Roche Harbor is more than a collection of buildings and docks. It’s steeped in a history that’s filled with characters and milestones tied to the progress of the nation as a whole.
Native Fishing Grounds
Humans have been drawn to Roche Harbor throughout history. Native peoples of the Salish Sea used the beaches as a seasonal settlement, because the protected harbor provided ready access to abundant salmon, halibut and shellfish.
Lime & Cement Company Town
In the 19th century, English and Americans discovered rich limestone deposits in the area. A Tacoma lawyer named John S. McMillin saw the potential in 1886, founding the Tacoma and Roche Harbor Lime Company with the second license of incorporation in Washington.
The operation exploded with nation-wide 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 visionary Tarte family bought 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 marina-based community founded on traditional architectural characteristics and low impact on the environment.
The first task was to improve core areas of the resort, including buildings, gardens, pathways and the shoreline. The biggest upgrade was the marina, which grew to 387 slips connected by wood-planked docks.
By the early 2000s it was time to build small, tightly knit neighborhoods for families who wanted to stay year-round or set up second homes. Development was done with minimal impact on the environment, preservation of the past, and harmony between residents and visitors.
What you see today is the result of this deliberate, slow growth over the past three decades, one we seek to continue at a pace that fosters Roche Harbor’s strong sense of place.
*Historic images provided by the San Juan Historical Museum*