The first time I drove through Princess Park on the shores of Grand Lake, I instantly fell in love with its unique charm. It’s a place unlike any other I’ve seen before.
When searching for a lakefront summer home, some people seek a private oasis surrounded by mature trees, offering seclusion and privacy. Others, however, crave a vibrant, close-knit community of like-minded individuals. Princess Park, located in New Brunswick, perfectly fits the latter description.
Photo credit: Michael Stemm (Instagram: st3mm3r)
Directions to Princess Park Grand Lake (NB Scenic Drives)
If you’ve ever travelled from Fredericton, New Brunswick’s capital city, towards Minto or Chipman, you’ve probably taken Route 10 through Noonan and Albright’s Corner. However, there’s a lesser-known, more picturesque route you can explore.
This alternate route follows Route 105 along the banks of the Saint John River until you reach McGowans Corner and Route 690. Taking Route 690 will lead you through Lakeville Corner, Clarks Corner, and if you disregard your GPS’s advice to take Pondstream Rd (do not take Pondstream Rd), you’ll pass through Douglas Harbour.
A short distance from Douglas Harbour lies Princess Park, not to be confused with the Princess Park Campground, which is a seasonal camping and RV park.
What is Princess Park (Grand Lake) NB?
So, what exactly is Princess Park, NB? It’s not quite a town or even a village, perhaps more like a hamlet, but definitely a community – let’s go with that.
What makes Princess Park so special?
Well, it’s truly one-of-a-kind. Princess Park essentially consists of a roadway built over a natural sandbar.
On one side, you have New Brunswick’s largest freshwater lake, and on the other, the Keyhole, technically a cove and part of Grand Lake.
But it’s much more than just a roadway on a sandbar; it’s a lively beachfront community with some of the finest beaches Grand Lake has to offer.
What sets it apart is that you’ll find cottages built on both sides of the road in some areas, despite the total width between Grand Lake and The Keyhole being less than 300 feet. Don’t forget the two-lane roadway down the middle, taking up a significant portion of the land.
Adding to its uniqueness, most cottage owners have implemented flood mitigation measures, raising cottages on piers, posts, or blocks as high as 10 feet in the air.
Grade Lake Size, Flooding and Flood Levels
Grand Lake is part of the Saint John River system, and during a large spring freshet, water levels can rise significantly. In 2018, the worst flood in recent history saw Grand Lake’s water levels rise by 6.85 meters (22.5 feet).
Grand Lake is not small, spanning over 42,000 acres, 20 km long, and 5 km wide, with an average depth of 9.4 meters (30 feet). That’s over 4 billion gallons of water!
During the spring freshet, an additional 3 billion gallons of water can flow into Grand Lake, causing extensive flooding. Many waterfront property owners have made changes to protect their properties from future events.
Learn more about floods in New Brunswick.
Princess Park Local History, Insights and Memories
Locals have fond memories of swimming on public beaches in the Princess Park area as children and enjoying hotdogs at the canteen run by the Sproul family.
Much of the Princess Park property remains in the Sproul family name today. However, there is still some Crown land at the south end of the Princess Park sandbar.
Going further back in history, it’s said that a man named A.D. Taylor bought land from Robert Clark and built the first cottage in the Princess Park area in the 1930s, later selling it to Dr. Gardiner in 1938. The property in the area has been rumoured to have been part of the Wiggins Estate at one time, and many remember Mrs. Garthwaite, who lived in an old log home there. Many wondered how she survived the harsh winters back then, as the area was pretty secluded at the time.
If you find yourself in the area, be sure not to miss the opportunity to drive through Princess Park and experience its unique and captivating charm. Who knows, you might find yourself fascinated with this one-of-a-kind spot in New Brunswick, too.
