It’s not the most expensive or the most remote, and it’s not particularly large, but Red Rock Island has long been one of the more peculiar “candy” of the American luxury market. This is due to a combination of factors such as its price, its features, and, above all, its location as the only private island in the middle of San Francisco Bay. Theirs is a privileged place, but whoever is willing to spend the $25 million it costs will find an island of reddish rocks (hence the name) with no water or electricity, inhabited by birds, and a complicated administrative situation.

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Somewhere on the west coast… More specifically, in San Francisco Bay, not far from the busy Richmond-San Rafael bridge, where almost 13 million vehicles pass each year, there is a small island called Red Rock Island. Its name, not coincidentally, comes from its concentration of manganese, a mineral that once attracted the attention of miners.

But if Red Rock Island stands out for something, it is not because of its color or location, but because of its administrative status: it is the only privately owned island in San Francisco Bay and is located between three different counties (San Francisco, Marin and Contra Costa), so any procedure regarding its land must take into account the regulations of these three administrations.

A reddish rock in the Pacific. Red Rock intrigues drivers traveling on the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge because it stands like a reddish, vertical, soulless promontory in the middle of San Francisco Bay. After all, the islet is uninhabited. Its only tenants are seagulls, Canada geese, bats, and rabbits that breed among the reddish rocks, shrubs, and tunnels dug by miners decades ago.

Red Rock Island is about 5.8 acres, about 2.3 hectares. It’s pretty small for an island, but there are smaller islets like Brothers and Sisters not far away. Red Rock is estimated to be 150 meters wide, 230 meters long and 54 meters high. Chris Lim, the agent responsible for managing the sale at Christie’s International Real Estate, emphasizes that the island is located in the deepest part of the bay and its coastline is “perfect” for access by yacht or helicopter. They may not be the cheapest or most accessible means of transportation; however, Red Rock Island is not in a market that will suit every budget.

Do you have 25 million left? Then congratulations, you can own your own private island in a prime location on the West Coast of the United States. That was the price Red Rock Island was selling for last year, as far as I can remember GuardThis puts it in the “middle range” of the private island market; a small island in the Bahamas can cost between $600,000 and several million, but is well below the $100 million-plus that can be paid for some of the coveted islands, especially in the Caribbean.

25 million… and moreOf course, if a buyer of Red Rock plans to build on the island, he or she must count on an additional generous sum equal to or greater than the initial 25 million for materials, personnel and transportation of supplies. There is no electricity or running water on Red Rock. And future plans must take into account that it is located between three counties. But for Lim, the island is much more than just an islet with potential. To him, it is a kind of luxury “collectible,” like those who choose to hang a Mark Rothko in their living room or bid on one of the very expensive Da Vinci pieces that come up for auction.

“Unique and prestigious investment”. The island was advertised as such on the Cristie’s International Real Estate portal, where the offer is still active 213 days after it was posted. “This extraordinary island offers unparalleled natural beauty, historical significance and endless potential for the discerning buyer looking for a unique and prestigious investment,” the agency emphasizes. Whether there’s a deal or not, Red Rock Island seems to have caught the market’s attention. In July, Lim assured CBS News that the seller had already received two offers and that at least one “active” offer was on the table that they were working on.

What is your current situation? This is the same Guard At the end of July, a contract was signed with a buyer who requested anonymity, at least for now, the report said. The operation was not yet complete. “This will be a long process and the closing of the deposit will not happen until next year,” an agency spokesperson recently told The Real Deal. In any case, the ad is still live in the Christie’s International Real Estate catalog, where it is also possible to request information from adults or to plan a visit to the island.

More than luxury and nature. Red Rock Island is not just a reddish islet in the middle of Francisco Bay, with bushes, seagulls, bats, geese, and the occasional rabbit hiding among the pine trees. The island has an interesting history behind it. It is said to have been home to Russian fur traders, that commander and businessman Selim E. Woodworth lived here in the 1850s, that miners interested in manganese oxide worked here in the 19th century, and that David Clickman bought it for a while in 1964. Today’s ridiculous amount: $49,500.

In the 80s it was about to fall into the hands of the controversial guru Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh and because of its size and location there are those who see the opportunity to build a “beach club with a marina”, a tourist area and even, he said, a Playboy mansion. Its mineral wealth, including shale, has also sparked interest as a quarry for highway construction. It now belongs to the Durning family… and is trying to write a new chapter in its fascinating history.

Images | Wikipedia

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