Red Rock Island (variously known asMoleta,[1]Molate Rock,[2] andGolden Rock[2]) is an uninhabited, 5.8-acre (2.3 ha) island in theSan Francisco Bay located just south of theRichmond–San Rafael Bridge.[3] The property is the only privately owned island in San Francisco Bay.[3] The boundaries of three counties –San Francisco,Marin, andContra Costa – converge on the island.[4] The Contra Costa portion (most of the island) is incorporated inside the city limits ofRichmond.[5]
Abandoned Coast Guard fog bell on southern point of island
The mountain of bright red earth and rock is 500 ft (150 m) across from east to west, 750 ft (230 m) from north to south, and rises out of the bay to a height of 151 ft (46 m).[1] It is surrounded by some of the deepest water in the North Bay, nearly 60 ft (18 m) deep.
Early Spanish explorers named the island "Moleta Island" after the color of the rocks. It was charted in 1827 byRoyal Navy captain Frederick Beechey, who called it "Molate Island", a distortion of the Spanish name.[6]
Selim E. Woodworth was the first owner and resident of Red Rock Island, where in the 19th century he built a cabin and maintained a hunting preserve.[7][8][9] The island also appeared, again labeled "Molate Island", on an 1850 survey map of theSan Francisco Bay area made byCadwalader Ringgold[10] and an 1854 map of the area byHenry Lange.[11] The island was also referred to as "Golden Island" because a local legend held that pirates buried their treasure on it. For the same reason it was later called "Treasure Island".[6]
The island was once mined formanganese, the mineral which gave the rocks their distinctive color. Two hundred tons of ore were removed by speculators, including Norwegian and Swedish mariners, who used the rock for ballast and then sold it to paint manufacturers in Europe. The U.S. government, which owned the island at the time, put a stop to that practice. The mining of the island left it riddled with tunnels.[6]
The island was privately purchased in the 1920s. After a series of owners, David Glickman, at the time a San Francisco attorney and part-time real estate buyer, purchased the island in 1964 for US$49,500.[3]
In the 1980s, a plan was proposed (but never implemented) to remove the top half of the island (which would be sold for highway roadbed construction). The island would then be developed with a 10-story hotel and casino, and a yacht harbor on thelee (north) side. Water and power would be provided from lines connected to the San Rafael Bridge.[12]
In the 21st century, the island was placed on the market multiple times:
in June 2007, Glickman, at the time a gem dealer in Thailand, announced that Red Rock Island was for sale for US$10 million;[13]
in early 2012, the island was listed with a realtor at a price of US$5 million;[14][15]
in late 2023 Brock Durning, who inherited the island from his father, Mack Durning, placed the island on the market for US$25 million, first time this property was offered through amultiple listing service.[16]
on August 15, 2024, it was reported the island had found a buyer the previous month, but the identity of who purchased it and for how much was likely to remain unknown until some time in 2025. “It will be a lengthy process with close of escrow not happening till next year,” said the property's listing agent, Chris Lim.[17]
The island and its history is discussed in the 2009 novelSpade and Archer byJoe Gores.[6] It was also mentioned and described as "Blue Island" in the novelThe Circle byDave Eggers.[18]
^abcDavid Glickman (2007-07-13)."Bay Area Private Island Sold for $10M".Morning Edition (audio/transcript). Interviewed by Renee Montagne. National Public Radio. Retrieved2010-04-30.
