it is the proper arrange,” she added.

Seaman stated the highest of the lighthouse, which provides 360-degree views of the lake, can match 5 to 6 individuals “very snugly.” 

In line with LaBrie, a “sticking level” for consumers is that the island’s solely bathroom is within the lighthouse.

In line with LaBrie, a compostable bathroom is at the moment situated on the base of the lighthouse. 

And, sadly, that is been a troublesome promote for potential consumers, she stated. 

“That is been a sticking level for individuals,” LaBrie stated. “I imply, there’s not a properly and you’ll’t put a septic system on an island.”

Seaman stated she’s by no means used the lighthouse bathroom herself. As an alternative, she used what she referred to as a “human litter field” bathroom she stated she purchased on-line and saved contained in the cottage. 

“It has the liquid in it, like in a Porta Potty, however I take advantage of cat litter as an alternative,” Seaman added. “However I’ve the Porta Potty on the shore, if I’ve an even bigger want.”

Both manner, LaBrie did recommend a brand new proprietor might take into account a few alternate options, together with putting in a transportable bathroom in an outhouse or a small shed on the island.

“However no one’s actually bothered with that but,” LaBrie stated.

Another choice can be to park a camper on land, which might home a rest room in addition to a bathe, and easily take journeys forwards and backwards to the island, LaBrie stated. 

Rest room dilemma apart, LaBrie stated the prospect to personal an island like Rocky Mecca is uncommon.

There might not be a rest room, insulation, or a sofa, however there’s a bounty of wildlife surrounding the island that’s positive to draw nature lovers. 

On the mainland, there are deer and moose, and out on the water there are flocks of birds that prefer to nest on the island. The one challenge there, LaBrie stated, is that the geese that decision the lake dwelling do prefer to “poop in all places.”

“They are a very poopy nuisance,” Seaman stated, including that she’s managed the difficulty by constructing a fence across the circumference of Rocky Mecca. 

Nonetheless, LaBrie maintains that one thing like Rocky Mecca does not come round in actual property typically, particularly in Maine.

“We have seen islands perhaps a few times a yr, they are much extra outstanding on the coast or the larger lakes. This one, being man-made, is an anomaly,” she stated. 

As for Seaman, who’s leaving Rocky Mecca behind for a house she purchased on the lake the place she grew up, her recommendation to the brand new proprietor is to get pleasure from it — and to ensure you unlock your schedule to spend time there.

“As a result of you might be there longer than you assume,” she stated.