MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND

It's a beautiful Memorial Day Weekend on Orcas Island! The Rosario Resort marina is full, the Cascade Bay Grill is open and the marina pool is open. A very special thanks to Director of Operations Jolene Versailles, Director of IT Dick Hansen, Front Desk agent Barbara Evans, Harbormaster Gary Joseph, Dockhands Cetacea Stanton, Jenole and Cara Peacock, Director of Engineering Deena Stitt and her staff Dave Hickman, Bobby Matheson, Andrew Fortin and Brieanna Bitzer for all their hard work in making Rosario look so beautiful!









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Jelly Fish!

Today we we were treated with a "smack" of Moon Jellies at the Rosario Resort Marina in Cascade Bay, some of the most simple and incredible creatures in Puget Sound. Moon Jellies are probably the most common jellyfish in the Northwest, and they have transparent, milky white bells rimmed with hundreds of short, hair-like tentacles.

Though they are called "jellyfish," Moon Jellies aren't really fish at all. Instead, they are considered Hydrozoa, and they have no heads, no skeletons, and no special organs for respiration or excretion. Their scientific name is Aurelia aurita, which comes from the Latin word for "light." Some scientists think Moon Jellies got this name because, instead of eyes, they have special cells called rhopalia that detect light.

Moon Jellies are found in the Atlantic Ocean from the Arctic to Florida and Mexico, and in the Pacific Ocean from Alaska to southern California. They're also found right here in Puget Sound! Huge masses of them are called smacks, which drift with the current near the beach.

The Jellies swim by expanding and contracting their bell, an action that forces water away and pushes the critter in the opposite direction. Every Moon Jelly also has four oral arms, frilled along one edge, hanging from the center of this bell. The four horseshoe shapes you spot in the center of the bell are the gonads, or sex organs. In young Moon Jellies, called polyps, these gonads are white. In mature animals, dubbed medusas, the gonads are tinged with color. The coloration of a moon jelly often changes depending on its diet. If the jelly feeds extensively on crustaceans, it turns pink or lavender. An orange tint hints that a jelly’s been feeding on brine shrimp. (Moon Jelly information courtesy of the Seattle Aquarium).

It was an incredible sight!

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First Wedding of 2009

Yesterday was a beautiful spring day on Orcas Island and we were happy to host our first wedding of the year at Rosario Resort! Congratulations to Yelizaveta and Jonathan!








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Busy Winter

We have been very busy this winter cleaning, painting and preparing to reopen! As I walked around the property the other day I was so impressed with how hard everyone was working (with such pride and love for Rosario). I ran and got my camera to capture the activity:

Deena is seen here painting a former office that will become the "Battleship" room in our expanded
Moran Mansion Museum.

In another former office, Bobby is removing a 1950's linoleum floor to reveal 100 year old teak!

Dave has been power washing, power washing, power washing!

Gary has been very busy preparing the marina (OK, I got him to pose for this picture as he had just stopped cleaning... he even put his wet shoes back on!).




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Moran State Park Webcam

The Friends of Moran State Park have sponsored a new webcam on the top of Mt. Constitution on Orcas Island. Here is one of the first images from today. Although the snow has melted in the "lowlands,"
Mt. Constitution was just spectacular with an abundance of snow in the sunshine today. The webcam will go live soon, so keep checking the Friends of Moran website for more spectacular views:

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Merry Christmas

Christmas Eve

Winter Wonderland

We've had tremedous amount of snow in the past few weeks on Orcas Island. It makes for a beautiful backdrop to the Rosario Resort Christmas decorations. Even though the resort is closed, the mansion and grounds are still alive with holiday spirit.








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New Rosario Owners

On November 14, Jerry and Jan Barto of Anacortes became the official owners of Rosario Resort & Spa. Christopher Peacock presents Jerry & Jan an original Rosario key made by Rosario creator Robert Moran.

