June 21, 2005
Visiting Roche Harbor on a perfect day was the San Juan Island group of new Island Ambassadors. Under the guidance of Minnie Knych and Jeff Vanderford, a group of 14 high school students are going through training on all the activities, places to visit, and history of the San Juan Islands in order to be able to answer questions that visitors to the island might have. They all wear blue shirts with a large yellow button that says "Ask me, I live here" and the idea is to have them in groups of two riding the ferries, and roaming the streets of Friday Harbor and Roche Harbor as our island ambassadors to make our visitors feel welcome. We are very proud of these youngsters - if you see one of them be sure to say hello!
June 20, 2005
Almost time for the unveiling! As of July 1st our brand new carriage houses will be ready for guests to enjoy. They all have two bedrooms with a King bed and Queen bed, 2 bathrooms, top of the line appliances in fully equipped kitchens, living room with fireplace, TV and DVD, sunroom and outside deck with barbecue, and many other features. If you have realtives or friends coming to the island to visit, keep these carriage houses in mind for your overflow or as a special treat because they make a wonderful home away from home. We will have an open house soon, so watch this space for news of the date!
June 17, 2005
Check out the sound of Keith Busha and Friends as they play on the Madrona Grill Deck Fridays and Saturdays during summer between 3 - 5 pm. Playing with Keith this time was Kate Schuman whose voice most islanders are quite familiar with, hearing her sing at local weddings and at the County Fair. Keith has been playing at Roche Harbor for years and our visitors have got to know him and his music very well. Keith and more of his friends, Teddy Deane and Susan Williams, will be playing in the Madrona Bar on July 4th weekend Friday through Monday from 9:30 until midnight.
June 10, 2005
Kudo's to John Sable, our Special Events Catering Manager, for coming up with such wonderful decorations for the Bayliner San Juan Parrothead Plunder dinner set for this evening. About 550 people will be dining ala Parrothead style under the tent with entertainment by Dave Calhoun and his tropical rock music.
June 10, 2005
Having a great time floating around the marina during the first day of the Bayliner Rendezvous was a great singer with a "Jimmy Buffet" sound, Dave Calhoun from Seattle. Also on board the pontoon boat an
d enjoying the festivities is Bayliner coordinator, Jan Lande, and other friends of Bayliner.
A great new event this year was the dinghy parade today at 3:30 pm being led by the musical pontoon boat (pictured right). It was quite evident that all participants in a variety of ages were having a great time touring around the docks.
June 9, 2005
The tents have gone up in the paved piazza and we are getting ready for the 11th Annual Bayliner Rendezvous. Roche Harbor has been hosting this event for Bayliner boat owners for the past nine years and is very ably coordinated by Jan Lande and our own Kevin Carlton. On Friday night a dinner for 550 participants will take place under the tented area, followed by Jim Basnight playing in the Madrona Bar & Grill. Some of the fun and games include a dinghy parade, blindfolded dinghy race and donut eating competition - fun for the whole family all followed by fireworks on Saturday evening at 10:30 pm.
June 7, 2005
Brand new and open for business in the village is "The Sweet Shoppe at Roche Harbor" run by marina resident, Barb Persinger. Barb has been busy ordering old fashioned candy from all over the world and has so many different kinds of licorice, ginger, and specialties, as well as your old fashioned American candy that you ate as a child. She even carries humbugs, sherbet lemons, Mars bars and treacle toffees from England, just to name a few - so for a treat you should check out this cute little sweet shop in the heart of the village. Open most days 10am - 4pm - then every day beginning June 24th thru Labor Day.
June 3, 2005
Roche Harbor Water Company employee, Deb Vermiere, was proudly showing off her beautiful baby boy, Charles Fiske, today in the village. Charles is now 6-1/2 months old and goes to work with his mother 3 days a week in the Water Company office. His Mom and Dad are taking him on a trip to Thailand at the end of the month entitling him to be "best travelled baby of the month" at Roche Harbor!
June 3, 2005
Enjoying a quiet sit down along with Roche Harbor General Manager, Brent Snow, is Oma Teuwen, a local neighbor of Roche Harbor. Oma loves coming in to the village to listen to the chapel bells chime at noon and has just recently returned from a trip to Vienna where she enjoyed the beautiful sights, as well as a visit with relatives in her homeland of Germany. We are pleased you are back with us Oma!
May 30, 2005
A Memorial Day tribute to our fallen soldiers took place at Roche Harbor on Monday afternoon. The Battery D soldiers from British Camp were escorted by the Elliott Bay Pipe Band from Seattle, and performed the ceremony by accompanying the mourning widow from the Chapel and then firing their cannon in salute. The fifteen players in the pipe band also marched in the Friday Harbor Memorial Day parade before coming to Roche Harbor in the afternoon.
May 29, 2005
Sunday afternoon of Memorial Day weekend was hopping at Roche Harbor with the live entertainment of Albritton McClain & The Bridge of Souls featuring Devorah. Many people sat and listened while others enjoyed dancing to the musical savvy of the Seattle group with their unique brand of intensive entertainment. They will be back with us for the July 4th weekend - so if you missed them this time be sure to check them out then!
May 28, 2005
Under sunny skies and temperatures in the 80's, Ian Byington and the Byington Boys Band kicked off the busy Memorial Day weekend at Roche Harbor by playing folk/rock music on the flag pavilion. With about 500 boats in the marina for the weekend, the marina almost doubled the number of guest boats from 123 last year to 213 this year - plus our regular moorage guests. Harbormaster Kevin Carlton said it was the biggest Memorial Day in history - thanks in part to the great weather - but we all know it is Roche Harbor's moorage guest service!
May 27, 2005
It was wonderful to hear the clip-clop of horses hooves at Roche Harbor this afternoon. Christina and Jim Sesby were on board their vis-a-vis carriage pulled by a percheron draft horse. The special occasion was a wedding taking place at Roche Harbor and the bride and groom enjoyed a tour of the resort after their ceremony. Christina's Carriage Company has serviced many weddings at Roche Harbor and always makes the day extra special with their horse and carriage.
May 27, 2005
Having been presented with red, white and blue flowers and lots of American flags, McMillin's Dining Room Server, Boo-Boo was all smiles. The special occasion for Boo-Boo was the fact that she has just become an American citizen after travelling around the world and ending up in the United States 16 years ago. Boo-Boo, who grew up in London, England, has been studying very hard for the past few months - all phases of US Government and US History - now knowing a lot more on the subjects than most American-born citizens! She was asked five questions and passed with flying colors. Her swearing-in ceremony in Seattle was an emotional time as each person stood up and gave the name of the country they came from. Congratulations Boo-Boo - we are proud you are now an American citizen!
