Roche Harbor Washington

Roche Harbor Washington..... a beautiful seaside town with a fresh, contemporary demeanor, built upon charming historic roots.

The original Roche Harbor Hotel, which was built in 1886 by John S. McMillin, had only 20 rooms. The area around the harbor (named after Lieutenant Roche of the Royal Marines) had been claimed by the Hudson's Bay Company in 1845, where a trading post was built to accommodate the needs and interests of traders and American settlers. A small village began to grow around the hotel in the following years, including the lime factory, a school, a church, a store, offices, and many homes for the families of the workers.

Today, Roche Harbor is a resort and village with many interesting, unusual things to see and do. You can visit gift shops, three restaurants, and a large lovely park that includes an outdoor pool (open in summer months) and a playground. There are many types of accommodations for overnight guests, as well as a picturesque marina with both overnight and long-term moorage options.


There is a post office, a curfew, and a gas station!

Gas station at Roche Harbor. © simply-san-juan.com

Self-serve gas station at Roche Harbor. © simply-san-juan.com

Frequently the lowest gas prices on the Island! © simply-san-juan.com

On the left below, one of the cabins for rent at the Resort, and the deck outside Lime Kiln Cafe on the right.

Summer flower pots lining the deck.

Here is the view of the marina across Seaside lawn.

I'd love to point out that it would be a wonderful day spent touring the grounds at Roche Harbor, and the tour must include a walk up to the mausoleum. The Mausoleum at Roche Harbor is a memorial built by the McMillin family to represent family life, based on the Masonic Order, as well as the stages of physical and spiritual life. Really interesting, unusual, and well worth the short walk to see it.

Return from Roche Harbor Washington to Simply San Juan.