Rosario Resort to be auctioned

ROSARIO, Wash. – The historic 74-acre Rosario Resort is on the auction block, but the auctioneer says every potential buyer he’s talked to wants to maintain the look and feel of the century-old San Juan Islands retreat.

The property, which includes 10 buildings with 131 rooms, comes with a plan already approved by San Juan County that will allow the new owner to build 134 luxury vacation condos.

“I’ve talked to well over 200 people, and there isn’t one person who doesn’t have good stewardship of the land in mind,” auctioneer Bill Vipond, who was to preside over today’s scheduled auction, told KOMO-TV.

The main attraction is the 25,000-square-foot Moran Mansion, built in 1909 by former Seattle Mayor Robert Moran, who was also a shipbuilder.

The mansion features Tiffany fixtures, a 1913 Aeolian pipe organ and a Steinway grand piano. The property also includes a 34-slip marina and 28 offshore moorings, plus a conference center, restaurants, museum and spa.

Olympus Real Estate Partners of Dallas, owner of the resort since 1998, said it will be sold to the highest bidder regardless of price.

Only companies that have been pre-qualified – by submitting information that shows they can afford to buy – will be allowed to bid.