Inn History
The evolution of a Friday Harbor Hotel
Located on Front Street across from the Friday Harbor Marina, our site was originally a fuel and oil storage facility for the fishing fleet, ferry and cannery. We purchased the parcel the Island Inn sits on in the late 1980’s and performed a feasibility study to determine its best use about a decade later. After careful consideration, we elected to liven up the hillside with connective spaces and progressively designed structures.
Extensive site preparation and blasting began in May 2006 and a true mixed use commercial and residential development was completed in 2009. What are now our penthouses were briefly listed for sale as condominiums before transitioning to vacation rentals in 2010. The spring of 2011 and your stay marks our first year as the Island Inn, offering 6 eurostyle guestrooms and 7 penthouses for you to enjoy.
The Island Inn is the only Silver LEED certified building in San Juan County. Rainwater collection features a center runnel where water collected is stored for irrigation in a tank similar to the original oil storage facility. The Island Inn creates a restful and restorative experience for both our guests and island.
Design of the Inn emulates and compliments the surrounding historic waterfront without competing with or copying it. The terraced site and building design offers open decks reminiscent of historic front porches and ship ladders and roof decks remind us of the site’s industrial past.
Most important is the evolution and betterment of our favorite part of town!
