Orcas Island's historic Rosario Resort gets mystery new owner, closes for renovations

The 82-acre Rosario Resort and Spa on Orcas Island is an idyllic Northwest wonder at the end of a windy, wooded road that opens to Rosario Point, as the deep-water cove of Cascade Bay glimmers in the distance.

The centerpiece of the resort is a massive three-story stucco craftsman-style mansion, known alternately as Moran Mansion and Rosario Lodge, its ground floor lined with wide arched windows. The mansion was built more than 100 years ago as the retirement home of Seattle magnate, shipbuilder, and former mayor Robert Moran, who later dedicated 5,000 acres adjacent to the resort that became Moran State Park.

The manicured grounds surrounding the mansion, designed by the Olmsted brothers, are dotted with secluded spots beneath native firs, shore pine, and Pacific madrona. Pairs of perfectly placed white Adirondack chairs invite couples and friends to take in the stunning view of the San Juan Islands that rise in distant layers like underwater giants rising from the deep.

But whether this gem of the San Juans will remain open to the public is an open question in the wake of the resort’s sale and closure on Feb. 20. A statement from the Bartos family, which has owned Rosario for 17 years, reassures guests and the Orcas community that the marina and grounds will remain open while the historic mansion undergoes repairs and renovations.

Meanwhile, island rumors about the intentions of the new owners, whose identity has not been revealed, have run amok. Some say plans are in the works to convert the historic mansion into a private residence. Others hold out hope that the new owners will renovate and reopen the mansion, with its restaurant, lounge, spa, museum, and two-story 1913 Aeolian pipe organ.

General Manager Christopher Peacock, who has worked at the resort since 1980 and wrote a book about the history of the property, remained mum about the sale but optimistic about Rosario’s future. In an email response to questions, Peacock said he was on a long-planned trip to Peru and unable to answer questions until after his return in March.

“Things remain unclear as the sale has not gone through yet, so things are changing every day, and both Rosario staff and the buyer are under a confidentiality agreement, so not much any of us can talk about until the sale closes on February 29,” Peacock wrote.

But Peacock, who has been through this type of scare before at Rosario, said he remains confident that the resort will be restored and reopened in all its splendor.

"I have been through every ownership change of the resort and each has been positive for Rosario,” he said. “Even though I will not be involved, I am optimistic for the future of the historic property.”

Meanwhile, the resort’s staff of 45 people have been let go, which means many of them have lost not only their jobs but their housing as well. A portion of resort workers live on the property in separate buildings on the ridge opposite the mansion.

During the last days of Rosario’s current incarnation, staff expressed frustration and sadness privately that the details of the sale and the intentions of the new owners have not been more transparent.

But they also said the current owners were providing workers with a generous severance package and had given those who live in resort-owned housing until the end of March to find other places to stay.

One of the people who has been helping with that process is Wendy Shinstine, who has lived on Orcas Island since 2006 and who once considered buying Rosario Resort with a man who she now refers to as her “wasband.”

Shinstine said the Bartos family put their “heart and soul” into Rosario, which took a big hit during the Covid-19 shutdown. She said the sale of Rosario Resort should not have come as a surprise, as the property and the adjoining marina had been on the market for some time before a buyer was found.

Shinstine, a self-described “community connector,” has been actively working to help resort workers who want to remain on Orcas Island find new jobs and places to live. She runs a locals-only Facebook page, where employers and landlords can post about jobs and housing, and where laid-off workers can describe their skillsets and say what they’re looking for.

“We will make sure that everyone who wants to stay on the island has every opportunity to do so,” Shinstine said.

On its last weekend before closing, the Rosario mansion was abuzz with news of the impending closure and rumors about the future of the mansion. As The Mansion Restaurant gradually ran out of ingredients, the chef ad libbed and offered last-day diners substitute options.

One couple who had been married at Rosario said they came back for one more visit. Other locals and regulars chatted with staff about what they would do next.

The resort’s website says overnight lodging will reopen on April 1. But it is unclear how many rooms would be available and what services would come with those reservations, as the mansion itself, with its upscale restaurant, spa, swimming pool, music room, and museum, will remain closed “for a period to accommodate the extensive renovations.”

The mansion has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1978.

Despite the lingering rumors and fears, Shinstine said she remains confident about the new owners and the future of what she calls “the heart of the island.”

“The mansion itself I believe will always be a historical landmark open to the public,” she said. “The last time it was sold and bought with the current owners, it was closed as well. Were we afraid? No. Were we sad? Yes. But it needs new life. It needs a new pocketbook.”