The Occident Island Boathouse is one of only two historic structures on a uniquely beautiful private 2-acre island in the 1000 Islands near Fishers Landing, NY. The island has been in the same family since 1900, and the hosts have been fortunate enough to spend time during their summers enjoying the tranquil beauty of the area throughout their lives…and are especially knowledgeable about local history, culture, geography and wildlife. The historic boathouse accommodations are rustic and simple, yet clean & comfortable. They are often called ‘cozy’, ‘quaint’ and ‘charming’, and have the warm & inviting personality of the island itself. If you like camping, you will love the privacy and natural surroundings of this rare gem of a place! Sometimes referred to as glamping, or ‘fancy camping’, those words don’t really describe the special feeling of living surrounded by dark wood, on and over this mighty river & falling asleep listening to the waves! And although it was built in 1874, the boathouse has most basic conveniences (running water in the sink, private room to house the composting toilet, small kitchen, hot shower, enlarged deck, gas grill, WiFi, etc.) added since. Occident offers a unique step back in time to a simpler & more peaceful lifestyle centered within the natural beauty of a northern archipelago. The Thousand Islands area is a notorious destination where the formidable St. Lawrence River begins over ten miles wide and flows (carrying a full third of the planet’s surface fresh water) from Lake Ontario through almost two thousand islands on its long journey toward the northern Atlantic. Occident faces the St. Lawrence Seaway, the International Shipping Channel that connects the inland cities on the Great Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean & the rest of the world. Ocean tankers & ‘lakers’ (750-foot freighters) pass frequently, and guests can see them out their window and hear/feel them at night often before seeing them all lit up. The rest of the island is shared with the owner, Phyllis, her cats & her family, Phyllis and (for most of the season) her daughter & cohost, Jen (& grandson, Milo), live in the main house and share the remaining outdoor areas of the island. The hosts are respectful & considerate of guests’ privacy but always available to help plan activities or answer any questions.
Guests stay in private living quarters in the upstairs of the boathouse, consisting of a private bedroom, another main bedroom with 2 beds, tables, dressers & couch, a small hall kitchen with a sink, microwave, toaster oven, coffee maker, and small fridge, and a private half bathroom with a composting toilet. The upstairs also has a spacious deck with furniture to sit and eat or enjoy the view. Guests also have the largely private use of the downstairs of the boathouse, including their private enclosed shower & changing area, propane grill and full-sized refrigerator and freezer. They also are welcome to use the deck downstairs and docks to swim, fish and enjoy (though the hosts dock their boat so do pass by when leaving or arriving at the island. In addition, guests are welcome to use the canoe and a Sunfish (if you know how to rig it), when the weather cooperates! The fresh clear water of the St. Lawrence River offers amazing swimming, boating and other water activities! Locals swim barefoot, but many people new to the area (& children) prefer water shoes & lots of guests love bringing inflatable rafts and snorkeling gear! Do keep in mind, however, that this location is next to the Canadian border, and the river is pretty chilly until around the middle of July, with prime swimming peaking in August.
About half of our guests either bring a boat or rent one locally. The dock at the boathouse has plenty of deep water and the pickup location at the Fishers Landing boat launch is only a short ride from the island. The hosts have a private dock at the mainland, right next to the boat launch and Bill & Jack’s Marina (where there is parking for your car(s) for a small fee of about $5/day). If you don’t arrive with a boat, we can provide rides in our boat for arrival and departure. Please be aware that this rental is not an easily accessible location for people with physical disabilities - between boating, stairs and uneven terrain, those with mobility issues may find this a challenging or inaccessible destination. Please share any such issues with us prior to booking in order to ensure a pleasurable & comfortable stay.
Staying in the boathouse at Occident Island promises a one-of-a-kind experience that no one is likely to forget. Staying over the water in the midst of such a majestic river is an increasingly rare & timeless experience! We look forward to hosting you and love sharing the beauty of this very special island! Although Phyllis has now been renting the Occident Boathouse for over 30 years (initially as a B&B independently through a private website, then with a well-known site since), this 2026 summer season is our first year transitioning from another rental site to VRBO. We chose VRBO because we are more aligned philosophically with their business practices, as well as the other site’s dramatic increases in usage fees. Unfortunately, this change means we have lost decades of rave reviews, all of which maintained an average of five stars. Some selections of past reviews are below:“This place has so much history…and the location - spectacular!” Mac, NY, 2025 “Occident Island is idyllic” Chelsea, NYC, 2024 “This was an incredible place to stay! If we return to the 1000 Islands, I would choose this place again in a heartbeat!” David, NYC, 2024 “Private & peaceful with lovely hosts nearby as much as you need or want them … both very friendly and helpful!” Rachel, CA, 2023 “I cannot say enough about this incredible stay - you WILL have an unforgettable once-in-a-lifetime experience! I cannot recommend this place highly enough! Suzanne, NY, 2023 “Occident is exactly as described - rustic, but charming, clean, comfy… and absolutely stunning! Katy, MN, 2023. “Phyllis is a legend! Instead of the typical visit to the 1000 Islands, being AT the river, here you are ON the river!” Andy, PA, 2022. “Hands down, the absolute best (rental) I have ever stayed in! A slice of paradise and an experience you simply cannot replicate! This island is just magical!” Abigail, NYC, 2022 “If you are on the fence about booking this spot, stop now & DO it!” Anita, NYC, 2021 “There are no words to describe how beautiful this place truly is!” Jen, NJ, 2020 “This was the highlight of our honeymoon! In this day and age, a retreat like this is unique & much appreciated!” Natalie, France, 2017 “This island absolutely stole our hearts! We feel like we’re in paradise!” Marta, PA, 2017 “This getaway is a total gem! Accommodations are simple but lovely! A scenic, peaceful spot with spectacular views!” Harry, MA, 2014 We cannot wait to share this special place with more guests this summer! We encourage diverse guests & prioritize making certain that people from all backgrounds, cultures, religions, genders and lifestyles feel comfortable and welcome!