May 25, 2005
As two new booths were driven down the road into the center of Roche Harbor and located in the village marketplace, it now means we have two more places for visitors to shop and browse. Going in to the new booths is "The Sweet Shoppe at Roche Harbor" - a candy store with all the old fashioned treats you used to have as a child - especially if you come from England! Roche Harbor's own Barb Persinger would love to show you all the different choices you have to choose from. She should be open part-time on weekends until she is open full-time starting June 24th. In the other new booth we want to welcome Pelindaba Lavender Farm to Roche Harbor. Selling bunches of lavender picked from the fields along with other products that have been infused with lavender, and lavender jewelery items, there will be lots to choose from. Come visit our artist booths - open 10 am to 4 pm starting full-time June 24th until Labor Day.
May 20, 2005
Opening up today under hazy skies is the Madrona Bar & Grill serving their popular menu items. Come see the new flooring and furniture inside the gazebo, while the view outside on the deck remains the best on the island - even on a hazy day. Madrona Grill Manager, Sam Jacobson, says the Grill has some new dishes. Some of his favorites; the Prawn Cocktail with Avocado Appetizer, the Kobe Beef Brisket Sandwich with wonderful barbecue sauce flavors and the Orange-Glazed Salmon Lettuce Wraps. Entree's range from $10 - $15. Come visit Roche Harbor and enjoy taste with a view!
May 20, 2005
Great news! The Beechtree Espresso stand is open for business! We have three smiling faces to greet you for your early morning latte or mocha. They are from left; Malvina Messler from Krakow, Poland; Jaxon Fawcett from North Shore, New Zealand; and Melissa Yataco from Lima, Peru. They are all here on H-2B visas with Jaxon and Melissa having worked the winter in Deer Valley, Utah and Malvi from Park City, Utah. Serving up Starbucks Coffee, Beechtree Espresso is the only Starbucks stand on the island. They also serve a variety of ice cream cones - so next time you are here be sure to stop by for a treat!
May 19, 2005
Returning to work this summer at Roche Harbor is Simona Popescu who works as a ski instructor at Deer Valley, Utah during the winters. Simona, who has skied in the Olympics, is from Romania and brought along a friend, Roxanna Tatu, also from Romania to work at the Front Desk of the Lodging Department. We are glad you are both with us for this summer season and doing a great job!
May 19, 2005
Our great little cafe on the wharf - Lime Kiln Cafe will now be open from 7 am to 4 pm every day. Come enjoy a really good breakfast - (rave reviews on the quality of breakfasts!) or enjoy a tasty lunch while soaking up the ambiance of Roche Harbor.
May 13, 2005
Joining us this year in the Housekeeping Department are some great ladies from Jamaica. Pictured here are Carmen, Faye and Yvonne coming to us from Copper Mountain Resort in Colorado - and Andrea coming to us from the ski resort in Vail, Colorado. Welcome to San Juan Island!
May 13, 2005
Almost ready to move in! New this year are five cottages
built primarily for returning summer employee couples and are close to being finished with the carpeting going down as of today. The cottages are small, but are very cute, with a bedroom loft above a living room, kitchen and bathroom. Nestled in a wooded setting, our employee village will house about 75 employees this summer in cabins, cottages and shared dorm rooms and comes with a recereation room complete with large kitchen, large dining area and internet hookup. An outside basketball court and laundromat complete the area which is home to a fine group of employees.
We welcome all of you for the summer season!
May 12, 2005
Roche Harbor Grocery Manager, Debbie Sandwith, and her staff are feeling great at the moment. The Skagit County Tobacco Control Program conducted a tobacco compliance check just recently on behalf of San Juan County Health Department to determine how readily available tobacco products are to persons under 18 years of age. They passed with flying colors for refusing to sell tobacco to a young person, and are to be congratulated for checking ages of young customers. Pictured from left to right are; Ximena Esparza, Debbie Sandwith, Liz Crist and Claudia Rojas. We thank Debbie's crew for doing their part in denying youth access to purchase tobacco products.
May 8, 2005
Coming back to Roche Harbor again this year for the summer are Paola Forseca and Sergio Arevalo. The couple spent the winter working at Copper Mountain Resort in Colorado and are originally from Columbia. Paola is working in the Gift Shop this summer and Sergio will be a Housekeeping Supervisor in the Lodging Division. You couldn't ask for a nicer couple and we are thrilled they wanted to come back to Roche Harbor this summer. Welcome back Sergio and Paola!
May 7, 2005
A good way to let Mom know she is special is to bring her out to McMillin's Dining Room for dinner. With the wonderful choices on the menu such as our famous prime rib, or the scallops or salmon, and the great friendly service, it will be a day she will remember. If you have other plans for dinner then maybe breakfast in Lime Kiln Cafe would make a welcome change for her where she has a choice of hearty breakfasts to enjoy while looking over the harbor. Either way, it will make the day special and that is what Mother's Day is all about! Roche Harbor salutes mothers everywhere.
May 5, 2005
Coming to work at Roche Harbor from Deer Valley, Utah is Aurelio Munoz, originally from Chile. Aurelio was a ski instructor at Deer Valley and loves to ski - so much so, that after his summer at Roche Harbor he will be going to Austria to find work on the slopes. He also loves to travel and is in the United States to learn English. We are pleased you are here Aurelio, and thanks for the fine job you did on the hotel stairs!
May 4, 2005
Have you checked out the progress of the new village homes yet? ...coming along quickly now. All units were pre-sold and we will be renting five units out for guests to enjoy this summer. Each carriage house has two bedrooms - one with a king sized bed and one with a queen size. Furnishings are now being installed - ready for the first guests to enjoy around July 1st. For more pictures of the homes check out our Real Estate section, where pictures are updated on a weekly basis.
May 2, 2005
Next time you are in the lobby of the Hotel de Haro - be sure to see the certificate hanging on the wall behind the front desk signed by Washington's Secretary of State, Sam Reed. Awarded to Roche Harbor Lime & Cement Company - "Having been continuously incorporated in the Territory & Great State of Washington since October 20, 1886 is hereby designated a Territorial Corporation. In recognition of its dedication and perseverance in maintaining corporation status since Territorial times". We are now considered one of the oldest corporations in Washington State. Quite an honor for Roche Harbor!
