Roche Harbor Resort
- Rooted in History -
A Place Like No Other
Roche Harbor Resort blends a rich history with the natural beauty of the San Juan Islands, offering a timeless setting where family and friends have gathered for generations.
People discover Roche Harbor in different ways. Many come for the first time to celebrate a special moment in their lives, some arrive by boat after a day on the water, and many return year after year to keep the tradition alive and memories growing.
No matter how it starts, visitors often feel the same thing: a deep connection and appreciation for the timeless sense of place. Roche Harbor has captured the hearts of innumerable visitors through the decades and is it’s no mystery why so many couples choose Roche Harbor as the setting where their own story begins.
Three Distinct Eras
of Roche Harbor
Lime & Cement Company Town
Rich limestone deposits were discovered on San Juan Island in the mid-nineteenth century, and one of the largest veins was located near the shore in a harbor on the north end of the island - what would come to be named Roche Harbor. Originally started by the Scurr brothers in the 1880s, a quarrying operation was established to mine and refine the abundant limestone. A Tacoma lawyer named John S. McMillin saw the potential in 1886 and purchased the existing business and property. McMillin renamed it as the Tacoma and Roche Harbor Lime Company.
The operation exploded with nationwide demand for bricks, steel and agricultural uses. The infrastructure needed to support the limeworks grew with the business, and the company town’s population boomed to 800 residents.
But the peak didn’t last long after the quarries were emptied, and by the 1950s Roche Harbor was ready for a new era.
Boaters’ Resort
In 1956, the Tarte family acquired Roche Harbor, including 4,000 acres of land along 12 miles of coastline. They worked hard to turn it from an industrial ghost town into a thriving seasonal “boatel.”
Many buildings were restored and made available for guests’ use, including the Hotel de Haro, two McMillin residences, workers’ cottages, and the wharf building. Additions were made, including the guest docks, the condos on the west side of the harbor, the pool and tennis courts on the north end, and the airfield on the outskirts.
The Tartes embraced a fun, vacation resort feel that’s defined Roche Harbor for the past 70 years. They encouraged gatherings on boats and docks, and established traditions like the colors ceremony. More than anything else, they created a culture of community founded on friendly staff-guest interactions, which makes visitors feel like family.
Eventually the Tartes sold to new owners, who saw potential for the seasonal resort to become a year-round harbor town.
Seaside Village
Since 1988, the Komen Family has led local enhancements to create a seaside village community. Improvements were made to core areas of the resort, including buildings, gardens, pathways and the shoreline. The largest upgrade was the marina expansion, which grew to 387 slips.
The village came to life in in the early 2000s, consisting of tightly knit neighborhoods of year-round residents and second homes. Development was done with minimal impact on the environment, preservation of the past, and harmony between residents and visitors.
Today Roche Harbor is the result of this deliberate, slow growth over the past three decades. We seek to continue at a pace that fosters Roche Harbor’s strong sense of place and preserves the unique charm that has a special place in the memories of generations.