Orcas Island Facts

True. Outlook Inn’s original structure was built in the late 1800s by Charles Shattuck. Originally a gold miner, Charles became a hunter and then small business owner. The store sold all number of goods and became a central stomping ground for the town. It also housed the town’s post office. Dental and barber services were provided in the small shop. The local jail was even located out back!

True! From the summit of Mount Constitution, you’re treated to 360-degree view of the San Juan Islands, Vancouver, and the mainland. On clear days, you can see the snow-covered peaks of Mount Baker and Mount Rainier. Climb to the top historical watchtower, where informational guides help you identify key land markers.

False. There are no major rivers in the San Juan Islands, even on Orcas Island. However, thanks to its unique topography, Orcas Island is home to four different waterfalls — Cascade Falls, Rustic Falls, Cavern Falls, and Hidden Falls.

False. Orcas Island was named by Francisco de Eliza in 1791. He named the island in honor of Juan Vicente de Güemes Padilla Horcasitas y Aguayo, 2nd Count of Revillagigedo, the Viceroy of Mexico, who sponsored Francisco’s expedition.

False. Prior to the 1930s, no strawberries grew in Olga on Orcas Island. But when the Great Depression brought a decline in agriculture, the Marshall Strawberry was brought to the island by several local farmers. The variety was prized for its taste and firmness. It thrived in the fertile farmland and plentiful sunshine Orcas offered. Dozens of acres were cultivated during the 1930s and 1940s — creating jobs and preventing economic collapse.

True! Orcas Island Pottery was opened in 1945 by Joe and Marclay Sherman. Their pots were made from clay dug from the island’s banks and the studio was housed in a log cabin made from old growth fir. It was originally a trappers’ cabin and the potters traded a local farmer four plates and four bowls for the building that’s now 150 years old. Today, it still serves as part of the showroom today.

False. There are two places to go wine tasting on Orcas — Doe Bay Wine Company in Eastsound and Orcas Island Winery nestled at the base of Turtleback Mountain. Both destinations are unique and each offers an exquisite and quite different wine tasting experience. Doe Bay Wine Co. was founded by island native Cole Sisson. Along with a bottle shop and tasting room, it features carefully curated wine flights and wines by the glass. Among the memorable pours are those from Sisson’s Orcas Project Wines, a unique collection of dynamic and fun wines with quirky labels. Orcas Island Winery is the island’s only winery. Established in 2011, the boutique family vineyard and winery features locally produced and crafted wines that range from bold reds to refreshing sparkling wines.

True! The Moran Mansion at Rosario Village (previously known as Rosario Resort) houses a two-story organ. The mansion was built by Robert Moran, who regularly treated his guests to ‘performances.’ The kicker is, he never actually played the organ! It’s a player organ and the player console is hidden upstairs, away from those who would be listening to concerts on the first floor. Moran never told his guests that the organ was playing himself. He simply accepted the compliments.

True! The Country Corner Grocery and Deli regularly sells fresh oysters — along with an impressive selection of wine, laundromat, personalized pizzas.

True (most of the time). At the heart of Eastsound, on the corner of Main St. and N Beach Rd., Brown Bear Baking’s scratch-made bakery perfumes the surrounding streets with galettes, cookies, breads, and more.

True! On the side of Mount Picket, roughly 400 feet above sea level and about six miles from any viable boat launch, rests the Aproximada. Long-time Orcas Island resident, App Applegate, built the ship by hand after moving to the island in the 1970s. In 2004, the “Washington Post” reported that Applegate planned to “set sail in April”… though he was “not yet sure which April.” Applegate died in 2013, never having picked an April or moving the Aproximada.