As recent as 50 years ago, Knysna's power was derived from a wood fired turbine, and ironically this power station was and remains a part of arguably the finest location along the garden route. Thesen Island as it is called is home to a collection of up-market homes linked to each other and the Knysna lagoon through a series of water ways. Several years ago an ambitious project to transform the power station into a boutique hotel began, the result of which is breathtaking in its 'industrial' mystique. Given the heritage status of the power station, most of the primary components were left in position and now form an integral part of the theme of the hotel.