April 29, 2005
Some of our summer employees have been arriving from their winter ski resort positions in Copper Mountain and Deer Valley. Here we see the three smiling faces of some of our housekeeping crew, Garnett from Jamaica, Zarella from Chile and Yuliza from Peru. We are so happy to have Garnett and Zarella back again this year and we welcome Yuliza for her first year here. Our housekeeping staff work very hard during the season keeping everything clean and fresh for our guests. We are so pleased to see you!
April 22, 2005
Standing with owner of San Juan Safaris - Bill Wright, is one of his returning employees, Brent Molsberry. Brent has returned for his fourth season with San Juan Safaris as a sea-kayak guide. Recently, Brent entered the Scott Firefighters Challenge held in the Bank of America Tower in Seattle, and won FIRST PLACE! in the challenge. He climbed 69 flights in 11 minutes 8 seconds wearing full bunker gear and carrying a compressed air bottle for an added 50 lbs. Around 900 people entered the challenge which was a fundraiser for the Leukemia/Lymphoma Society and he was able to raise $600 for the Society. Brent will be presented with a first place trophy at the Awards Banquet this coming Thursday. Our hats are off to you Brent! Wow... 69 flights in 11 minutes!!!!
April 22, 2005
If you haven't been to visit Roche Harbor lately then you are missing out on the beautiful color in the gardens. This picture is of the flower boxes located near the artist booths which are filled with double peony-type tulips called "Cretaceous", along with apricot pansies-citrus mix, true blue pansies and moonlight scotch broom. A beautiful combination designed by Christy Erickson, Zizania Ltd, and lovingly tended by our resident gardener, Alana Dunn.
April 21, 2005
Getting ready for the upcoming season is local village artist Gary Mathews. His two watercolors of Roche Harbor will be available this summer at Artist Booth #4 where he will have many of his paintings on display. One is entitled Fog over Roche Harbor and the other is a painting of former Roche Harbor owner Neil Tarte's antique car with the Hotel de Haro in the background. Gary paints commissioned works in watercolor and has been busy painting houses of island homeowners this winter. Be sure to check out his work when the artist booths open up for business at the end of June. You can see more of Gary's work on his website www.gcmathews.com
April 13, 2005
It is with great sadness that we have to report the passing of Ernie Downsworth on April 7, 2005. Ernie and his wife Joan have been permanent fixtures at Roche Harbor for many years, driving from their home on Westcott Bay to enjoy breakfast or lunch at Lime Kiln Cafe together and many dinners in McMillin's Dining Room. This picture shows Ernie with his big catch when he entered the Einar Nielsen Fishing Derby last year. We will all miss Ernie's warm smile and gentle manner very much.
April 13, 2005
Getting ready for the summer trips out to Roche Harbor is Dan Ward, owner of San Juan Transit. Dan runs the shuttle between Roche Harbor and Friday Harbor from May until September and is ready to start up daily trips on May 1st of this year.
For you golfers, Dan will be running about 2 trips per day from Roche Harbor to San Juan Golf Club giving you plenty of time for a round of golf before picking you up again to bring you back to Roche Harbor. Great news for our boaters! He also does 6 trips out to the lavender farm from Roche Harbor. He gives you about an hour to browse through the lavender fields and the Gatehouse and then you can catch the bus back and even stop off at the Whale Watch Park. All this on a $10 day pass. You can even get to American Camp on this pass - you just have to go into Friday Harbor first. Passenger rates are $4 each way or $7 round trip from Friday Harbor to Roche harbor - children 5-12 $2 each way or $3 round trip and under 4 ride free. Senior citizen rate for a day pass is $9 and you can go all over the island getting off at each place and browsing for an hour. Such a deal! You can leave your car on the mainland and know that you can get around easily once you are here. Check out San Juan Transit website for more information.
April 12, 2005
Opening up this coming Friday, April 15th for the start of the season is San Juan Safaris. Owners Bill Wright and his wife Colleen are very excited about opening up earlier than they have done in years past. They have both been spending a lot of time throughout the winter advertising their whale watch trips and sea kayak treks leaving right from our docks, as well as from Friday Harbor.
Our guests have been thrilled to experience the high caliber of professionalism from the SJS hand-picked naturalists, who are very knowledgable about the habits of the orca whales and wildlife that are seen on the trips out to the west side of the island. San Juan Safaris have been featured in many magazine articles and websites lately - the latest being on www.travelwashington.com. If you are planning a visit to us this spring/summer be sure to book one of the adventures offered by them - a wonderful experience to take back with you!
April 11, 2005
Great news for Roche Harbor shoppers! A full line of goodies under the Roche Harbor logo is available from the grocery store. Store Manager Debbie Sandwith is thrilled to be able to offer salad dressings and mustards, pasta sauces, salsas, jams and BBQ sauce, just to name a few, as tastes of Roche Harbor. Hot sellers include the Country Peach Salsa and the Artichoke Walnut Pasta Sauce, as well as the Raspberry Chocolate Fudge Sauce for ice cream lovers. Along with the food items are thermal coffee mugs, shot glasses and canvas bags with a logo to take all the treats home in. They make great souvenirs of vacations spent at Roche Harbor, or perhaps in a gift basket for friends. Check them out!
April 1, 2005
No kidding - no April Fool here! This is what the flower baskets and tubs on the yellow brick road look like right now - full of color with yellow and blue pansies, orange tulips and green euphorbia. Against a backdrop of perfect island blue sky, cherry blossoms in bloom and fresh new leaves opening up on the trees, our little slice of heaven is just waiting for its visitors.
We hope you come see for yourself soon.
March 28,2005
Enjoying being back on American soil is Donna Leone, Hotel Manager at Roche Harbor. Donna, her husband Mike and daughter Sophie survived the long flight to Melbourne, Australia and had a relaxing and fun-filled time "down under". The best part for Donna was getting to eat all the Australian goodies she can't get up here, and tasting her Mum's home-cooked meals. Daughter Sophie enjoyed getting to know her cousins and other relatives, as well as being spoiled by her Australian Grandma. A family trip to a resort in Queensland topped their trip before coming back to the U.S. hauling two extra bags full of souvenirs of their trip. We are pleased to have you back again, Donna - but cut out the Aussie accent will you?
March 27, 2005
Easter Day and a happy day it was! The rain that was threatening the occasion did not materialize and many children and their parents lined up for the traditional easter egg hunt which started at precisely 1 pm. 3,000 decorated hard-boiled eggs were strewn over the lawns and in the gardens and to the delight of many young children, General Manager Brent Snow counted down to the opening of the garden gates. Great fun was had by all - including children and parents.
