When you sit on the patio outside of La Vista Restaurant at Atlantica Hotel & Marina Oak Island, you will look upon one of the most legendary islands in Canada, Oak Island. 

If you ask any Nova Scotian about Oak Island you’re sure to get a different answer about the mysteries surrounding the island.  Most will agree that the island is home to the infamous “money pit” but what is hidden down the shaft is the real mystery.  Since 1795 people have come and gone, digs have happened and halted, and now the Friends of Oak Island Society is ready to let you take a tour.  To Atlantica Hotel & Marina Oak Island this means exciting things are to come.  If you’re not sure what all of the hubbub and sizzle is about here’s a brief history about the island and it’s mystery.

Oak Island is one of about 360 islands located in Mahone Bay in Lunenburg County.  When 16 year old Daniel McGinnis first found a circular depression in the ground he and his 2 friends began to dig.  By the time they had dug down 30 feet they had discovered markings from tools as well as layers of logs every 10 feet down the shaft.  When Onslow Company started digging in 1803 they found layers of different materials such as coconut fiber and charcoal putty.  When they reached 80-90 feet they found a stone with inscribed symbols that was thought to say “forty feet below two million pounds lie buried”.  Unfortunately, it is unknown where this stone is now.  This was the first time that diggers experienced the flooding of the pit which caused the halt of yet another attempt at discovering the mystery.  Since then, there have been several more digs from organizations such as the Truro Company in 1849 and the Oak Island Association in 1861.  Each dig shed more light on the construction of the shaft and brought about a total of 6 deaths over the years.  In 1965 the causeway, that is currently the only connection to the island, was built in order for Robert Dunfield to move a 70 ton crane on to the island.  When Triton Alliance Ltd. hit bedrock at the bottom of the pit in 1967, they lowered a camera into the hole and found quite a lot of debris, most likely left from previous excavations.  In 2005 a portion of the island was purchased by partners from Michigan. Since January 2011 when the Oak Island Treasure Act deemed that digging could continue it’s been rumored that excavation would begin soon.

No one is certain as to what lies at the bottom of the pit and if the pit itself is simply an act of nature or if the shaft has been constructed in such a way that it is protecting something sacred.  One theory about the money pit is Blackbeard’s treasure is buried at the bottom because apparently Blackbeard claimed he buried his treasure “where none but Satan and myself can find it.”  Another guess is that Marie Antoinette’s missing jewels are hidden down there because when the Palace of Versailles was stormed by revolutionaries she ordered a maid to take them and hide them.  One of the most outrageous rumors is that the secret at the bottom of that pit is none other than the Holy Grail.  What do you think? 

Due to the fact that the island is privately owned, it has not accessible to the public.  In the past there have been summers where tours took place but in recent years those opportunities have become few and far between.  This year, however, the chance to explore Oak Island is available again.  In order to take part in a scheduled tour of  Oak Island you can either purchase a ticket one hour before the tour, while driving onto Oak Island, or at any point from the front desk at Atlantica Hotel & Marina Oak Island.  As the closest hotel to the island, Atlantica Oak Island has its arms wide open to all who share a passion for the island and the mystery.  An informative Oak Island display at Atlantica Oak Island contains never before seen artifacts.  Gather your friends, family and co-workers to enjoy what could be a once in a lifetime experience. 

Click here for full schedule.

Please Note: Atlantica Oak Island does not deem the provided information as fact nor is it the held belief of everyone.

During this past summer some folks got the unique opportunity to tour the famous Oak Island. Not our lovely hotel but that island just off our shoreline that we have been telling everyone for years that they have no access to. No – we weren’t lying… this is a new and exciting time for the island.

I had the opportunity to take a tour a few weeks ago. There really is something about stepping onto that island. As soon as you step foot you become part of the history…. Could you possibly be the last person to walk there before the treasure is found? Your mind can’t help wonder as to what is ahead …. Pirate’s gold… lost Shakespeare manuscripts …the crown jewels of France…. maybe even the Holy Grail????

We here at Atlantica have been fortunate enough to be able to form partnerships with both the current stewards of the island and the Friend’s of Oak Island Society. Both groups have such a passion for the island. Rick Lagina, one of the partners from the Michigan group – the current steward has been passionate about the treasure since he first read about it in the 1970’s at the age of 9. Imagine the thrill he must have felt as he made his way to our province and first stepped foot on that island. You can’t help but be excited that he has the opportunity to continue the search and hope that he finds something. The most endearing part of the tale as it continues today is the love that Rick has for the island. He sees himself as a steward of the island as opposed to the owner. He wants Nova Scotians to be able to enjoy the island and become part of the mystery. We finally see an opportunity to promote tourism with this hidden gem.

Now … just because he wants to let the public experience the island it doesn’t mean it’s a free for all – there IS a treasure there. A few tours to this point have been done with the Friend’s of Oak Island Society. Going forward we are so proud and excited to be included in this venture. Both of our partners have given us access to some artifacts that we will eventually house here at the hotel for our guests to view. On November 19th and 20th we will do our first joint experience. A package that includes a stay at Atlantica, dinner, a tour of the island, a book on Oak Island, and an exclusive viewing of artifacts from the dig. Charles’ Barkhouse from the society will be on hand to give a talk and chat about anything and everything that has to do with the treasure. So come on down to the south shore and join us – it is certainly an opportunity that you don’t want to miss. Once Rick finds that treasure we may have to wait a little bit longer to have this unique opportunity.

A lot has been written about the treasure on Oak Island. So, is it an urban legend? Depends on your perspective.

Want to find out more about the world’s greatest treasure hunt? The Oak Island Money Pit is the site of the world’s longest running hunt for treasure which continues to this day. If you thought pirates, lost treasure, secret codes and mysterious maps belonged in story books, then think again. Read the rest of this entry »