||| FROM THE SEATTLE TIMES |||
This week brought some early holiday cheer to Rosario Resort, the iconic vacation property on Orcas Island that has struggled since changing hands this spring.
Chris Robison, the 39-year-old real estate investor who paid $6.65 million for most of the resort in April, has brought in a seasoned hospitality management firm to help him reopen the resort’s historical Moran mansion this spring and, eventually, build new “5 star” guest rooms.
“I’m super excited to have them on board,” said Robison of the Utah-based Hartland Hotel Group, whose founders have refurbished and relaunched dozens of hotel projects and properties and, in the early 2000s, helped run Rosario itself.
Robison also insists he’s close on a new loan that would let him buy a remaining part of the resort, which includes most of the current guest rooms, cover unpaid bills and repay $4.6 million in loans that fell into default last month and put the resort on course for a trustee’s auction in February.
Oh, and the resort’s power, which was briefly shut off last month, reportedly over nonpayment, is back on.
To be clear, a lot of uncertainty remains. That includes the timing of the new financing and the willingness of the Barto family, which sold most of the resort to Robison in April, to part with the remaining bit.
More broadly, Robison and his new partners must solve the puzzle of the island’s tourism economy, which hammers businesses with scarce labor, erratic ferry service and a brutally short summer season.
**If you are reading theOrcasonian for free, thank your fellow islanders. If you would like to support theOrcasonian CLICK HERE to set your modestly-priced, voluntary subscription. Otherwise, no worries; we’re happy to share with you.**
This Airbnb profiteer, who has owned multiple mansions on the island over the years, thought it would be easy to add another one to his portfolio, but it seems like he’s bit off more than he could chew. I can’t say that I’m not enjoying the schadenfreude.