March 24, 2005
Easter is almost here and that means Roche Harbor is almost ready for the old traditional Easter Egg Hunt for children up to 10 years of age. We will be dyeing 3,000hard-boiled easter eggs this year - and we need help from children of all ages on Saturday, March 26th at 1 pm when we will be holding an egg-dyeing project on the party barge in the marina. Come and be part of the traditions at Roche Harbor!
Roche Harbor's Easter Egg Hunt is Sunday, March 27th at 1:00 pm sharp! The Easter Bunny will be here at 12:30 pm for photo opportunities!
Easter Mass in our Lady of Good Voyage Chapel is at 9:00 a.m.
March 21, 2005
Lime Kiln Cafe is temporarily housed in McMillin's Dining Room for a few days while the floors of the cafe are being stripped and cleaned. Should be open again for business by Thursday. The Roche Harbor Marine guys are enjoying their break upscale!
March 15, 2005
Spring color is all around Roche Harbor this year. Take for instance, the flower boxes under the windows of the artist booths. Masses of beautiful gold and blue pansies out in full bloom. Just a reminder that our village artists will be with us in their booths again this year, with lots of interesting island-made products that they have been busy preparing over the winter for our guests to purchase. The artists are with us on a full-time basis from the end of June until Labor Day, seven days a week - hours are from 10 am to 4 pm. Of course, some of them will open early and be available on the weekends before that time depending on the weather. Make sure you stop by to see what they have this year that just might interest you!
Signs of Spring at Roche Harbor - taken March 15, 2005
March 11, 2005
Just back from his travels abroad is Troy Buck, our handy-dandy Harbormaster's Assistant. Troy always picks an exotic place to vacation during the winter and this year he chose Vietnam and Singapore. Troy spent just over two weeks enjoying the friendly Vietnamese people, eating food with a french influence and living like a king. Troy travelled with a few of his college buddies and they were all really awed by the beautiful beaches and, no doubt, the sunbathers! We are glad you had a good time Troy, and we are pleased you returned!
March 10, 2005
Coming back to work again with us at Roche Harbor is Shannon Sandwith. Shannon worked in our Accounting Office for 4 years prior to moving to Lincoln City, Oregon to seek new surroundings. Shannon, who graduated from Friday Harbor High School in 1989, realized how much she missed the island and returned with her fiancee, Steve, and now lives in Friday Harbor. We are pleased to see you back in the Accounting Office Shannon!
March 4, 2005
Just in time for spring! We are cleaning up the area where the two old rusty kilns were taken down last year. Over the years, many fallen trees have been lodged precariously on the hill near the hotel. This will spruce up the area for our summer guests who will, I am sure, be suprised at how the place has been changing - for the better of course!
March 3, 2005
Welcome back Kevin! We have missed our favorite Harbormaster who has been vacationing on Maui for two weeks. Kevin and wife Colleen, who also works in the Marina, have been whalewatching, scuba diving and generally enjoying island life in the Hawaiian Islands. Looking tanned and rested, Kevin was able to visit with relatives while there and got to see many folks from Roche Harbor and Friday Harbor while on his travels. We are pleased you are back with us Kevin and Colleen!
February 24, 2005
Just in time for Easter gifts! Darlene TroBaugh, Manager of Roche Harbor Gift Shop has some of the most adorable Chantilly Lane musical bears in her shop. How about the Roxy Showgirl bear who sings "I want to be loved by you...", or the stormy bear with his rendition of "Singing in the Rain", or perhaps Louie Frog singing "What a wonderful world", and Willy the duck singing "If you're happy and you know it...." clapping his wings and jumping in time to the music. They have been selling like hotcakes and Darlene has ordered more - so take some time and come see them for yourself. I know certain grandchildren who just might be getting one! Roche Harbor Gift Shop is open every day 10am - 4pm.
February 23, 2005
Working in the gardens on a simply beautiful day here at Roche Harbor are the Lambright family. Brian Lambright has been keeping the grass lush and green in our two formal gardens for the past 11 years. Today Brain has put his four children to work helping him put in a brick edge between the grass and the flower bed. Helping him are twins Austin and Brandon - 10, Ashley - 6, and Bailee - 3. He explained that he was giving mom some time to herself and thought it a good idea to involve his children in a project! We think its a great project Brian - thanks!
February 21, 2005
On this sunny President's Day many visitors are strolling the grounds enjoying the abundant spring flowers. Pictured here - with the hotel in the background - is a lenten rose, Helleborus Ivory Prince. The gardens right now are coming to life with the perfume of fully blooming daphne, fragile blooms of viburnum and beautiful hues from the blooming euphorbia. Countless snowdrops and crocus are in full bloom, daffodils are in bud and the tulips are up a few inches - getting ready for their grand display in a few more weeks. Plan on taking some time to stroll the gardens while we have this wonderful weather!
February 18, 2005
Out with the old and in with the new... Janine Wells is taking all the old bedding from the cottages and replacing with new - getting ready for the new season ahead. Our cottages are very popular with our visitors and especially families, and we are busy getting them ready for guests to enjoy. The cottages are decorated with country log furniture throughout, and recently the front row cottages have had propane fireplaces installed so you can sit in front of a warm fire. Located on the grassy hill above the beach, the children can play on our recently renovated playground near the pool. Janine is the daughter of Neil Tarte, former President of Roche Harbor Boatel during the "Tarte years" between 1956 and 1988.
February 15, 2005
Catching all the action at Roche Harbor today were bystanders watching 30,000 silver coho salmon being pumped into the fish pen from a truck above the marina. The fingerlings will be fed every day until they are big enough to be let out of the pen in April. The winning fish for next year's derby could be swimming right here (or not)!
February 15, 2005
Looking quite chipper now after a long battle with diverticulitis, is Pat Sandwith from Roche Harbor Water Company. Pat was in the hospital for surgery on his colon just four weeks ago and now is back in the groove already, and watching over other people's pipes - water pipes that is! Pat says his condition had nothing to do with drinking Roche Harbor water! We missed you lots Pat and are so glad to have you back with us, even if it does mean hearing about your 18 inch scar over and over!
February 14, 2005
Out shopping on this pretty, sunny day is Susan Meredith, neighbor of Roche Harbor. Susan uses her ATV to drive down Armadale Road to get her mail from the post office and pick up grocery items. Susan has difficulty walking, but does not let that stop her from making her almost daily trip into the village. Susan and her husband Jim, overlook Mosquito Pass in a log cabin they built themselves. Being an avid kayaker, Susan helped retrieve most of the logs used in the construction of their cabin found floating in the waters around Roche Harbor. She would attach the logs to a line hooked on to her kayak, and then would paddle her way back to their beach, where Jim would haul the heavy logs up the hill. Susan and Jim have lived on the island full time since 1981, when they moved up here from Seattle.
