PREVIEW

You can own your own private island in the San Francisco Bay - if you’ve got a cool $25 million (£18.6 million) to spare.

Red Rock Island, the sole privately owned island in the Bay is now on the market. Despite its hefty cost, the 5.8-acre landmass offers minimal structures, with a craggy mass rising 175 feet above water and a tranquil beach on the northeastern side. Its 6 acres means it's roughly a quarter the size of the most famous island in the Bay, Alcatraz - home to the notorious former prison.
Originally inhabited by Russian fur traders in the early 1800s, the island's sole known resident was Selim Woodworth, a former California Senator and son of nineteenth-century poet Samuel Woodworth.
The current seller, Brock Durning, residing in Alaska, inherited ownership from his late father, who obtained the island in the 1960s for just under $50,000. Durning, now retired, has decided to sell the island to financially support his ageing mother.
“Red Rock Island has long fascinated me as a mysterious and sought-after gem in the San Francisco Bay,” said listing agent Chris Lim, Global Brand Ambassador at Christie’s International Real Estate, who is handling the sale. “When approached by the seller to assist in finding a new caretaker for the island, I spent a day on this private sanctuary. I felt an undeniable connection to Northern California – the rugged landscape, unspoiled beaches, and the deep, mesmerising blue waters.”
While the island lacks essential utilities, desalination, solar panel, and satellite systems have been employed on other private islands.
It is approximately six acres in size, lacks structures and is situated near the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge, accessible by boat or helicopter. The island features a sandy beach on the east side, a rockier shoreline on the south and west, and trails leading to the grassy and domed summit. In the 19th century, the island was utilised for manganese mining, which lends the island its reddish hue. Abandoned mining tunnels still exist on the island.
The island has witnessed various proposals over the years, ranging from conservation to the construction of a hotel, marina, residence, or even a Playboy Club.