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The details
Location: Jackman, Maine Accommodations: 14 private, rustic cabins all with lake views. No minimum nights stay! Located on an island with no electricity. The cabins have gaslights and kerosene lanterns. The main lodge has electricity 24/7 run by solar power. Amenities: Restaurant on the island that serves sit down breakfast and dinner. They provide a bagged lunch so you can get out and adventure!  Attean at Sunset I couldn't tell you how I find this place. I was daydreaming and searching for a perfect getaway during COVID times, and somehow I stumbled upon this oasis on an island in Jackman, ME. A private cabin (with no electricity) on a private island with all meals included? We got our masks and we were off. Attean Lake Lodge is a true family business and you can read about the history here. Brad and Andrea live on the island, along with Barrett (Brad's son) and Josie (and their two sweet kiddos.) They know every guest, and if they don't, you better believe they will all introduce themselves to you to make you feel like part of the family. We were greeted by the entire family within hours of being there. So, it became clear right away we were one of the only newcomers - and I mean this in the best way. The first woman we chatted with had been coming to Attean since 2001. Once you go, you go again. And again. But the website doesn't give you a whole lot of information, so it all feels a little mysterious. The address I found took you to a parking lot, and once you arrived, apparently a man named Karl would appear from his cabin, at the end of the parking lot, to greet you and get you on a boat to head to Attean. And when we arrived, there was in fact a little cabin at the start of the lake that indeed, housed a sweet man named Karl. Karl amused us with the history of the island, told us to keep a look out for the dog that roamed the island who loved kids and that we may have a hard time sleeping at first because it is shockingly quiet. We boarded a private boat that took us on a 5 minute boat ride to Attean. When we pulled up, we were shown to our private cabin. We had booked the Pound Ridge Cabin - a cabin at the farthest end of the island. I had prepped myself going in that the cabin would be pretty rustic considering there was no electricity, but it was honestly cleaner and better kept than most hotels I have stayed in. The bedrooms were simple, clean and perfect for the three of us and the hot water was much appreciated. Kerosene lamps helped light the rooms. If we didn't have our four year old running around us in circles, I would have said it was supremely romantic.
And once you are checked into your cabin....the rest of your adventure is up to you. We ran to put our bathing suits on and headed down to the beach. Attean serves breakfast between 8AM-9AM and dinner between 6PM-7PM. For breakfast they offer two daily specials (our first day it was Blueberry Pancakes or a Ham & Cheese Omelet) AND pretty much anything under the sun that you could possibly want otherwise (I got scrambled eggs and toast both days - super cool and original, I know.) For dinner, they provide a choice of two appetizers (first night it was chowder or a green salad), a choice of an entree (first up was Salmon or Steak) and a choice of a dessert (first night we all got the Strawberry Shortcake.) Wine and beer available at dinner.
 Lunch at Lunch Beach They provide a simple bagged lunch (in a cooler) with a canteen (filled with your choice of lemonade or iced tea) that they encourage you to take with you so you can adventure throughout the day. You can choose whichever type of sandwich you'd like with a handful of varied options each day. LOVED this. It helped remind us to get off a schedule, relax and just enjoy the day wherever it takes you. I wasn't expecting to like the food as much as I did. In particular, the baked goods were insane. Each meal they provide a basket of freshly baked goodies directly upon sitting down - blueberry muffins, homemade biscuits, etc. Always hot and fresh. Other than eating an insane amount of food, here are some other activities we did:
Hope to be one of those regulars. See you next Summer, Attean.
James Scott
6/30/2020 05:55:51 am
Thank-You for posting your story. My parents first met there working as teenagers. That was 1951. It is indeed a magical place. 6/30/2020 06:09:58 am
Oh, wow, James! That brought a huge smile to my face. How incredible is that?
Derek
10/24/2020 09:43:08 am
Great story! I have never stayed on Attean, but, I have been to Jackman many times. My Mom grew up in Jackman and Karl is my uncle. Karl is a true woodsman. Comments are closed.
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