A self-sustaining private island in Canada that can only be reached by boat or helicopter is for sale

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An aerial view of Strum Island in Canada, on the market for about $7.3 million.

Mike Rogers

An island off the coast of Mahone Bay in Nova Scotia, Canada, is for sale for $7.3 million.
Strum Island has a luxurious lodge and amenities for guests who want to escape a stressful world.
The current owner won’t be able to spend as much time there and has listed it for $7.3 million.

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.

An aerial view of a lodge in Nova Scotia. — An aerial view of the main lodge.

Mike Rogers

An aerial view of the main lodge.

Mike Rogers

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.

A widow's walk atop a lodge. — A widow’s walk atop the main lodge.

Mike Rogers

A widow’s walk atop the main lodge.

Mike Rogers

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.

An outdoor patio in front of a lodge. — An outdoor seating area in front of the main lodge.

Mike Rogers

An outdoor seating area in front of the main lodge.

Mike Rogers

“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.

An indoor dining room in the main lodge.

Mike Rogers

An indoor dining room in the main lodge.

Mike Rogers

The lodge has six bedrooms, each with its own bathroom.

There is also a two-story guest house.

A yellow guesthouse on an island. — A guest house on the island.

Mike Rogers

A guest house on the island.

Mike Rogers

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.

A dock surrounded by water. — Another dock on the property.

Mike Rogers

Another dock on the property.

Mike Rogers

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.

A boat sailing away from an island in Nova Scotia. — A sailboat sailing away from the island.

Mike Rogers

A sailboat sailing away from the island.

Mike Rogers

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.

A dirt parking lot on the edge of an island. — A parking lot on the island.

Mike Rogers

A parking lot on the island.

Mike Rogers

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.

A nighttime view of a lodge in Nova Scotia. — A nighttime view of the main lodge.

Mike Rogers

A nighttime view of the main lodge.

Mike Rogers

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.

A small structure facing the water.

Mike Rogers

A small structure facing the water.

Mike Rogers

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.

An aerial view of a greenhouse on an island. — A look at the greenhouse.

Mike Rogers

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.

A bedroom in Nova Scotia island lodge. — Another bedroom in the main lodge.

Mike Rogers

Another bedroom in the main lodge.

Mike Rogers

There are also three different types of heating systems in case it gets chilly.

The average annual temperature in Mahone Bay is 64 degrees.

A small structure on an island with chairs facing the water. — A look at the stone seawall.

Mike Rogers

A look at the stone seawall.

Mike Rogers

“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.

An aerial shot of a Nova Scotia island. — A view of the whole island.

Mike Rogers

A view of the whole island.

Mike Rogers

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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