Ossipee—October 31, 2024—Ossipee’s Select Board this week announced that it has purchased Loon Island in Leavitt Bay for $250,000 and will add it to its inventory of conservation land.
The purchase was made possible by a $2 million bequest from the estate of George Eisener, a long-time lake property owner who died in 2019. Eisener’s will specified that the bequest be used for the town to acquire land for conservation purposes.
Loon Island, less than an acre in size and undeveloped except as a loon nesting site, was at the center of controversy this summer after DES approved an 82.5 ft. wharf with nine boat slips at the site.
Island owners Deborah and Kevin Randall said the docks were needed to deter trespassing boaters who were damaging the property, but also said they might apply in the future to rent the slips.
More than 200 lake property owners joined Camp Marist, the Loon Preservation Committee and three local conservation organizations to appeal the state’s approval.
The commotion caught the attention of Executive Councilor Joe Kenney, who said DES “missed the boat” by not holding a public hearing before approving the application.
Kenney convened his own hearing, which was attended by senior DES officials and more than 150 lake residents. The hearing did not change the state’s decision, but it set in motion discussions between the owners and the town that led to the property transfer.
The sale of the island was welcomed by lake property owners and conservation groups, who offered to help the town develop a plan to keep boaters from further damaging the property and disrupting wildlife, issues that plagued the Randalls for years despite signs warning trespassers away.
In an email to Ossipee Lake Alliance, John Cooley of the Loon Preservation Committee said “It’s incredible to have this hoped-for outcome, for the loons and the lake community.”
“And hopefully a reasonable outcome for Mr. Randall,” he added.
This is very good news. In recent years there has been only one or two properties in our region which definitely deserve Conservation status. I expect a thank you has gone out to the Estate of George Eisener. Without this type of philanthropy, many municipalities are unable to protedt very sensitive parcels, such as Loon Island.
I expect appropriate signage will be installed on the island to indicate its newly protected status. Thanks also to all those citizens, and the three Conservation Groups, who spoke up in order to bring the fait of this critically sensitive island to the attention of the entire state, as well as the Ossipee Town Leadership.
As a Board Member of Ossipee Lake Alliance,
I wish to likewise thank all parties involved who were instrumental in bring this outcome, the protection, to Loon Island,
Our family owned lakefront property on Leavitt bay for 41 years (1973-2014). I couldn’t possibly count the number of times I swam, fished, water skied and wandered around Loon Island as a boy. I remember steering my rowboat OVER the island during a flood in the late 1980s. Although HEAVILY trafficked, Loon Island (and Long Sands for that matter) was pristine. Pristine.
I’m pleasantly surprised at the resolution that leaves the land in the Town’s hands but since 2000 (?) who’s suddenly trashing these “public spaces”?
What does this mean for public access? Will it be posted like Long Sands?