Polypod

Nestled within the protected waters of Southeast Harbor, Polypod affords visitors a pleasant place to rest or stretch while gunkholing on the eastern side of Deer Isle. A cove on the southeast shore of the island provides a good option for landing. Ledges on the south point provide a good platform for taking in the sights and sounds of Brays Narrows and Inner Harbor.

Polypod was known locally as Georges Island until the early 1940s when the United States Geological Survey, unaware of an official name for the island, labeled it Polypod on the Deer Isle topographic maps. Earlier maps such as the British Admiralty map of 1776 and the 1881 Colby Atlas show the island but give no indication of its name.

While suitable for a seasonal residence, there are no signs that Polypod has ever been built on or inhabited by Europeans. For most of this century it has been used primarily by recreational boaters and picnickers. A mix of oak and spruce comprise the upland area, and old piles of logs and brush indicate some historical cutting on the island.

In 1999 Polypod was nearly acquired by a buyer intending to build a private summer residence, but after recognizing the ecological and recreational values of the island, the buyer permitted the [Island Heritage Trust](https://www.islandheritagetrust.org/) to purchase the property as a conservation preserve.