February 11, 2005
The bells are ringing again! Our Lady of Good Voyage Chapel bells have been ringing out over the village of Roche Harbor since 1972 when they were installed into what was once the old schoolhouse. The bells were installed as a memorial to Reuben Tarte, former owner of Roche Harbor Boatel who died in 1968, by his wife Clara Tarte, and as a memorial to Bob Tagney, son-in-law of Clara who was killed in a Fourth of July fireworks accident in the marina. Neil Tarte, son of Reuben and former President of Roche Harbor Boatel, now oversees the chapel which was consecrated as a catholic church in 1960. Neil is very dedicated in keeping the chapel running as it should and is thrilled to have the new digital system bells ringing out again after a gradual decline of the old carillon bells, as you can tell by the big smile on his face. The bells chime out at 9 a.m., noon and 6 p.m. every day with hand-picked tunes that Neil has had programmed into the new system.
February 5, 2005
And the smiling winner of the 2005 Salmon Classic Invitational is Richard Price from Ferndale, Washington who caught a 21.60 lb. chinook salmon from his boat Tequila Queen on Saturday. Along with a trophy he won $10,000.00 cash which he was going to split with his crew. Not bad for the second day of the fishing derby!
Winning second place with a 19.00 lb. salmon was Allison Ehle from Osprey, Florida who won a cash prize of $5,000.00. She was an angler on the boat Water Fox.
A total of 80 boats with 270 anglers all enjoyed the annual event, now in its second year. Most of them plan to return again next year for yet another go at catching that big one!
Other winners include Dallas Gibson from North Saanich, B.C. in third place with a 18.40 lb. and prize of $1,500.00. Fourth place winner was David Meyer from Vancouver, Washington with an 18.00 lb. fish who got to take home a $1,000.00 bundle of cash.
Prize of $1,500.00 for best total weight of fish caught in one boat was won by Skipper Russ Lett from Oak Harbor, Washington with a combined weight of 44.05 lbs. for four fish.
February 3, 2005
Spring is beginning to bloom in our gardens! What a treat to walk into the gardens and see clumps of snowdrops in full bloom and crocus coming up in shades of gold and lavender. A great way to chase away those winter blues!
February 2, 2005
The tents are up! We are getting ready for the big event coming up this weekend - the Roche Harbor Salmon Classic Invitational 2005. Registration begins tomorrow for the almost 90 signed up boats and their crewmembers. A hosted prime rib dinner with no-host bar starts the events on Thursday evening with fishing starting at 7:30 a.m. on Friday morning - with a blast from the canon at startup. Fishing ends at 5 p.m. for the day with final weigh-ins at 7 p.m. On Saturday fishing starts again at 7:30 a.m. with fishing ending at 5 p.m. and an Awards Banquet at 6 p.m. where the biggest fish will win a whopping $10,000 cash prize. Derby Headquarters this year will be located in the tented area outside Roche Harbor Market and is where most of the events will be taking place. Happy fishing guys!
February 1, 2005
With only two days to go before the start of the Roche Harbor Fishing Derby and fishing beginning on Friday morning, Debbie Sandwith is spreading the news that she is reserving $10,000 cash and a beautiful trophy for that first prize winner! A total of $19,000 in cash prizes will be awarded for the big ones caught in the event. Spirits are high and anglers are getting their gear ready for the two big days of fishing and other activities designed to make this event a very memorable one for participants. With close to 90 boats already signed up, Debbie is still waiting for the last minute fishermen who are scrambling to find anglers to fill their boat. It's not too late to participate - just give her a call at 360-378-5562 or email her at market@rocheharbor.com and join in the fun!
January 25, 2005
With Valentine's Day weekend just around the corner, we thought we might suggest a little something for your sweetheart. What better place to take him or her than a trip to the Islands. It doesn't really matter what the weather is like - seems like couples just enjoy walking our trails to either the mausoleum, sculpture park, or strolling the gardens and the docks at this time of the year no matter what weather. Our many bulbs are just now starting to show in the gardens, and we have lots of interesting winter plants for the gardeners to enjoy. Chef Shaw always has a great menu to round off the day, and of course, Lime Kiln Cafe has a great choice of hearty breakfasts to get you going in the morning. A few of our Village Artists will be open in their booths for the weekend so you can browse for that special Valentine gift, along with a great selection of gifts available in our Gift Shop. You can see for yourself how quickly the new village homes are coming along and how the skyline is changing behind Hotel de Haro. But don't wait too long - we are filling fast. Call and speak to a reservationist at 800-451-8910 and enjoy your island Valentine's getaway.
January 24, 2005
It was with sadness that we learned we lost one of our moorage guests from last summer, Johnny Carson. Johnny came to Roche Harbor last summer and ended up staying with us for three weeks over the July 4th weekend. He arrived on his custom built, triple deck, 130 foot yacht, called Serengheti - planned to stay a week, but ended up staying longer because he enjoyed the relaxed, low key ambiance the village has to offer. He was often seen riding through the village on his motorized scooter, would blend in with the visitors and enjoyed looking through the pictures and other wares our artists displayed outside their booths, and sitting on the bench just watching the folks go by. His wife enjoyed her visits to the Gift Shop and often remarked how much Johnny loved this little village in the San Juan Islands. We are pleased he enjoyed his time at Roche Harbor but we will miss his visit to us again this coming summer.
January 12, 2005
And the winner is... as John Sable, Private Dining Manager pulls out a name from the 600 entries to the raffle held at the Seattle Wedding Show... a prize of one night in one of our luxurious McMillin Suites plus dinner in our fine dining McMillin's Dining Room. John picked out the lucky winner's name - Erin Schweitzer from Sammamish, WA. We hope Erin will enjoy her stay with us as she experiences the beautiful setting Roche Harbor has to offer to all brides and their wedding guests. Helping John out in this picture is Janine Wells from the Hotel de Haro Front Desk. Check out the Special Events section of our website to find more details about planning a wedding at Roche Harbor.
January 10, 2005
The snowy weather does not stop the building of the new village homes. Here is a picture of the homes as seen from the bottom of the hill as the workers pound their nails in 28 degree weather! At least it is sunny today which makes it seem warmer than it really is! Pet owners are walking their dogs - one of whom was spotted with her two dogs wearing winter warming booties and jackets to keep them warm. Cars have been directed to take the lower road in front of the chapel to avoid the icy hills coming into the village. More snow is forecast for Tuesday evening - we will see if we can escape it this time!