“We are excited to be the owners and caretakers of Rosario,” stated Jerry, who along with his son Craig Barto, are the principles in the new ownership group called Rosario Signal LLC. “As Fidalgo Island residents and boaters in the San Juans, we’ve always loved the islands and understand Rosario’s importance to the region. We look forward to working with the Orcas Island community to help Rosario reach its potential under the Resort’s approved Master Plan. Restoring the Moran/Rosario legacy will be a project to be proud of.”


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Thank you!

Employee Closing Party

Rosario Resort closed today for future renovation and redevelopment. Although the future is exciting, it was wonderful to gather with all the current resort employees one last time in the Moran Lounge.


General Manager Dan Dohner thanks the staff and shares with everyone his 10 most hilarious moments over the past year. We hope Dan and his wife Laura do return next summer to enjoy a complimentary whale watching excursion ;-)


Rosario's sales, reservations and catering staff gathered one last time to salute the ghost of Mrs. Rheem (who wore a red nightgown to play poker with the local boys at the general store in the 1940's and 50's).

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Happy Birthday Sarah Geiser!

Sarah Geiser, former owner of Rosario Resort & Spa on Orcas Island, celebrated her 80th Birthday with family and friends yesterday. With all the anticipation for Rosario's new ownership and future, it is always comforting to be anchored with Sarah's wisdom, beauty and grace. Happy Birthday Sarah, we love you!

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Rosario Sold

Rosario Resort & Spa is being purchased by an Anacortes-based, family-owned investment and development group with deep roots in the San Juans. The group is slated to take over the resort on or around October 30th.

“We are excited to be the future owners of Rosario. As Fidalgo Island residents and boaters in the San Juans, we’ve always loved the islands and understand Rosario’s importance to the region. We look forward to working with the Orcas Island community to help Rosario reach its potential under the Resort’s approved Master Plan. Restoring the Moran/Rosario legacy will be a project to be proud of.”

The current ownership, Olympus Real Estate Partners of Dallas, TX, is closing the resort on October 20th and the new ownership group has yet to announce when the resort will reopen.


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Rare Roundhouse Photo

Here is a rare photo of the Roundhouse at Rosario Resort circa 1918-20. Anchored in Cascade Bay is the Moran's newly built ship the Sanwan. This is also one of the few photos that shows the lumber storage area for the sawmill along the waterfront (to the right of the Sanwan). Like the Moran Shipyards, a small gage railway system moved lumber on and off the dock. Today, original railway ties are still seen at low tide and Roundhouse is one of our most popular suites!

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Faces of the USS Nebraska

When Robert Moran retired to Orcas Island in 1905 to build Rosario, the Moran Bros. Shipyard was finishing the construction of the USS Nebraska (BB-14). The ship was commission on July 1, 1907, with Captain Reginald F. Nicholson in command. After shakedown and alterations along the West Coast, the new battleship joined the "Great White Fleet" in San Francisco 100 years ago in the summer of 1908.

Departing San Francisco in July of 1908, the Fleet visited Honolulu, Hawaii; Auckland, New Zealand; Sydney and Melbourne, Australia; Manila, Philippine Islands; Yokohama, Japan; and Colombo, Ceylon, Suez, Egypt,Messina and Naples, Italy, then Gibraltar, before arriving in Hampton Roads, Virginia in February 1909, where President Theodore Roosevelt reviewed the fleet.

Below are some great photographs featuring faces of the USS Nebraska, from officers to deckhands to engineers. These were recently provided to the Rosario Museum courtesy of the Stowe Family, relatives of Robert Moran's brother William's wife Minnie.







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Deer Harbor Charters

Whale watching is certainly a highlight for many of our guests visiting Orcas Island. Here is a great story I just received from Tom Averna, owner of Deer Harbor Charters, Rosario Resort & Spa's whale watching charter out of the Rosario marina:

Yesterday our boat from Rosario Resort was spending time with J and L pod watching them intermingle, forage and mate. The mating became very up close and personal.

