island info

Our managers and staff strive to make your vacation a memorable experience.

For eight weeks in July and August, stay with us on our island on Great Pond, one of the beautiful freshwater Belgrade Lakes. Great Pond was the summer home for screenwriter Ernest Thompson and was his inspiration for “On Golden Pond.” Taconnet captures the essence of a perfectly relaxing Maine vacation, even the daily mail boat and the beautiful call of the loons.

Beloved children’s author E.B. White spent his childhood summers on Great Pond and returned many years later with his son. From this father-son trip, he wrote Once More to the Lake. Come vacation on Great Pond and see why E.B. White believed that “… those times and those summers had been infinitely precious and worth saving. There had been jollity and peace and goodness.”

Arrival and Departure

Guests are welcome to arrive any time on Saturday after 4:00 pm. Staff will greet you on the mainland and ferry you to the island. Your belongings will be delivered directly to your cabin.

Check-out time is Saturday by 10:00 A.M., and settlement of your account should be made in our office before that time. A scheduled pick-up of your bags will be arranged on Friday evening at dinner.

Meals and "The Clacker"

Still a tradition, wake up time and meals are announced by a Taconnet staff member running around the island with an antique wooden clacker. Children often gather to chase after the runner.

Wake-up clacker: 7:30am
Breakfast clacker: 8:00am
Lunch clacker: 12:30pm
Dinner clacker: 6:00pm

Community Traditions

In keeping with our rustic setting, Taconnet provides an old-fashioned, relaxing atmosphere. Cottages have games, books and other diversions, but no televisions or telephones. To maintain the family-friendly ambience, smoking is prohibited on the island and alcoholic beverages are not allowed in the Main Lodge or other common areas. Although there is cell phone service and WiFi available, Taconnet is the perfect place to disconnect from your screens and connect with family, friends and the natural surroundings.

Ferry Schedule

We have both a motorized and a hand-crank ferry. Weather permitting, the ferry runs on call between 9:00 a.m. and 9:00pm, and otherwise by special arrangement. Simply ring the bell for ferry service.

Our Neighbors

Check out the community newspaper Summertime in the Belgrades for local happenings.

There are several local organizations that are dedicated to the quality and preservation of Maine's lakes, including Great Pond. The BRCA and MLRC have combined forces to create the 7 Lakes Alliance to conserve the lands and waters of the Belgrade Lakes region for all. The Belgrade Lakes Association works to protect the Great Pond and Long Pond watersheds. The Maine Lakes Society administers the LakeSmart program to encourage education and stewardship to keep Maine's lakes healthy.

Taconnet recently received a LakeSmart award for its outstanding improvements and implementation of environmental practices on the island. Check out pages 5 and 8 of the MLS newsletter for information about the award.