Flags at Rosario

We love flags at Rosario Resort!







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MV Olympus

What a treat that the MV Olympus sailed into the Rosario Marina on Orcas Island!




The yacht was launched on May 14, 1929 at the New York Yacht, Launch and Engine Company yard in Morris Heights, New York. George Callendine Heck, who commissioned the yacht to be the largest ever built by the yard, was a partner in a Wall Street investment firm. During the glamorous 1920's, Mr. Heck used the yacht to commute from his two estates on Long Island to Wall Street, requiring her low profile design in order to avoid having the bridges opened during his commute to work. At the time of her launching, her original name was"Junaluska" in honor of the lake in North Carolina contained within the vast land holdings where Heck spent his childhood summers.



The yacht was purchased by George Converse (Converse Shoes) and his beautiful wife, silent film star Mary Stuart. Both experienced and able yachters, they bring the yacht on her own hull from the east coast, through the Panama Canal to her new home in Southern California. The yacht stayed busy in the Southern California social scene, as George Converse serves as Commodore of the Newport Harbor Yacht Club in 1940. She also picks up several movie roles including use as a prop in the Shirley Temple movie "Captain January" and the Claudette Colbert/Rudy Vallee movie "The Palm Beach Story." She travels back and forth between Long Beach, Los Angeles and Catalina Island. The busy social scene of the late 1930's and early 1940's is abruptly interrupted by World War II and the yacht is conscripted into service as a Navy Patrol vessel.

George Converse


Mary Stuart

The staterooms on the yacht feature a wonderful vintage swimsuit collection!




Following the War, the yacht is declared "surplus property" by the U.S. Government, and Washington Governor Monrad Wallgren finds out from his good friend, President Harry Truman, that the yacht is going to be auctioned. The State of Washington is the sole bidder for the boat, acquiring the ship for only $15,000 and putting her on the books of the State of Washington as a "fisheries patrol vessel." The yacht is renamed "Olympus" after Mount Olympus, the highest peak in the Olympic National Forest. President Truman and Governor Wallgren had worked hard on the legislation to form the Olympic National Forest and we are told that the re-naming of the yacht was in honor of one of Wallgren's proudest achievements. The yacht is completely refitted after her war service, at a cost of over $104,000 of Department of Fisheries funds. President Truman is aboard many times for informal and formal trips, fishing from Olympus' tender. The yacht transports President Truman from Bremerton to Seattle where he starts his "Whistle Stop" Train Campaign tour. The President signs the Olympus log "Harry Truman, Independence, MO, Temporary Address 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue."


Harry Truman boarding the MV Olympus



Captain Rick Etsell came up to the Moran Mansion at Rosario to show us this log entry of the christening of Olympus at Rosario:
Mon Sept. 10, 1945 - Rosario
10:54 Lady Violet Boede formally christened this vessel by name “Olympus.” Gov. Mon C. Wallgren & Mrs. Mon C. Wallgren attending. Guests were Mr. Boede, Mrs. Newman, Mr. and Mrs. Niemeyer, Mr. Splitrock (press).
11:02 Dept’d Rosario



M.V. Olympus is used frequently by her owner to support charitable and environmental causes, and is "open for boarding" at various classic boat shows in the Pacific Northwest during the year, for all to admire. We thank Captain Richard "Rick" Etsell for the wonderful tour of the Olympus!

Visit the Yacht Olympus Web Site

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Magic Forest

My favorite part of weddings is checking out how the wedding planner has designed the reception space. Here is another fabulous Leslie Ginnes design (Patina Floral and Design) transforming the waterfront Discovery House into a magic forest... under the Orcas Island Sun!









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Zodiac Returns

We have featured the schooner Zodiac on this blog before, but is always a treat to see her sailing by Rosario Resort.





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One by Land, One by Sea

We have many beautiful weddings at Rosario Resort. Yesterday, Matt Marsik arrived on horseback at the marina and met his lovely bride Kelly, who arrived by boat.