January 9, 2005
Winter weather sets in with some snow. A few inches of snow fell at Roche Harbor over the weekend which has left the roads very icy. There are still quite a few folks taking their daily walks around the village, enjoying the crisp air and sunshine. Business has been brisk at the village market with many of the neighbors stocking up on items they would normally buy in nearby Friday Harbor. Meanwhile it is a picture perfect setting here as shown in this picture looking over the marina.
January 4, 2005
On a clear, crisp and sunny day, the American flag at Roche Harbor flies at half mast in honor of the thousands of families whose lives have been shortened and who have lost loved ones in the Tsunami disaster. Our thoughts and prayers are with all those who have experienced some of the painful memories we all hope we never have to go through.
January 3, 2005
On this day 35 years ago, one of our most important employees started work at Roche Harbor. As a child, David Gibbs would join his parents on their boat as they sailed through the San Juan Islands with Roche Harbor as the destination they so loved to visit. Summer after summer, David would explore the area and, like young boys of 11 or so, was certain to come up with some kind of adventure or another. David was quite the scholar at school and won a National Scholastic Achievement Award in Art resulting in a Hallmark Scholarship. In fact, one of his paintings hung in New York City at Carnegie Hall at one time. When he was twenty and having too much of a good time, David put aside his studies and started working odd jobs on the island, including tearing down the old dock by the grocery store and mowing the lawns at Roche Harbor. Clara Tarte was very impressed with the good work he did for her in the garden and pretty soon more jobs came his way. David was good with figures and was given a task by Neil Tarte in the hotel which eventually led him to being an accountant and night auditor. By this time David was a Roche Harbor fixture and seemed to fit in with whatever position he was given. David has been such a loyal employee of Roche Harbor and now is Manager of the Roche Harbor Water Department, Wastewater Treatment Facility and Airport, as well as being the person you call when anything goes wrong with the phone system or the sound system for "Colors!"
We congratulate you, David, on thirty-five years of excellent service and loyal devotion to Roche Harbor and we hope for many more years to come!
December 31, 2004
Getting ready for the big event tonight! John Sable, Private Dining Manager for Roche Harbor has been busy designing, purchasing decorations and constructing the Pavilion into an amazing venue for tonight's special New Year's Eve Party.
150 tickets have been purchased by guests and neighbors who will enjoy a special 5-course dinner prepared by Chef Shaw before walking the illuminated pathway to the Pavilion where they can dance to their heart's content. A Seattle band, "The Popoffs" will be entertaining with songs from the 60's through 80's.
John has purchased cool looking hats for the men and "Happy New Year" tiaras for the ladies. A great way to see in the New Year 2005.
Roche Harbor wishes all their friends and neighbors a very happy and prosperous New Year 2005!
December 27, 2004
What a nice surprise sitting under the Christmas tree this year for some folks ... a brand new home sitting on the hill above Roche Harbor! The Fairbanks Construction crews are doing a fine job at keeping pace with building the new homes and are very appreciative when the weather cooperates with them as it is today.
Shown in this picture are six "De Haro Townhouses" in various stages of construction. Foundations for the "Cottages on the Green" has begun further down the hill.
If you are interested in viewing the progress of the homes, check back each week in our Real Estate section of De Haro Development where you can see just how much building actually went on from the week prior!
December 22, 2004
Roche Harbor would like to take this opportunity to wish you and your families a wonderful holiday season. We appreciate your patronage this past year and look forward to seeing you around the village next year. Our best to you all!
December 20, 2004
This was how the grand old Hotel de Haro looked last night for our Fifth Annual Christmas Festival 2004. Bill Sutton from Seattle took this beautiful picture on Sunday evening, showing the hotel displaying its Christmas lights and the old-fashioned fire cresset on its corner.
It was a great event and many visitors, friends, neighbors and employees enjoyed the evening dressed in their fine clothing including furs, top hats and canes. Hot beverages were served along with bags of hot roasted chestnuts and peanuts and decorated cookies by the two street vendors pictured here - "hot roasted chestnuts - come and get 'em" was heard throughout the village!
Over 50 children attended the Santa's Elves Workshop with Elf Tinsel in the afternoon, crafting gifts for Mom & Dad including bookmarks, suncatchers and pencil holders. We were entertained with International Christmas music by Folk Voice Band, 
before the big event of our annual Christmas caroling. Angel Michaels helped MC us along with her program and sang songs accompanied by Chinmayo - both with exquisite voices. The Overman Family Musicians, a family of 8 children and their parents, sang old fashioned carols - many of them from England, and we all enjoyed accompanying them. The Overman children were a delight and inspired us all with their musical talents on their stringed instruments.
A great evening enjoyed by everyone.
Picture of Hotel de Haro by William Sutton Photography, Seattle, WA 206-932-1563
December 18, 2004
The first day of Roche Harbor's 4th Christmas Festival was a great success. Many visitors enjoyed strolling through the village, checking out the artist booths, sitting by the log fire in the firepit and watching the children having
fun with Santa. About twenty people crowded into the Hotel Lobby to hear Barb Persinger's presentation of the History of Santa Claus and to marvel at her collection of Santa's from all over the world. A total of 13 boats were brightly lit with Christmas lights in the Christmas Boat Parade - up from 7 boats last year and it turned out to be a clear night with very calm waters that left shimmering reflections of the colorful lights. Great fun was had by the throngs of onlookers at the end of the dock as each boat sailed by led by Captains Julie & Mike Curley on SV Morning Star. The evening was made perfect by a performance of Christmas Memories by the very talented Stage Left Productions in the Pavilion and attended by 70-80 people in front of a crackling fire in the old fireplace. Roche Harbor invites you to come to Sunday's events which includes a time for the children to make their own gifts for family members from 2-4 pm, listen to Christmas music by Folk Voice Band from 4-6 pm and then our caroling event begins at 6 pm with the Overman Family Musicians and the beautiful voices of Angel Michaels and Chinmayo. Plan on joining us this year for this great Roche Harbor tradition. Dinner is served in McMillin's Dining Room from 5-10 pm with a special Christmas menu to complete your evening. (Boat parade picture courtesy Matt Pranger)
December 16, 2004
Our hats are off to Chef Shaw and his mother, Donna, who spent most of the day preparing and baking 800 sugar cookies, so the cookie decorating crew could come along and dip, sprinkle and create goodies for Roche Harbor's Christmas Festival. Chef Shaw will have a variety of winter treats to nibble on while you are out at Roche Harbor this weekend including bags of roasted chestnuts, hot roasted peanuts, and of course the very colorfully decorated cookies, with warm apple cider, hot chocolate and coffee on hand. The goody booth will be open on Sunday from 3-7 pm and Lime Kiln Cafe will be open Saturday until 7 pm so you can get warm after watching the boat parade which starts at 5:30 pm. Our thanks go to the cookie decorating team of Nancy, Julie, Brittany, Gretchen, Donna, Sophie, Scott, Joe, Walker, Bobbi, Rose, Grace, Ann, Kathy, Bob, Justine, Trina, & Darlene, and to two of our Canadian boating firends who arrived in their beautifully decorated boat lighting up the whole harbor! Thank you all!
