Club Rosario: Which tier will you choose?

||| BY MATTHEW GILBERT, theORCASONIAN OP-ED WRITER |||

Rumors have been swirling about the fate of Rosario Resort, and indeed there has been a rapid series of events that have thrown both the present and future of that storied local icon into a maelstrom of uncertainty. But first, a quick recap:

On April 8, 2024, real estate investment firm Empower Investing, led by Orcas resident Chris Robison, bought Rosario Resort and Spa for $6.65M with the intention of purchasing the remaining development parcels (13 acres, including the hilltop condominiums). He changed the name to Rosario Village, stopped operations, and cancelled existing employee contracts.

Subsequent efforts to obtain sufficient financing to complete the sale fell through, and after a tumultuous tourism season in 2024 marked by a slew of disgruntled comments from guests, the company hired Hartland Hotel Group, a hospitality management company led by Mark and Jack vanHartesvelt. (Mark was involved with Rosario operations from 2002 to 2009.) Empower Investing avoided losing the property altogether in February for loan defaults by selling the marina and much of the open space to whale watching and marine transportation entrepreneur Beau Brandow of Outer Island Expeditions.

And this is where things began to unravel.

Brandow, a long-time local businessman whose company has history at various county marinas, wasted little time in making his mark – much to the vexation of local property owners who, along with members of the wider Orcas Island community, often stroll the property and adjacent beach. Numerous complaints began to surface, voiced by members of the Rosario Property Owners Association (RPOA), of being harassed while walking in the “recreation area” that encompasses the original bowtie pond, Rosario Road, and the sidewalk that snakes along the marina.

The following (edited for length) is typical of the comments received (shared anonymously, given reported threats of retaliation for speaking out, and at least one Orcas resident having been served a No Trespassing order by the Sheriff):

Late this afternoon, we took a walk to Rosario and were throwing a ball for our dog on the beach. There was nobody around.  A pleasant young man named Tobias rode his bike over and told us our dog had to be on a leash. We put her on a leash, said goodbye, and walked the property.  When we were almost to our car near the beach parking, a burly man on a golf cart-type vehicle [and] his small dog stood in the middle of the path.  The dog ran towards our dog and attacked her. The man did nothing to help. His dog did not have a leash. I asked, “Who are you”?  He said he worked there but wouldn’t give us his name. He then asked my husband if our dog was registered. The last thing he said, as we walked away, was, “You are banned from coming here.”

And there’s the rub: On whose authority can such a restriction be made – and enforced? The answer was soon revealed in a two-page letter sent to each Rosario area property owner, signed by “Club Rosario Management,” that made clear the new ownership’s intentions: to essentially privatize the entire experience at Rosario.

Via the letter [see attached], the owner claims to want to preserve good community relations:

“We aim to improve the property and foster better relationships with existing landowners, bringing a more responsible approach and leadership to the system . . . We wish to execute a shared vision and establish a functional relationship. We look forward to engaging with community members who share our vision of improvement.”

And yet there have been no such conversations. No efforts have been made by the new ownership (including Empower Investing) to create such a common vision. On the contrary, every effort seems to have been made to piss people off. Further,

“We recognize and honor the recreational use of the open spaces and have made efforts to understand the property’s history and entitlements, which include shared responsibilities for maintenance and access to certain areas.”

This refers to a 2004 settlement (see Henke v. Oly Rose if you can find it) that gives Rosario property owners certain rights of access to the resort (including the outside pool) for a $4/month maintenance fee – an obligation that has not yet been enforced. Club Rosario, not unreasonably, intends to require such payments but to severely restrict access to other basic amenities such as showers, bathrooms, and parking unless you are willing to join the club at higher-cost “tiers” (e.g., Tier 2, the next level up at $250/yr., does give access to all such areas, though you’ll need to drop another $100 for parking). This will apply not just to Rosario property owners but all Orcas Island residents.

But this wicket quickly starts getting sticky. For one, there is a public health issue: Washington State regulations (WAC 246-260-131) require a “cleansing shower” before entering any public swimming pool.

Moreover, as stated in Objective 2.6 and Section 5.3.2 of the Rosario Resort Master Plan (approved in 2007), “[A]ccess to these same portions of the Cascade Bay shoreline will be enhanced and maintained for the benefit of resort guests and the general public alike. Restored and enhanced pedestrian facilities that provide access to Rosario’s shoreline shall be designated and signed for public access.” In the meantime, several new signs have gone up limiting access to “Resort Guests & Club Members Only.”

As if this wasn’t enough, there has been rapid construction of short-term lodging, including tents and tipis, on both “The Green” and “Wedding Point.” Notwithstanding legitimate dismay at the loss of the natural character and charm of the resort – and potential archeological issues given that the area is considered a “pre-contact” zone – the owner has consistently disregarded county building ordinances.

Orcas Island Council Member Justin Paulsen, acutely aware of the outcry of many and the entangled issues he’s up against, has released the following statement:

San Juan County staff have been actively engaged in fielding concerns and questions from the Rosario community as well as engaging with the various ownership entities to understand their concerns, questions, and plans.

The Rosario Resort property occupies lands that were originally inhabited by Coast Salish people dating back to time immemorial. The construction of the Moran Mansion nearly 120 years ago and subsequent development of the resort property solidified the importance of Rosario to modern Orcas Island – so much so that it has its own specific set of development codes and regulations. Added to these codes are a multitude of private, inter-parcel agreements which affect access and amenities available to owners in the broader residential community. Staff is dedicating significant resources to assure that we are properly responding to all parties and that the information we put out is appropriate, rooted in a thorough understanding of the various codes and serving the public interest while also acknowledging individual property rights.

Despite the difficulties that Rosario has faced in its recent history, it is my hope that through good, cooperative  stewardship, it will return to serve the important role that it once served for our community.

The current arc of the resort’s reshaping (or disfigurement, depending on your point of view) has implications beyond just local Rosario landowners. The mansion and its environs, in addition to providing a bucolic respite from the daily grind, has deep roots and sentimental meaning for many in the greater Orcas community. It is also a unique and beloved attraction beyond our shores, often anchoring the county’s promotional efforts and helping to define the best that this island has to offer.

Change is hard, nostalgia is real, and it’s no mystery that the resort has struggled financially for years, leading to ongoing operational challenges. Any new owner should thus be given a fair chance to inject new life and make a profit. But there’s also an obligation to respect local laws, honor the natural environment, foster good relations, and read the room of community sentiment. Let’s hope it’s not too late for that.

[Full disclosure: I am a member of the RPOA but do not speak for it. For information on the broader status of “Rosario Village,” visit www.rosariovillage.com.]