A private island, a log cabin and Canada on the doorstep: in 2005, Matthias R. from Bavaria won an unusual jackpot. Some 20 years on, he is looking for a buyer, as even wilderness needs upkeep - and it is a long way to go just for a short break.
Some people win a gift basket; Matthias R. won an island. In a Haribo prize draw, the man from Kahl am Main in Lower Franconia became the owner of a private retreat in Canada back in 2005. Now that chapter of island ownership is set to end: the property is on the market for 348,000 Canadian dollars, the equivalent of around 220,000 euros.
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The grand prize came with gummy bears
There is a reason why the story sounds like an especially generous advertising idea. Haribo launched the promotion in April 2005 with everything that helps sell the dream of dropping out of everyday life: a private island in Nova Scotia, a wooden house, the first flight there, plus a canoe complete with fishing gear. Haribo’s famous Goldbears were supposed to provide the initial provisions – from a nutritional point of view clearly not ideal for a long-term life in the wilderness.
Thomas Gottschalk was also part of the package, at least in the campaign. As Haribo’s advertising partner at the time, he was, according to the company, supposed to help build the wooden house and promote the prize draw on television. The dream of a hideaway was pushed to the public with considerable effort: no fewer than 15 million promotional stickers were planned for the sweet bags.
Paradise comes with a compost toilet
Today’s sales listing markets the property under the name "Back Lake Islands". It lies in the eastern Canadian province of Nova Scotia, in Shelburne County. According to the estate agent, the plot covers around 6.5 hectares, and the property also includes adjoining marshland.
The promotional text reads: "Escape everyday life to your own private island paradise – just 30 minutes from shopping and amenities in Shelburne. A short boat ride from the shore takes you to your personal retreat, where you can enjoy lakeside living for at least three seasons of the year. The adjoining wetlands, which also form part of the island property, invite you to head off on long explorations in a unique natural landscape."
The land comes with a log cabin featuring two bedrooms and a bathroom. Two small boats, a jetty, a shed and a generator are also included, according to the listing. For leisure, the estate agent recommends swimming, canoeing, fishing and hiking.
The facilities are clearly geared more towards a nature getaway than a luxury resort: solar panels provide electricity, a pump draws water from the lake and, when nature calls, there is a compost toilet.
Distance you can’t just wish away
The owner’s parents looked after the property for years and put a lot of work into it, the Bild newspaper reports. The journey there takes around ten hours in total, and these days they no longer feel up to the long trip. On top of that come ongoing costs: it is reported that property tax alone comes to around 2,500 euros a year, before flights and hire cars are even factored in.
The dream of owning an island, complete with gummy bears, was a gift – the work that came with it was thrown in for free. But perhaps now an adventurer will turn up for whom this remote island is simply perfect.