December 15, 2004
What a great sight this morning to come into Roche Harbor and be greeted by a Royal Marine!
Our Roche Harbor neighbor, Jim Meredith, has been interested in all things military from way back when. Jim is the Royal Marine you see marching in our parades in Friday Harbor, attending the re-enactments at British Camp on a regular basis, and marching with the Canadians and Battery D troops into Roche Harbor on Memorial Day and during the summer. Jim patiently explains history to the young boys who come up to him wondering about the equipment he carries and always has a good word to say about everyone. The kiln pictured behind him is one that the historians have been studying to find out when it was actually constructed. One theory is that it was built by the Royal Marines who were stationed at British Camp in the 1800's as a means of keeping the troops occupied and busy. We couldn't help but take a picture of this proud Royal Marine standing beside it.
December 14, 2004
Getting all spruced up for our Christmas Festival this coming weekend is Roche Harbor Utilities Manager, David Gibbs. Barb Persinger from our Costume Department loves to dress people up and especially in the Victorian manner! She has hand-knitted a total of 42 men's scarves, has collected over 35 fur jackets and coats, not counting the numerous fur collars and cuffs that go onto wool coats. With an inventory of over 40 women's Victorian dresses and enough suits and jackets to dress at least 25 men, she can outfit anyone who asks. And it doesn't stop there - she has been collecting children's clothing including little white fur capes and woollen jackets to keep the children warm on our special evening of Victorian carol singing to be held in Roche Harbor on Sunday December 19th starting at 6 pm. If you don't have your costume yet, it's not too late - give Barb a call (378-9825) and she will fix you up with an outfit - or see her in the Shirt Shop next to the Hotel de Haro. She is there most days making corsages, pinning up dresses, or knitting scarves!
December 13, 2004
Look what has just arrived! Retail Manager of Roche Harbor Gift Shop, Darlene TroBaugh, has just received her order of sweatshirts and hats with the Fishing Derby 2005 logo on them. Just in time as a Christmas gift for that special fisherman in the family!
Great excitement as the date of our second annual Roche Harbor Salmon Classic Invitational for 2005 approaches. Derby Chairperson, Debbie Sandwith has received over 50 applications so far for the 100 boat limit and says fishermen from all over are finding out about this great event and she expects to fill the quota by the time the derby starts on February 3 thru 5, 2005. If you need more information just drop her an email at market@rocheharbor.com and she will send you out an entry form. For more information check out the upcoming events section of this website.
December 2, 2004
No... it's not a picture of a haunted house! It is the night-time construction of our new homes in the village. Fairbanks Construction of Bellingham are doing a great job and making every second count! The workers work long hours into the night Monday through Thursday in order to get the buildings completed - the first one due for completion and occupied by March. If you are interested in following the progress of our new village homes, check out the Real Estate section of De Haro Development on our website where you will see new pictures each week. Exciting times!
November 22, 2004
Congratulations go to Roche Harbor Water Company employee, Deb Vermeire and her husband Marc on the birth of their sweet baby boy Charles Fiske Vermeire. Charles Fiske was born on November 15th weighing 8 lbs. 9 oz at Island Hospital in Anacortes. Needless to say, David Gibbs is feeling mighty proud of his employee and her baby ...and we are too. We can't wait to see him! This is such a cute picture!
November 18, 2004
A new employee working in Roche Harbor Market a couple days a week is Connie Maas. Connie has been living on the island for about two years, where she and her husband have recently built a home. Connie is used to island living since she lived on the island of Maui for 15 years at one time, but prefers the weather on this island more! Connie says her dream, on previous visits to the island, was to be able to work in Roche Harbor Market doing exactly what she is doing now. We are pleased you have fulfilled your dream Connie and happy to have you with us!
November 18, 2004
If you haven't already stopped by to see Roche Harbor Marine's new Chandlery and office - you should plan on doing so, especially if you are a boater! Roche Harbor Marine has expanded its services this past year, and as well as boat maintenance and repair including cleaning and varnishing, they offer a nice selection of boating supplies for the "do-it-yourself person". With more items expected to arrive in the spring of 2005, it keeps their able crew on top of all the many requests for service. Running the show is the former surfer dude, John Avery who spent 15 years in Santa Cruz running Marine Engine before arriving onto the island in 1995. Partnering with John is Rick Hersey who arrived on the island in 1998, also from Santa Cruz where he accomplished many years in the auto service industry. Office Manager is John's wife, Victoria Avery, who used to work in the Personnel office at the resort. Technicians for the company are the good looking duo of Neil Curtis and Dave Erwitt. Asked about a slogan for the company, they quickly quipped, "...we got you covered from end to end"! Phone number for Roche Harbor Marine is 360-378-6510 and it is located by the side of the green maintenance shed to the west of the resort.
November 15, 2004
We welcome new employee, Morgen Crumpacker who is working in the Lime Kiln Cafe this winter. Morgen came to us from Portland, Oregon where she worked in a restaurant. She has been living on the island about a month and is enjoying it a lot. Welcome Morgen!
November 8, 2004
A foggy day in Roche Harbor doesn't necessarily mean it is a drab day. The fog seems to heighten the color of this beautiful Copper Beech Tree located to the side of the formal garden. It's coppery leaves have been brightening the fall days at Roche Harbor for a total of 112 years now. Planted by John S. McMillin in 1892, it has seen many changes in the little harbor town over the years and as the formal garden has grown so has this magnificent tree.
November 2, 2004
Another new employee at Roche Harbor is Debi Frazier who will be working in Roche Harbor Gift Shop. Debi has been an island resident since spring of this year coming to us from Modesto, California. Debi worked this summer in the Prosecuting Attorney's office, but now is happy to be working with Darlene TroBaugh surrounded by a wonderful selection of resortwear, nautical items, jewelry and kitchen items. Debi loves island living and thinks its the best place to raise kids! We so agree. Welcome Debi!
