A private island off the coast of Nova Scotia, Canada, is on the market at $9.95 million Canadian dollars, or about $7.3 million.
Strum Island is home to a luxurious lodge, and visitors can use the grounds for hunting, sailing, or just entertaining family and friends.
The 10-acre property is one of over 350 islands in Mahone Bay, which is about an hour’s drive from Halifax, Nova Scotia.
The current owner, Richard Goldenberg, told Business Insider that people currently pay to stay on the island like they do for a hotel.
Goldenberg said that the original developer thought Strum Island was beautiful — one of the few spots from which you could see and easily access the nearby town of Mahone Bay.
According to listing agent Mariana Cowan, of Coldwell Banker Maritime Realty, the property was conceived by its original owner as an escape from 9/11-era fears and stresses.
“That was the initial reason why he built the home, post-9/11, to have that getaway. That was very important to him as the initial developer of the property,” Cowan told the National Post. “That is how it came about — to build this wonderful property as a safe haven.”
Goldenberg also noted that whoever purchases the island could live there if they wanted to.
It’s one of the closest islands to the mainland, making it ideal for anyone who doesn’t want to be too far from civilization. But because of some of the island’s features — from gardens to fishing opportunities — you might not ever have to leave.
Take a look a this luxurious getaway in Canada.
The developer purchased Strum Island in 2001 and started construction on the lodge in 2003.
The seawall was the first major step in construction. It’s made up of a circle of five- to 10-ton boulders that surround the island.
The property took about 16 years to complete.
After construction finished in 2019, Goldenberg became a partner.
One of the obstacles to building on an island is that you must travel back and forth between the mainland for materials and supplies.
“Most of the stuff comes in on a barge,” Goldenberg said. “The barge loads up the building material, brings it over to the island, and then it’s used for construction.”
The main lodge is 9,500 square feet.
The lodge has six bedrooms, each with its own bathroom.
There is also a two-story guest house.
There’s another building on the island that has two apartments used for staff, according to Goldenberg, that can also be used to house even more guests.
The staff were provided by the property management and did cleaning, laundry, and cooking.
The island is only a three-minute boat ride from the mainland.
The town of Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia, one of the closest access points to the mainland, can be seen from the island.
Nearby Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, which is classified as a historic site by UNESCO, is only a 12-minute drive away from the dock on the mainland.
The property is being sold with two boats included, the listing says.
All the furniture is also included in the purchase price.
If you want an even faster mode of transport, there’s a helicopter landing pad on the island.
Strum Island is about 70 miles from Halifax Stanfield International Airport, the closest major airport.
There’s an undersea cable connecting the island to the mainland’s power grid.
There are also propane generators to provide backup electricity just in case the power goes out.
The property has its own well, so visitors are not reliant on the mainland for water.
There’s an aquifer under the island that supplies the island with water.
There’s a sewage system underground as well.
There are also gardens to grow your own food.
There are over 50,000 plants on the island and a greenhouse on the property as well as a vegetable garden with blackberries, strawberries, and more.
Fishing also provides another way to secure food without traveling to the mainland.
“There are an abundant number of different species of fish there at different times of the year that can easily be caught from there,” Goldenberg said.
“There are fishing companies that will be happy to pick up guests right up the island and take them out for day trips to go fishing,” he added.
If the weather gets turbulent, there are double-paned windows to protect from wind.
There are also three different types of heating systems in case it gets chilly.
The average annual temperature in Mahone Bay is 64 degrees.
“The current it has comes from the south, so it’s probably a little bit cooler than Cape Cod,” Goldenberg said.
Goldenberg and his two partners are selling the lodge because of a lack of time to visit.
They’re involved in another construction project in California and won’t have time to be on the island for the next few years.
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