Spruce Island is a small, 80 acre private island off Deer Isle/Stonington, Maine. An aerial video of Spruce Island and a video of a traditional lobster bake on Spruce Island can be found on this page.
The Stone House is the only house on Spruce Island. It can be rented by the week during the summer season which runs from Memorial Day through Early October. It can be rented into the fall by smaller groups. More than 18 people can be accommodated with prior arrangement. Pricing is based on number of guests.
There are many places to explore and things to do on and around Spruce Island. Kayaks and row boats are provided. Outboard motor boats can be rented. Dress up as pirates and entertain your children (pirate dress provided); enjoy campfires on the shore; drive golf balls into the ocean and collect them at low tide; swim in a fresh water quarry on near-by Green Island owned by Maine Coast Heritage Trust. Play horseshoes, capture the flag, badminton, and pingpong. Charter our amphibious Sealegs to take you island hopping. Gaze into the heavens and see a universe of stars you can't see elsewhere because of light pollution. See bald eagles, ospreys, and many other seabirds. Experience the wonder that Robert McCloskey wrote about in the children's book, 'Time of Wonder'.
The house is comprised of two separate buildings. The Main House is a large open room with cathedral ceilings, a huge fireplace, and large well equipped kitchen. There is one bedroom in the Maine House. A swing hangs from the timbers in the Main House, and a “crows nest” on the roof affords spectacular views of the surrounding islands. On rainy days and at night, you can watch movies on the big screen and listen to surround sound music in the Main House.
The Guest House contains six bedrooms, each with its own bathroom. Electricity is supplied by wind and solar, supported by backup generators. Water is supplied from wells and a large rain water cistern.
This property is completely 'off the grid', but WiFi is available through HughesNet satellite connection and cell phone service also allows access to the internet.
Kayaks and other small boats are included. A small 10hp, 13’ inflatable outboard motor boat and a larger 18' outboard motorboat can be rented.
Spruce Island falls within the town of Stonington, Maine, famous for fresh Maine lobster and for the pink Maine granite that has been cut from its quarries for more than a hundred years. Spruce was quarried in the late 1800's and in harmony with this history, the owners decided to build these houses entirely of large granite blocks.
Tranportation to the Island: Transportation to and from the island is provided free on the first and last days, up to three round trips each of those days in an amphibious Sealegs, or two round trips in a Munson landing craft. For mid week transportation, there are a number of options. A small outboard motor boat suitable for getting back and forth to Stonington can be rented. Steve Johnson runs a charter service called Bert & I Charters. The Isle au Haut Ferry also does private ferry service to and from Stonington to islands in the area. Another option is to hire our amphibious Sealegs boat or the Munson landing craft with a captain. The advantage of the Sealegs is that, as an amphibious craft, it can drive out of the water and set down on the ground like a camel for easy and safe loading and unloading. This is especially nice for exploring the many uninhabited islands around the area.
Island Life: There are many fun things to do on and around Spruce Island. Some examples include: Intra-island or even inter-island capture-the-flag; Camp fires on the beach; Exploring the many other small islands in the area; Sleeping in a tent near the shore is a wonderful experience for children and adults. You can sit by a camp fire and gaze into the heavens wondering how it all came to be, even catching glimpses of satellites moving across the sky, before rolling into a cozy tent and letting the gentle sounds of waves and wind lull you to sleep.
Dogs are allowed with permission. Please inquire. There is a fee. Dogs must be treated for fleas and ticks to prevent them from carrying fleas and ticks to the island.
We offer a full-service island vacation option for those families that would like a worry-free, island vacation where everything is prearranged for them, including all meals, unlimited boat transportation with captain/guide to explore the area, including trips to surrounding islands and to Acadia National Park and Bar Harbor. This full service option will allow guests to avoid the stresses of planning for their vacation, to fully enjoy themselves while on vacation, and not to worry about cleaning up at the end of their stay. While not inexpensive, this option will allow guests to most enjoy themselves during their vacation. Cost depends on what services are desired, but as a rule of thumb, full service, including unlimited transportation in the Sealegs and landing craft, and full chef services, at least doubles the base rental rate. Please inquire if you are interested in learning more about this option.
