A rustic private island in Maine is on the market, but the owner will only sell to someone willing to stay overnight—despite perilous weather

Geese Ledges, a non-public island only a 10-minute boat trip from the coast of Maine, is available on the market for $339,000.

Up for a non-public island on the northeastern coast of the US?

Geese Ledges Island is a 1.5-acre landmass at present available on the market in Wohoa Bay, Maine. The worth: an attainable $339,000.

Billy Milliken, the island’s proprietor and actual property agent answerable for the sale with Daring Coast Properties, informed Insider that the island gives loads to a brand new caretaker. Although it feels distant if you’re on the island, it’s only a 10-minute boat trip from Jonesport, Maine. 

“It is on the market far sufficient that you just’re away from any noises and lights,” stated Milliken, who has owned the island since 2007. “There is a very darkish sky on the market so nighttime is gorgeous.”

Nevertheless, to qualify as a possible purchaser, Miliken says that events want to remain an evening on the island.

Having the ability to afford the worth tag is one factor. However Milliken has an extra stipulation: Anybody eager about Geese Island must be ready to spend an evening on the island and win over Milliken. 

“I am sticking to my plan in that to qualify as a purchaser you have to keep,” he stated. His reasoning is that he needs the brand new proprietor to see the worth within the island’s pure panorama, but in addition be prepared to take care of its quirks. 

Two events have already accomplished the in a single day request and three extra are scheduled to go to within the coming days, he stated. If multiple potential purchaser is certified, Milliken stated that the deciding issue is his intuition. 

“It is going to be coming from the intestine,” Milliken, 52, stated. “When it is proper, it is proper. I am going to really feel it, and so they’ll really feel it.”

The cottage sleep as much as 4 folks.

The cabin is cozy, however will comfortably match as much as 4 folks. There are two beds within the loft and, at present, Milliken stated he retains air mattresses for extra in a single day visitors.

All through the years, Milliken has shared the island together with his household and shut associates, who he stated are likely to make day journeys fairly than keep in a single day. 

The cottage is 20 toes from the sting of the water, however Milliken stated it could face up to flooding.

The draw back to being so near the water is the danger of flooding throughout storms. 

Milliken defined that almost all of dangerous climate takes place between October and Might. He usually stays away from the island at the moment as a result of it is unfit for “man or beast,” he stated.

However regardless of an extended stretch away from the property, the cabin stays intact. It was constructed with the rugged surroundings in thoughts.

“There’s been three totally different instances when the storm surges have come as much as the cottage, and possibly beneath the cottage to a level,” Milliken stated. “However, it is elevated. It is by no means, ever broken the construction or the flooring.”

Milliken stated he is solely ever used the area as a summertime getaway. Wintertime, he added, is not any joke.

For Milliken, the fantastic thing about the island comes through the summer time when “you possibly can very a lot expertise the ocean and be a part of it,” he stated. The water gives a cooling impact throughout heat climate. The truth is, throughout one notably sizzling summer time, he remembers popping out to the island.

“It was simply such a reduction, bodily reduction,” he stated of the coastal breeze. “I slept outdoors within the hammock. It was the perfect night time’s sleep I ever had.”

Wintertime situations on the island, nevertheless, encompass ice, snow, and storms, which might be a problem for anybody trying to dwell there full-time. Milliken admits it is not past the realm of risk, although.

“I had a buddy keep there throughout a storm within the wintertime,” Milliken stated, noting that the buddy was curious to see what it will be prefer to dwell off what the island may present, together with fish, clams, and mussels. “He actually roughed it. He was prepared to come back house after three days.” 

The island additionally lacks operating water and warmth.

Trendy comforts not afforded to the brand new proprietor of Geese Ledges embody operating water and warmth. If somebody is considering of constructing it a year-round residence, that is a problem, Milliken stated. 

For the lavatory, visitors use the outhouse, situated a brief distance from the cottage. 

Milliken defined that, for him, Geese Island has all the time been a spot to go to through the day. His major residence is close by on the mainland. “It is tempting to come back house and take a bathe,” he added.

However a large perk of the island is how “unspoiled” and wealthy with wildlife it’s, Milliken stated.

Wildlife on the island consists of lobster, sea birds, eagles, and seals, who give beginning to pups across the island, Milliken stated.

When he finds dwell seal pups, he calls the Marine Mammal Rescue hotline to rescue them. 

“It is so unspoiled there,” Milliken stated. “You expertise nature—it hasn’t modified.”

To take care of the integrity the island and its wildlife, Milliken stated he’ll solely promote to somebody who feels the identical method about conserving it a “particular place.”

Milliken is upholding a long-standing imaginative and prescient for the island. He stated that the homeowners earlier than him refused to promote the island to an get together as a result of they wished to hunt the wildlife on the island.

After spending a decade on Duck Ledges himself, he understands why the earlier homeowners have been so protecting.

“In our lives, we’re busy, and there is so many distractions, however, if you’re out on that island, you actually really feel small,” Milliken stated. “It’s extremely wholesome to be there alone the place you possibly can actually hearken to your self. You are a visitor of nature if you’re there.”

“The longer I personal the island,” he added, “I perceive much more that it’s a particular place.”