With the engine off, the boat was drifting about 200 yards away from the whales. The closest whales to the boat was a male from L pod, which the naturalist thinks was L-57, Faith, a 26 year old and an unknown J pod female.

These two whales disappeared below the surface and suddenly came up within 20 yards of the boat. Way to close to move the boat out of the area. They then slowly approached the boat on the surface. As the whales approached the cameras on board began going off at lightning speed because everyone on board knew they were witnessing something very rarely seen in the wild. The whales could easily be seen just below the surface belly to belly as they came under the boat, continuing about 50 yards further past the boat finally coming up to the surface. The whales then separated from eachother and went to catch up to the rest of the whales.

The trust these whales displayed during one of the most important, intimate moments was felt by everyone on the boat. Peter, the captain told me there was complete silence for minutes after the encounter. Then the smiles appeared and nothing else needed to be said.

It's to bad the crew couldn't positively identify the female. However,17 months from now, if a newborn arrives we will have a fairly good idea who the father is

Tom Averna
Deer Harbor Charters

There is great whale watching through early October, so take the time to have this great life experience!

Photo courtesy of Charles Scheper and Deer Harbor Charters.

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Marina Farewell

Here are some of the 2008 Rosario Resort & Spa Marina staff wishing Jenole and Cara Peacock (left) farewell as they head off to the University of Hawaii. Joining them are Harbormaster Gary Joseph (left, on boat), Sevil Hamarat (from Denizli, Turkey) and fellow Orcas Islander Cetacea Stanton. Tradition has the staff jumping in the water (cold!) on their last day, but Cetacea and Sevil wanted to join them! It appears Sevil had second thoughts, but then joined them!






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Employee of the Month

Our Employee of the Month for July is Carolen Richey, who handles Rosario Resort & Spa's accounts receivable. Congratulating Carolen is Controller Bob Sheidler. Carolen moved from Kona, Hawaii to Orcas Island in 1988. At the time, her father and brother also worked at Rosario Resort. Carolen has been an employee of the year in the past, so you know she does an outstanding job and is loved by her co-workers! Congratulations Carolen!

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08/08/08

8/8/08 is a popular date this year for weddings (not just the Olympics!). Here are pictures from the beautiful ceremony of Anita Ortiz and Ben Little on the Point Lawn and the Eagle Vista Tent awaiting their guests. The wedding cake is by Rosario Resort & Spa's Pastry Chef Felicity Milne. What a beautiful day to be on Orcas Island! Congratulations Anita and Ben!






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Dr. Doolittle

Here is a great shot of a recent Rosario Resort & Spa guest introducing her pet bird to our friendly Orcas Island deer! OK, her name is not Doolittle, but Trierweiler and the bird is "Taco." Thanks for visiting!

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August Dawn

I was up early this morning (for those who know me, this is very rare!) to capture the magic of an August dawn on Orcas Island. As I watched all the boats anchor last night while playing piano in the Mansion Dining Room, I though this would be the perfect morning to photograph the tranquility of a summer morning on Cascade Bay. I hope you enjoy these pre-sunrise shots!

Christopher








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Lavender Fields

The lavender around the figure-eight pond at Rosario Resort & Spa is in full bloom! The lavender shrub is named from the Latin lavare, which means "to wash," because the ancient Romans and Carthaginians used lavender in their bath water as a perfume as well as for its therapeutic properties. It is certainly one our featured aromotherapy botanical oil blends created on the island to rebalance body & mind during a massage treatment in our Spa by the Bay!

A visitor...

... and a surprise color among the lavender!


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Kelsey and Ryan's Wedding

It's always nice to host a "local" wedding reception at Rosario Resort & Spa. Ryan Harvey, a 2004 graduate of Orcas Island married Kelsey Wilson of Sammamish on Saturday. The wedding was at the Orcas Island Community Church, followed by coctails on the Rosario Point Lawn, then dinner and dancing at Rosario's Discovery House on Cascade Bay. Congratulations Kelsey and Ryan!








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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!
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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!

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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!

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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.

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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!

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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
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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.





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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!







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