47mi from San Rafael · 13 sites · Tents, RVs, LodgingBook our floating Forbes Island for your OffBeat, Off-Grid Experience!
This private, historic event venue accommodates 2 to 125 people with a few special on-board bedrooms, and plenty of camping at adjoining Willow Grove Ranch.
*This property appeals to the adventurous - guests must pay attention to transportation instructions and prepare to be off-grid during their stay.*
*DISCLAIMER*
Forbes Island is a ferry and boat-accessible destination! To drive, you must catch the Car Ferry in Oakley to transport you to the Island.
A Midday Car-Ferry Boat or Pre-Booked Passenger Boat is Required!
- Please Call Before Booking -
*This property has unique logistics. Please send a message to call and iron out all your details, before booking!*
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The Forbes Island off-grid event venue and campground are at Bradford Island in the Sacramento River Delta. The floating barge is moored next to our private ranch, utilized for tent and RV camping for larger groups. We limit rentals to single groups for ultimate privacy in a natural setting. You and your guests enjoy the remote Sacramento River Delta wetlands while being only a short drive from the Bay Area. Guests have direct access to water sports and private docks.
*Note: Forbes Island requires passage via the Bradford Island car ferry (see schedule below), a personal watercraft, or a captained passenger ferry boat that must be booked in advance. Boat dock space is included.
History:
Forbes Thor Kiddoo came to San Francisco in 1959 after a stint in the Coast Guard. A carpenter and engineer, he developed a business constructing houseboats in Sausalito. Then, inspired by Jules Verne’s Captain Nemo and the movie version of “20,000 Leagues Under The Sea”, Forbes Kiddoo built himself an underwater home, complete with portholes for watching the fish swim past, a diving hatch and a grand bedroom suite fit for a captain of his private world. In the ’90s, Forbes added a 40-foot lighthouse and a white picket fence.
Today, a small group of committed friends has preserved and kept Forbes Island afloat for community events, opening it for all to experience and enjoy. Your rental helps us to maintain this totally unique, fabulous find into the future.
FAQ
Are day campers included in the total guest count, or does it only apply to overnight guests? All campers, whether they are staying overnight or not, must be included in the reservation.
Can additional guests be added after the initial booking? Yes, you can modify your trip to add more guests through the Hipcamp app, but you cannot exceed the maximum capacity.
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Forbes Island is a historic architectural folly built on a floating barge, with indoor spaces above and below its deck. The venue is adjacent to private land available to add-on to your booking, for camping and RV parking. Guests may sleep in any of the following places on the property:
1. Top Deck: Open-Air Camping
2. Top Deck Tiki Room: Indoor room, no furnishings
3. Below Deck Bedroom 1: Full Bed with attached bathroom
4. Below Deck Bedroom 2: Queen Bed
5. Below Deck "Living Room" and Bar: Indoor room, no furnishings
6. Adjacent field available for tent and RV camping.
*Note: the barge has two functional bathrooms with toilet and sink that uses non-potable water, no showers onboard.
Provided Aboard:
Refrigerator
Grill on Deck
Electrical Power
Starlink Wifi
BYO:
Drinking Water
Provisions
Musical Instruments
Sunscreen
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BRADFORD ISLAND FERRY: https://bradfordisland.com/wp-...
Round-Trip (car) Ferry Ticket $15.50: Purchase ferry tickets at this Oakley Valero Station https://goo.gl/maps/FHpr8VUvj8...
Ferry Schedule:
MONDAY – FRIDAY RUNS: 9 am to 5 pm (RUNS ON THE HOUR EXCEPT AT 12 NOON)
SATURDAY RUNS: 8 am, 9 am, 10 am, 11 am & 12 NOON
SUNDAY RUNS: 11 am, 12 pm, 1 pm, 2 pm, 3 pm
Be sure to be there at least 5 minutes early because Delta Time has its own way of doing things!
*NOTE: if you miss the last ferry of the day, you are staying for another night!
