Employee of the Month

Being congratulated by General Manager Dan Dohner and Housekeeping Manager Julie Cort is our June Employee of the Month at Rosario Resort & Spa, Justin Hagy of our Housekeeping Department. Justin originally came to Orcas Island from Baltimore a few years ago to work in the kitchen, then found a home in our Housekeeping Department. He has been a great asset to our staff by providing great service to our guests and fellow employees. Justin is leaving this fall for Florida and he will be missed! Congratulations to Justin
and THANK YOU!
Go to Rosario Resort Web Site

Message in a Bottle

Yesterday, Coast Guard Petty Officer Jake McGuire and his girlfriend Megan McGill were walking along the beach on Cascade Bay at Rosario Resort when Megan found a message in a bottle. Amazingly, the bottle that "washed ashore" contained a proposal for marriage! Megan is sporting her new bling as she and Jake enjoy dinner tonight in the Mansion Dining Room. Many on Orcas Island know Jake as "Kawika" McGuire, 1999 graduate of Orcas Island High School and former Rosario Resort employee. Jake is stationed in Sabine Pass, Texas where he met Megan. Congratulations Megan and Jake!

Go to Rosario Resort Web Site

Wedding Dreams

Christa Fiedler and Michael Jensen got married on Rosario Resort's Point Lawn this weekend. Christa has been coming on vacation with her family to Orcas Island for many years. On one trip (as a teenager) she told her father that she was going to get married someday on the Point Lawn. She and Michael came to Rosario last year and he proposed to her...on the point lawn! Congratulations Christa and Michael!

Go to Rosario Resort Web Site

Now & Then: Tom Tillman

Tom Tillman and his business partner run the sporting goods store, Orcas Outfitters, on the fuel pier at the Rosario Marina on Orcas Island. This photograph with Tom in front of the figurehead and Boatel in 1973 is hanging in the store. We thought this would make a great "Now & Then"
feature!

Tom's family originally come to Orcas in the late 1960's to find a Northwest location for a diving resort similar to the one they started in the Bahamas. Since the early days of scuba diving the San Juans have been well known as a premier diving destination. The Tillman's fell in love with Orcas Island on that trip and bought a 25 acre farm on the east side of Orcas. From that point on until today that farm on Orcas has been the home base for Tom's family, most of whom still work in the diving industry. Tom graduated from our local high school in 1989 and went away to college where he studied geology and education. He decided after graduating to return to Orcas and raise his family here as well.

Since that time Tom has owned several local businesses and has written several books and numerous articles on diving history and local history. Tom is also a US Coast Guard Auxiliary Vessel Examiner and sits on the several advisory boards for fishing and marine issues. When Tom is not on the docks working or volunteering he manages the Scuba America Historical Foundation and he and his wife also own 376 WEAR, a clothing store in Eastsound. (note: 376 is the prefix of Orcas Island phones).

Orcas Outfitters is open from Memorial Day to Labor Day and sells fishing gear, fishing licenses, basic replacement diving equipment, boating supplies, sportswear and other sundry items to the boaters and guests who visit the Rosario Marina in the summer.

Go to Rosario Resort Web Site

Employee of the Month - May

Catching up with our employees of the month (we have so many highly deserving candidates!), May's Employee of the Month is Diana Dimich of our accounting office. Diana processes payroll, which you may know is something that you can never be late on! Originally from Eureka, CA, Diana first came to Orcas Island and Rosario in 1985. She has worked here off and on since then in many departments, but has had her current postion since 2003. Congratulations and great job Diana!

Go to Rosario Resort Web Site

One Minute Please

Here's a fun postcard advertising the Aeolian Pipe Organ... I can just imagine Robert Moran being grabbed by the ear and a salesman saying "What you want is an Aeolian Pipe Organ for your mansion on Orcas Island!"

The rest of the postcard reads:
"What would you do with it? Why, play it, of course."
"You don't play? That makes no difference; they are made for people who can't play."
"Oh, you can play, can you? That's all right; they are made for you, too, my friend."
"The Aeolian Organ is the universal instrument. It is, first, a perfect Keyboard Organ
for the expert musician, and also an instrument upon which any one entirely ignorant
of music can play anything without the slightest practice."

Now you now why I have been able to "perform" at Rosario Resort for so long ;-)

Christopher
Go to Rosario Resort Web Site

Residences at Rosario

The new Residences at Rosario are now open! The former 1700 building on the hillside has been completely rebuilt and now features four beautiful two-bedroom luxury suites. The suites have huge decks that feature spectacular views over Cascade Bay and Orcas Island. For more information and additonal photos, visit our Residences page.





Go to Rosario Resort Web Site

Eagle Vista Tent

The Eagle Vista Tent next to Rosario Resort's popular wedding ceremony site, the Rosario Point Lawn, is a beautiful spot for wedding receptions and dinners. This past weekend the Clark Wedding had a beautiful set-up designed by Leslie Ginnes of Patina Design here on Orcas Island that featured and intimate cocktail lounge, dining room and kids play area. The Wedding Cake was by Rosario Pastry Chef Felicity Milne. Congratulations Andy and Hiroko!







Go to Rosario Resort Web Site

Historical Days Parade

Ask any Orcas Islander and they will tell you one of the best events on Orcas Island is the Historical Day Parade, which takes place each year on the Saturday closest to the Fourth of July. Here are photos of Pig War soldiers, classic cars, politicians (this year Gov. Gregoire participated), fire dogs, horses, circus clowns and the always favorite Oddfellows finale!









Go to Rosario Resort Web Site

Happy 4th of July

We were working on setting up our new webcam this morning and this symbol of America just happened to keeping an eye on Rosario Resort & Spa. The historic Roundhouse Suite is seen to the right of the eagle. Keep an eye on this tree when checking our webcam!




Go to Rosario Resort Web Site