Do yourself a lifetime favor and treat yourself to a stay at Spruce Island if you get the chance. It is simply a spectactular private island, the likes of which one would rarely get the chance to rent in Maine or anywhere else for that matter.
I’ll start with the panoramic views from the main house which is perched on top of a hill overlooking the Merchant Row archipelago to the south. The fresh smell of spruce pervades the salt air. The two beaches are stunning, as if you saw them on a postcard of Maine. With gently sloping granite ledges combined with Caribbean like coves of sand , and with mini peninsulas with their own cove beaches that expose themselves at low tide, it is a beach lovers paradise. I very much enjoyed jumping in and out of the water even in June.... think of it as cryotherapy.. it energizes you for the rest of the day. Trust me , the owner’s pictures of the beaches are typical of the man...understated, and don’t do them full justice. But as a friend once told me , always leave room for positive surprises ..and you’ll get them here with the beaches.
My dog Alpha loved Spruce as much as I did ...he lives in New York City cooped up in an apartment most of the time so he was in heaven.
I can’t sign off without commenting on the island’s owner Colie Odonnell , a true gentleman whose energy, perseverance, and good taste in creating this wonderland makes it all possible. His attention to quality and detail is obvious inside the main house with its impressive granite fireplace, open chef’s kitchen, and cathedral ceilings. But also pay attention ,as you’re exploring the island, to all of Colie’s handiwork with trails, lighted paths, fire pits , granite stairs, composting shed, rain cisterns, solar panels, etc that made this island living possible.
Colie goes above and beyond to make sure that his guests are maximizing their experience , with all kinds of activities (kayaking, BBQs/ picnic tables on both beaches, badminton, ping-pong and all sorts of rainy day games and adult toys like a choice of a large or a small motorized boat to use to explore the nearby islands, which we did on several days. The nearby Coombs islands are easy to get to and have Instagram worthy coves in the inlet between the two of them and are a must see, as is McGlathery Island, the one you are looking at from the house directly to the south.
Bottom line.. a masterpiece ...and one of the best experiences I’ve ever had. Thanks, Colie!
