Our story
The island has been part of our family’s history since the 1600s — at least as far back as we are able to trace it. For decades, it has been a place where family and friends came together to enjoy the simplicity of Finnish island life - peaceful nature, long summer evenings, and a real Finnish sauna. What began as a private family retreat is now a place we are proud to share with guests seeking something truly unique and unforgettable.
History
The island used to be much smaller. In 1604, the lake's water level dropped by more than 4 meters when the water broke through a new route in Sarsa. Consequently, the island became significantly larger. The old shoreline can still be observed on the island today.
Another major change occurred in 1830, when the Kaivanto Canal breached, causing the lake level to drop by nearly 2 meters. This made the island even larger once again. Today, the size of the island is approximately 11 hectares.
In the early 20th century, horses and sheep were kept on the island during the summer. Hay was also harvested from the island to feed livestock on the mainland.
The island cottage was a very important place for them, where they spent almost all of their free time. They often invited friends to the island and hosted, among other things, unforgettable Midsummer celebrations. Future generations grew up enjoying life on the island from an early age.
In 1998, Heli's brother built a log cabin, which now serves as accommodation for the island's guests. The logs for the cabin were felled from the own forest and hand-carved. Initially, the cabin was intended to be a smoke sauna, but Grandpa Jaakko noted that more guest accommodation was needed.
Grandparents' Time
In 1974, the parents of the island's current owner, Grandpa Jaakko and Grandma Leila, built a summer cottage on the island using timber from their own forest. Initially, the cottage consisted of a sauna and a small kitchen. In 1992, they built a separate sauna cabin, at which point the old sauna was converted into a kitchen and the dressing room was turned into a bedroom for the main cottage.
Heritage
In 2007, Heli inherited the cottage following the passing of Grandpa Jaakko. Since then, Heli and her husband Ari have carried out many improvements on the island while still honoring Jaakko’s legacy. In 2019, the summer cottage was renovated by the family themselves into a winter-habitable home, and the building was expanded at the same time. The renovation made use of logs and boards salvaged from an old barn that had been dismantled nearby.
Circular economy principles and ecological sustainability are important values on the island in general. For example, waste is carefully sorted and bio waste is composted. The resulting compost soil is then used to fertilize the greenhouse and garden. Heli is an enthusiastic gardener, and today the yard features a garden full of various useful plants as well as a greenhouse.
The island has intentionally been kept off the electrical grid, so Ari has modernized the cottage’s functionality by installing, among other things, solar panels. These provide power for the refrigerator and water pump, and of course for charging phones as well.
Children have also taken part in developing the island. Helis sons, Jani and Juuso, for example, renovated the sauna in spring 2026, and now guests can enjoy what might just be the world’s best sauna steam on beautiful plank-built benches.
Children's time
Heli has five children, and they have been involved with the island since early childhood. There, Grandpa Jaakko taught the children many things, including how to swim, drive a motorboat, and chop firewood. As they grew older, the children also invited their friends to the island and hosted unforgettable summer evenings there.
Juuso has also hosted friends from his exchange student years on the island. Visitors have included friends from India, Britain, and Germany. It was especially through the feedback from these international guests that we truly understood the value of this place through the eyes of others. That was when the idea first emerged to start offering this island experience to others as well.
The place has been developed significantly over the past decades, yet we have managed to preserve the island’s original spirit along with the simple and traditional Finnish summer cottage culture. We believe that this is a unique opportunity to experience a Finnish summer like a local.
We welcome you to continue the story!