October 27, 2004
Roche Harbor is very pleased to introduce our new Postal Supervisor. The smiling face you will see when you go pick up your mail will be that of Bob Ward. Bob and his wife, Kathie, came to live full time in the Roche Harbor neighborhood this past summer when they relocated from Issaquah, Washington. Bob previously was a Material Program Manager for thirty years for Honeywell/Raytheon, based in Mukilteo. Bob was also a Captain in the US Air Force. We welcome you Bob, to the Roche Harbor family!
October 26, 2004
It's seasonal planting time at Roche Harbor and the gardeners are busy replanting all the tubs and beds. We hate to see the summer beds and tubs taken apart but we know there will be something special in store for us by the time they have finished. With the help of our Head Gardener, Alana Dunn, pictured on the right, and her helper Doris Corbin, pictured on far left, Christy Erickson of Zizania Ltd. in Seattle, pictured middle, are busy designing these wonderful 
sedum moss baskets to grace our Victorian lamp-posts. Christy always comes up with great ideas that are a little out of the ordinary - such as the great "birds of paradise" and "kangaroo paws" she planted outside the gift shop for the past summer season. Some of the plantings used in the tubs for winter are euphorbia, heuchera, golden heleborus, moonlight scotch broom, blue pansies and in spring orange tulips will come up to add a little cheer. Try and make time this winter to come check them out.
October 20, 2004
The skyline at Roche Harbor is changing! Nestled in the trees on the hill behind the Hotel de Haro is the start of nineteen new homes we have been talking about for so many years. This very large project has been years in the making and with framing started on the first of six homes at the top of the hill we have many excited homeowners watching the builders every move! The first of these homes is scheduled for completion in February with the rest completed by the end of June. When you visit us again next year, expect a different look for Roche Harbor.
To keep up to date with how the building progress is going, check out our Real Estate section from time to time where you will see updated weekly pictures of the homes.
October 15, 2004
Roche Harbor is proud to introduce our newly appointed Private Dining Manager, John Sable. John comes to us with an extensive background in catering who previously worked in the Four Seasons in Santa Barbara and San Diego before coming to live on the island. John has been Dining Room Manager in McMillin's Dining Room and Madrona Bar & Grill during the past summer season and is very excited at getting to do what he loves best - special events. With his past experience and great catering ideas for making each event memorable, we feel fortunate to have someone with his caliber on the Roche Harbor team. Welcome John!
October 13, 2004
It's pumpkin time at Roche Harbor! Standing outside Roche Harbor Market with our pumpkins are Debbie Sandwith, Market Manager and Kelly Snow, Postal Supervisor. Debbie is getting together all her notes from last year's Salmon Classic Invitational for the derby coming up on February 3,4 & 5, 2005. More information is available in our Upcoming Events section of the website. Plan to reserve your space soon, as there is a limit of 100 boats and we have almost half of those spaces reserved already. Call Debbie at 360-378-5562 and have her send you an application form. A lot of fun was enjoyed by all at last year's event - especially the winner who took home stacks of $20 bills amounting to his first prize of $10,000! Second prize is a wad of bills totalling $5,000, third of $1,500 and 4th of $1,000. Best boat total gets $1,500. At last year's event the winning fish was caught by Chris Johnson and weighed 26lb.12oz.
October 11, 2004
The stork flew in to Roche Harbor recently and brought a baby boy to two of our employees, Marcel & Ivana Radu. Little Daniel weighed in at 7lbs. 8 oz. and was born on the mainland when Ivana went in for a regular doctor's apoointment and came out with little Daniel! The proud father has been seen every day since then pushing Daniel around Roche Harbor in a baby buggy. Marcel has been our Employee Housing Manager and Ivana worked at the Pool this summer. Marcel and Ivana were married in the garden at Roche Harbor this past summer so they will have lots of memories to take back to Park City, Utah where Marcel will be working as a ski instructor in Deer Valley. Congratulations Ivana and Marcel!
October 9, 2004
It just goes to show - the rain just won't keep two good men down! This is Harbormaster Kevin Carlton along with his sidekick assistant Troy Buck doing business as usual. Kevin and Troy are out in all kinds of weather making sure your boats are safely moored. They just want you to know, however, that they do have a few days off and the days of closure or shortened hours for the Marina Office during the holidays are as follows:
Thanksgiving Day, Nov 25 - Open 9:00 a.m. until noon
Christmas Eve, Dec 24 - Open 9:00 a.m. until noon
Christmas Day - Closed
New Year's Eve & New Year's Day - regular hours - open 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.
October 8, 2004
Roche Harbor's Food and Beverage Department have come up with new hours for winter. For planning your evenings we will give you a schedule of times open and closed.
McMillin's Dining Room: Open 5pm to 10 pm - every day till October 26th then they will start closing on Tuesday and Wednesday of each week. They will be closed for Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day then open December 26 thru January 3 from 5-10 pm. Bar will be closed the same days.
Friday December 31st - New Year's Eve - special dinner and entertainment by reservation only. See Upcoming Events section for more details. Call 360-378-5757 to make your reservation.
Lime Kiln Cafe will be closed on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day, but open daily 8am to 2pm every day except the two days above.
October 2, 2004
Roche Harbor maintenance department workers Kent Runyan and Scott Williams are hard at work getting the lights up on the artist booths for the coming dark evenings.
Of course, they are really getting the lights up early for our Christmas Festival Weekend coming up December 18th and 19th. We have a lot of exciting events happening on that weekend so make your plans early and come stay with us for this special weekend event. Topping the list of events are the Overman Family Musicians, Folk Voice Duo, a History of Santa Claus presentation, Stage Left production of Christmas Memories, Village Artist Booths and much more. Check back later where you will find more information in the Upcoming Events section of this website.
A Christmas weekend in the islands at Roche Harbor will really get your holidays off to a good start!
October 1, 2004
Autumn in Roche Harbor is a very special time - the colors are almost magical and the leaves become vibrant with shades of red and gold. This is a Boston Ivy that has been growing for a number of years over the arbor in the Pavilion Courtyard.
This is the time of year when most of the tourists have gone home but still many brides are choosing to have their special wedding ceremony with us.
If you are interested in booking a wedding for next year please call Pat Carver at ext. 725 who will be pleased to let you know which days are available. We are filling very quickly for 2005 so don't wait!
