Turn Of The Century Cabin On Private Island Reviews

Our stay at the rustic cabin on East Grand Lake was wonderful. The 26-acre private island provided a unique and peaceful escape. The lake's incredibly clear water made swimming and floating a true pleasure. Our dogs loved exploring the island, running around, and playing in the lake. The propane stove, refrigerator, and charcoal grill worked perfectly for all our cooking needs, offering the right balance of convenience while maintaining the rustic feel. The island allowed us to fully relax and unwind. Built in 1907, the cabin had a lot of character with refinished floors, skylights, and off-the-grid lighting. Pete, our host, was very friendly and communicative, and his assistance with transportation to and from the island, as well as help with our gear, made our stay easy and enjoyable. One unexpected benefit was the limited cell phone reception, perfect for disconnecting and truly relaxing though may pose an issue if you need to stay fully connected to the internet. In summary, the cabin on East Grand Lake is a great place for a peaceful and charming getaway. Whether you're looking to fish, swim, kayak/canoe, or just relax, it offers everything you need. We left feeling refreshed and would certainly return.

Peaceful, relaxing, wonderful place! We enjoyed every minute of our stay!

My wife and I found ourselves in a situation where we needed to move from one house, but our new home would not be ready for about a month. On somewhat of a whim, we decided to look for places where we could "just get away from it all" for a month. With that as background, this cabin on the island was amazing! Kayaking or swimming in the lake whenever the mood strikes you, plenty of space for campfires. Most awesome to me were the hummingbirds and the loons - both were so beautiful in their own ways, and the hummingbirds come so close if you're sitting still! My only warnings to potential renters is that this is really just a few steps above camping. If you're open to that, go for it, you won't regret it! But, if for whatever reason that isn't for you, I might suggest checking elsewhere. Peter the owner was great on check-in and check-out, helping us take all our stuff to and from the island on his boat, and keeping in touch with us throughout the month. I give this property the highest recommendation, with the one caveat I mentioned before, and cannot wait until we can have a chance to visit again!

Fantastic setting. Most relaxing vacation for us ever. Host was very attentive.

Peter’s cabin is a true gem. Nestled in a wooded island with picturesque views and immediate access to East Grand Lake, it is an ideal, rustic escape from the hustle and bustle of modern life. Peter is super friendly and available when necessary, but never intrusive. He was timely with our arrival ( + forgiving when we were late) and helpful in hauling all of our belongings (we are a family of 4 with young kids and a disabled dog). Super dog friendly, btw. The canoe, peddleboat and kayak afforded family fun exploring the surrounding shores of the island. We were able to run the generator for a hot shower, but otherwise found that the propane lamps and solar panel charger for our devices were sufficient and we enjoyed the simplicity of the experience. We cooked a lot in the kitchen, and found the propane- powered range and refrigerator more than met our needs. I am already longing for the sound of the wind and loons on the lake, and look forward to our next visit.

We enjoyed swimming and fishing on the beautiful lake. The cabin is a rustic old hunting/fishing escape. A great place for families looking to get back to nature. Very dog friendly.

The Setting. Manley Island is located in the middle of the crystal clear waters of Spednic Lake. The island is heavily wooded but walking trails allow for some exploration. The lake is stunning and peaceful. The property includes a boat launch/dock on one side of the island (1 min from cabin) and a small dock/platform on the other side (below the cabin). Both spots were perfect for swimming + fishing. Rental includes access to kayaks, canoes, and a peddle boat. The lake bottom is rocky and, although the rocks are large and smooth, water shoes are recommended. The Space. The cabin sits atop the island, overlooking the US side of the lake, and is surrounded by woods , offering peaceful seclusion. The cabin itself is spacious enough to sleep 6 in bedrooms, and could support 2-4 additional guests in the main living area. The main area is large and open, with vaulted ceilings and sky lights. Every room (except the kitchen) boasts shelves loaded with books, magazines, and games. The kitchen is well equipped, with a propane refrigerator/freezer, propane stove/oven, wood stove, and hand water pump, as well as plenty of dinnerware. The Host. Peter was accommodating, accessible, and personable, not to mention adventurous, generous, and great with kids. Always happy to answer any questions, Peter offered the perfect level of hospitality (available whenever we needed him to be; affording us privacy when we didn’t). Peter is also a local fishing guide (offering private excursions for an additional fee). We opted in for a fishing excursion and those who went had an excellent time! The Fine Print. The space is an off-grid cabin — not a hotel or resort. It has no plumbing, but do not let this put you off (seldom do we remember vacations for our bathroom experiences). To that point, the property includes a composting toilet in the cabin and an outhouse. Both are clean and surprisingly low/no odor. While the cabin offers some modern amenities (hot, running water, electricity) made possible by the generator (which performs beautifully), we found the absent hum of electricity extremely relaxing and opted to use the generator only 2 or 3 times to charge devices. The score. 5 stars. This unique spot is a perfect getaway for families. We (family of 4 + my parents) loved our stay. We thought unplugging for a week may be difficult (especially w/teens). We were wrong. Simultaneous access to peace and excitement is a unique mix perfectly paired with the space.

We enjoyed ourselves, the property, and Pater, our host. This place is very unique but very rustic. You must be comfortable living very simply and prepared to use a wood stove, generator, and solar marine battery to stay relatively comfortably. We were up for all of that. Our dog was welcomed too which was a real boon.! We enjoyed the island The cabin could use some general maintenance to keep it’s charm and around for another 116 years. We would definitely go back.

Seclusion was wonderful. Our dog was a pup again, roaming the island. Water is crystal clear. Generator and propane worked flawlessly. We went about 1/2 of the week w/o using the generator. It was great to unplug and just relax, read books from the hundreds available on the walls in the cabin dating back to the early 1900s. Water heater worked great. We have VZW. I had 4G LTE all week with my phone (Microsoft Surface Duo), but the 2 iPhones and an older Android had a little trouble picking up the signal. If you're looking for a unique "camping" vacation w/o the mess of tents or campers and love being away from t all, you'll love this place.

This location was exactly what I was looking for. Enjoyed my stay!