Inside a Resort-Like Getaway on a Private Connecticut Island

May 27, 2025

Off the coast of Connecticut, Rogers Island is an unparalleled oasis with an enchanting residence, guest houses, and seemingly every diversion desirable for a life lived in consummate serenity and seclusion

Centuries ago, John Donne may have successfully made the case that “no man is an island,” but the appeal of owning and living on an island maintains a strong hold on the psyche of anyone who—especially in the harried days of the 21st century—longs for serenity and seclusion.

Branford, Connecticut | Joseph Barbieri, Leslie McElwreath, Sotheby’s International Realty – Greenwich Brokerage

Off the coast of Connecticut, this 7.65-acre island is one of the historic Thimble Islands, a granite bedrock archipelago with a storied history that includes Captain Kidd. John Rogers—an early English settler and one of the founders of the town of Branford—owned the island with his family for more than a century, and it still bears their name. While Rogers Island is woven into the fabric of the area’s history, it is also undoubtedly a peerless modern sanctuary.

The centerpiece is a 8,746-square-foot Tudor-style residence perched high on a promontory above the sea. Constructed in the early 20th century, the enchanting 10-bedroom home possesses a storybook charm and a floor plan with an effortless flow. Highlights include a chic living room with a wood-burning fireplace, a stylish dining area, a family room with a fireplace, and a kitchen recently renovated to boast Calacatta marble countertops, Waterworks fixtures, an eight-burner Wolf range, two Sub-Zero refrigerators, and a wet bar. Nearby but discreet is a catering kitchen with commercial-grade appliances. On the second level is a game and billiards room, while the third floor offers a light-filled playroom. The lower level accommodates a naturally cooled wine cellar and abundant versatile storage. Each of the six bedrooms benefits from glorious natural light and water views. The primary suite adds to this list of allures a fireplace, a private balcony, a luxurious bath with a sauna, and cedar-lined closets. A porch wraps around the back of the residence, providing breezy spots for relaxing and reveling in the rarefied setting.

Seclusion is paramount here—the island can only be accessed via boat—providing a pervasive sense of being at a far, peaceful remove from the bustle of day-to-day life. Diversions, however, are plentiful: an impressive saltwater pool and spa terrace on the verge of the rocky shoreline, a pool house with a kitchenette, a dining pergola, a shoreline gazebo, two docks, a beachy boat launch, a Jack Nicklaus–designed putting green, a tennis court, a fire pit, a placid koi pond with a waterfall, expanses of emerald lawn, mature gardens, two greenhouses, and groves of trees ideal for aimless idyllic wandering. Views from nearly every vantage point are vast, expansive, and cinematic.

Visitors—of which there will surely be many—will appreciate the comfort and charm of the private four-bedroom guesthouse, which includes a kitchen and an enviable waterfront porch. A cottage with two bedroom suites and a studio with a loft, a kitchenette, and an outdoor shower augment the versatility. Island-wide internet access and a commercial-grade 150 kilowatt generator provide peace of mind. The estate also includes a mainland compound at the end of a private peninsula on the outskirts of Stony Creek village, providing invaluable access to and from the island. It includes a private dock, parking, and additional quarters for guests or staff.