The entire wedding party than walked to the Point Lawn for the ceremony. As you can see by the photos, Orcas Island offers some great opportunities for destination weddings.






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Summer is Here

It's official... summer is here! Blue skies, warm weather, and the mansion swimming pool at Rosario Resort is officially open. Located dramatically on the shoreline of Orcas Island, the mansion pool is definitely the place to relax this summer.





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Delicious!

Chef Madden of our new restaurant "The Quilted Pig" at Rosario Resort enjoys putting fun twists on classic dishes as well as creating innovative new cuisine ideas using locally grown, seasonal foods. “Working closely with local farmers is paramount to my business. It insures that we are using goods produced organically, sustainably, safely and humanly. The products raised and grown in the San Juan Islands are world class in quality and we are lucky to have them available right next door.”

Here's a sneak peak at some of his recent appetizers, small plates, large plates and desserts...


Beef Shortrib
Slow cooked Black Dog Farm beef shortrib with local turnips, carrots, onions, snow peas & Chimichurri sauce



Goat Cheese & Potato Ravioli
QQuail Croft goat cheese, & local new potato ravioli with Black Dog Farm broccoli, local duck egg & citrus vinaigrette



Duck Breast
Roasted Magret Duck Breast with La Campesina cardoons, barley, sweet onions, & Blue Moon Farm Arugula



Ahi Tartare
Diced ahi tuna with sesame yuzu dressing, sriracha crema, ocean salad, wasabi caviar and nori crisp



Smoked Scallop Brandade
House smoked scallop brandade with arugula brioche & black truffle vinaigrette



Wild Sturgeon
Columbia River Sturgeon with homemade fettuccine, local spinach, island grown scallions, sea beans & shiitake mushrooms



Apple Empanada
Fried granny smith apple empanada with maple caramel & homemade pecan ice cream



Coconut Cream Puff Pastry
Coconut Cream filled homemade puff pastry with banana brulée & cashews

Delicious!!!




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Shogun

The Glidewell family recently visited Rosario Resort and Orcas Island aboard their beautiful yacht "Shogun." The Shogun, designed by Overing Yacht Designs, was the first megayacht built in Mississippi and launched in 1993. The 122' yacht features stunning asian inspired interiors and a first class crew!

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Great Blue Heron

A Great Blue Heron, the largest heron in North America, patiently waits for a meal along the shore of Orcas Island at Rosario Resort. It is very common to see the herons standing silently along the shore, waiting for a fish to come by, which they then strike with their bills.


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Flower Baskets

An annual tradition at Rosario Resort is the arrival of our lamp post flower baskets... special thanks to John Roberts of Green Frog Nursery in Bellingham who created this year's beautiful baskets! He and his wife began growing these baskets in his green houses in February.






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The Quilted Pig

Congratulations to Chef Madden Surbaugh for opening The Quilted Pig Restaurant at Rosario Resort today! General Manager Christopher Peacock welcomes Madden and his staff to the Rosario family! Small, intimate dining gives everyone a spectacular view of Orcas Island. For information on The Quilted Pig (and where the name came from!), visit the dining page of our website.

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Waterfront Accommodations

We take many phone calls during the day in which we describe our accommodations. When we say our "Waterfront" rooms have decks located right over the water's edge, this picture will give you an idea that we are not exaggerating!




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I'll take "Resorts" for $100 Alex

It was an honor to host Alex Trebek of Jeopardy and his wife Jean at Rosario Resort on their 20th Anniversary! Alex was so nice to take the time and chat with the staff and pose for this picture with Christopher. Happy Anniversary Alex and Jean!





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The Spa is Open!

The Spa at Rosario Resort is now open! Our crew of Deena, Bobby, Dave, Andrew, Heather and Scott have done a great job with their talent and passion. Here is a peak at the century old indoor pool, the newly remodeled whirpool area and the new women's changing room.









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Bird's Eye View

Here is a great shot of Rosario Resort and Orcas Island from high atop Mt. Entrance. Rosario neighbor John Fletcher shared this shot after a long hike to the top. What a great perspective of the resort.... thanks Fletch!

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