Goat Island, well-known stopoff for Grand Lake boaters, hits the auction block
'Can we stop at Goat Island?' Locals concerned they may lose access to spot where children, grandchildren swim
An island that serves as an unofficial gathering place for Grand Lake boaters is being auctioned by the province.
Goat Island is a 1.5-hectare (3.7 acre) island tucked between Cox Point and Wuhrs Beach in the northern part of the lake.
Its arrival at a tax sale is somewhat of a surprise to those who have frequented the island for decades.
"I really never knew who owned it and never really bothered to try and find out. I always assumed the government owned it," Brian Watson said.
Watson said many of his family members lived in the Grand Lake area when he was growing up and he later owned a camp on the lake for 40 years.
When he got his first boat in the 1960s, he began visiting the island. Years later, he took his son there and eventually his grandchildren.
"The island was directly straight across the lake from my place, so I got up every morning, looked out and [saw] the island," he said.
"We travelled out to the island quite a bit."
Chris Spencer and his family have been visiting Goat Island for decades. (Silas Brown/CBC News)
Chris Spencer, from the Chipman area, who owns a place in nearby Cumberland bay, said going to Goat Island is one of his earliest memories.
His children inherited his fondness for it and so have his grandchildren, he said.
"When we load the boat, even before the boat's loaded, they start asking, 'Can we stop at Goat Island?'"
This tiny island in Grand Lake is for saleHe said it comes back to there being very few beaches on the lake "where kids can get out and enjoy the water."
It's not steep, "you don't have to have that fear of somebody getting out over their head," and it's always warm because it's shallow. "That gravel base is what makes it so attractive," Spencer said.
Assessed value $3,500
According to the notice of tax sale posted by the provincial government, the island belongs to the estate of Lloyd C. Ryan and will be auctioned at the Fredericton Convention Centre on Jan. 17.
The province auctions properties with unpaid taxes, but a spokesperson for the province said the amount owing is not made public until the day of the sale.
Goat Island's assessed value is $3,500, and the 2024 tax levy was $62.29.
CBC was unable to find the Ryan family to get more details.
Unknown History
Joshua Green, the manager of the media unit for the Provincial Archives of New Brunswick, said information about the island is scant.
Little is known about the history of Goat Island. (Provincial Archives of New Brunswick)
It was first granted to Micah Y. Cox in May of 1883 and a portion was later purchased by the federal government from Eliza McBain for a "light site," in 1919.
No one is quite sure where the island gets its name. Some believe that nearby Cox's Point looks like the head of a goat. Green said that no information on the name or the use of the island could be found in the archives.
'Tremendous shame' to lose access
Spencer worries that the next owner could have a less relaxed attitude toward those using the island. Ideally, he'd like to see it in public hands.
"It would be a tremendous shame for the users of the lake to lose access to that asset," he said. "Provincial land around the lake is non-existent."
"Around Grand Lake you could probably count on one hand how many locations there are for public access to the water."
Both Spencer and Watson warn that the island wouldn't be particularly suitable as a spot for permanent structures, because of spring flooding and the local flora.
"You'd never be able to build on it — it floods every year," Watson said.
"There's a lot of poison ivy on that island, and when I used to take my grandkids and my son out there, it was like, stay out of the bushes."
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
David Amos
Hmmm
Michael Kidder
Reply to David Amos
A deep thought?
Allan Marven
Very stange that you can absolutely not get a Gov't property lease on waterfront crown ground. Then this.
Michael Kidder
Reply to Allan Marven
Gosh, any possibility that laws have changed since 1833?
David Amos
Reply to Michael Kidder
Nope
Michael Kidder
Reply to David Amos
Last update to the NB foreshore legislation was 2002.
I do remain perplexed by those who insist on proving they don't know what they are talking about. Why?
David Amos
Reply to Michael Kidder
Perhaps you should ask yourself that question because since 1784 we have not had a Constitution that would justify the making of any laws
MR Cain
Reply to Allan Marven
Camp Lot Lease are available.
David Amos
Reply to Michael Kidder
The declaratory power in section 92(10)(c) of the Constitution Act, 1867 gives the Federal Cabinet the power to dismiss any provincial act within one year.
David Amos
Reply to Michael Kidder
You may claim that I don't know what I am talking about However you can't deny that I am known for arguing law on both sides of the 49th
MR Cain
Reply to Michael Kidder
New Brunswick's foreshore legislation includes the Provincial Coastal Areas Protection Policy (CAPP) and the Fish and Wildlife Act. These laws protect the province's coastal features and wildlife. These are more recent.
Allan Marven
Lot of differece between "Geonb" property lines, and "Real Property Online" property lines. Funny thing, since both come from the same PNB property data base. Somethings fishy.
Michael Kidder
Reply to Allan Marven
There is a difference between apples and oranges too. Something fishy there?
David Amos
Reply to Allan Marven
Yup
MR Cain
Reply to Allan Marven
I can't see anything significant, one being a paid subscription with limited info, but they both display they are not error free. Goat Island was probably pretty low priority for updates.
ralph jacobs
Could the not put it back as crown land then everyone could use it.
Michael Kidder
Reply to ralph jacobs
I would suspect that there is legislation around tax sales which precludes that. At the same time, given it is so cheap, perhaps the local residents could buy it and give it to the crown to protect in in perpetuity.
MR Cain
Reply to ralph jacobs
That is the best and most logical.
ralph jacobs
Reply to Michael Kidder
I did think that it would be nice for someone to buy but as crown land you would use at your own risk where if it is private property someone getting hurt on it could launch a lawsuit against the owner.
Michael Kidder
Reply to ralph jacobs
Thus my recommendation that they buy it and give it back to the crown.
Michael Kidder
Reply to ralph jacobs
Though; looking into that process makes it seem far more complex than one might think.
Allan Marven
Reply to ralph jacobs
That would be the most obvious, and fair solution, but we all know how it goes. Somebody probably wants the beach sand for a golf course.
David Amos
Reply to Allan Marven
I would use it to raise chickens
David Amos
Reply to David Amos
and a few goats
Hugh MacDonald
Baaaaa!
David Amos
Content Deactivated
Reply to Hugh MacDonald
Humbug
Bobby Richards
According to GeoNB there is another property (PID 45176351) within Goat Island (PID 45041654). It has a separate tax ($100.78 in 2024) and is known as Goat Island Lighthouse.
MR Cain
Reply to Bobby Richards
That would be the old foundation.
David Amos
Reply to Bobby Richards
The plot thickens
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