A Charming $4.2 Million Maine Cabin Once Belonged To The Real-Life James Bond

Forbes

25-06-2025

Bond Camp, located in Mount Desert, Maine, recently listed for $4.2 million.
When author Ian Fleming was working on his character James Bond, he took inspiration from real-life spies from his time in the British Naval Intelligence during World War II, wartime figures, diplomats, and other covert figures. But few know that Fleming directly got inspiration for his titular character's name from the real-life James Bond.
While writing his now-famous series at the luxury Goldeneye resort in Jamaica, Fleming was reading the book 'Birds of the West Indies' by James Bond, a renowned 20th-century American ornithologist. Fleming poached the author's name, thinking it would be a great name for a spy. Funnily, Fleming and the real James Bond had much in common: both were educated in England and had a particular love for the Caribbean, including Jamaica. Bond split his time between the Caribbean, Philadelphia, and Maine where he researched birds and wrote books.
The main cabin.
According to author Jim Wright's book 'The Real James Bond,' Bond and Fleming met unexpectedly in Jamaica and engaged in friendly conversation. It was during that conversation that Fleming revealed to the real Bond that he wove subtle clues about his identity into his text, often referencing the field of ornithology and the fictional spy's passion for birds. Not by coincidence, a birdwatcher in British lingo is another name for a spy.
The large deck overlooking the water.
While the real Bond, who died in 1989, shared an identity with one of the most famous fictional characters in history, he found a name for himself in his own right. The celebrated ornithologist wrote several books on birds and was the definitive expert on birds of the Caribbean. He was also the nephew of Carroll Sargent Tyson, an American painter and art collector most famous for his bird lithographs. From the time Bond was born until he died, he spent every summer in Mount Desert Island in the southeastern part of Maine and also the state's largest island. He owned a large cabin-style property called Bond Camp, which was recently listed for $4.2 million by the current seller. The secluded cabin offers true rustic charm in one of the country's most unspoiled locations.
There are four cabins on the property.
The private wooded parcel sits on 15.7 acres with 785 feet of shorefront on Pretty Marsh Harbor. Woven within the natural forest, thickets of woodland, and wildflowers, there are four modest cabins connected by pathways with a total of five bedrooms, three full bathrooms, and a half bathroom. The main cabin has a charming living space with vaulted ceilings, a granite boulder fireplace, dining area, kitchen and large deck overlooking the water. The additional cabins offer modest bedrooms, all which face either the woodland or water. It's a great compound for those who crave solitude or for larger families looking to escape the city, as there are several rooms with double beds. There's also a windowed artist studio.
An artist's studio overlooks the water and forest.
Finally, the property has a deep-water dock and moorings, granite outcroppings, a gravel beach area, and pathways throughout the sprawling acreage. The property is also near the villages of Mount Desert and Tremont, offering easy access to town. Bond Camp is listed with Story Litchfield of LandVest|Christie's International Real Estate.