Searching For An Island To Buy?

Thanks PBO31 for this photo

Did you know that Red Rock Island was recently for sale for? Do you know where red rock island is? Red Rock island is the 6 acre out cropping of rock that rises over 100 feet up out of the Bay on the South East side of the Richmond San Rafael bridge. It is the only privately owned island in the San Francisco Bay and it has quite a history.

Red Rock Island has been mined for Manganese. In the 1920’s it was privatley purchased. David Glickman bought the island in 1968 for $49,500. He was an attorney in San Francisco that appreciated special properties. He developed plans to cut the top 1/2 portion of the island off and sell the rock to companies that would use it to build highway roadbeds. The idea was then to develop the flat toped island into a hotel, casino and yacht harbor. The concept included getting power and water from the Richmond San Rafael bridge. The project never left the ground. If you want to learn more about the islands history there is a great accounting of the island told by the Berkeley Daily Gazette.

In June of 2007 David announced the island was for sale for $10,000,000 not including the mineral rights to the property. David, now a rare gem dealer in Thailand, had previously tried unsuccessfully to sell the island in 2001. He has had a nibble from the California Department of Fish and Game, but no offer.

There is a great pod cast of an NPR news radio show podcast with David Glickman telling his story. It is worth the listen to heart about this fantastical San Francisco Bay island story.

I came across the story as I was searching Vladi Private Islands web site. It is an interesting island listing, sales, and rental site that has had me intriguied for years. They have been selling and renting island real estate since 1975. Worth a look if you want to dream about owning your own private island!