San Francisco’s only private island is set to hit the market for $25 million – but you’ll have to be prepared to live with no running water, power or wi-fi

The only privately owned island in San Francisco Bay hits the market this week — and for $25 million, it can be yours, as long as you can live without water, power and Wi-Fi.

Red Rock Island – also known as Moleta and Golden Rock – will hit the San Francisco Bay housing market at $25 million, a bargain for owning a private island.

The catch is that the currently uninhabited 5.8-acre island has absolutely nothing, leaving the prospective buyer without running water, electricity, Wi-Fi… or even a bathroom.

Located south of the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge and the dividing line between San Francisco and San Pablo Bays, Red Rock Island is only accessible by air or water, making “property viewing” difficult.

The island has been put on the market several times over the years since it was first claimed by Selim E. Woodworth in the 19th century.

Woodworth, a former state senator, built a cabin and maintained a hunting preserve on the island — which appeared as “Molate Island” on an 1850 survey map of the San Francisco Bay area.

The name Molate – now changed to Moleta – was given to the island because its shape resembles the cone-shaped stone used by painters to grind colors, called ‘moleta’ in Spanish.

After Woodworth took ownership, the island was a site for mining manganese, a hard, brittle, silvery metal used for steel and aluminum products such as batteries.

Red Rock Island was purchased privately in the 1920s and—after a series of owners—eventually passed into the hands of San Francisco attorney and part-time real estate buyer David Glickman, who bought the island in 1964 for $49,500.

In 1964, grand plans for the island were devised, including shaving off the top half of the island and transforming the site into a ten-story hotel and casino with a marina on the north side.

The idea was that water and power would be supplied by lines connected to the San Rafael Bridge and that the disused portion of the site would be sold for highway road construction.

The plans never came to fruition and the island remained uninhabited. In 2001, the California Department of Fish and Game was offered to purchase the island, but they declined.

A “sex guru” spiritual leader tried to buy the island in 1985 to expand his commune in Oregon. Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh was deported and unable to go through with the sale after his commune collapsed.

In 2007, Glickman announced that Red Rock Island was for sale for $10 million. It was relisted in early 2012 for $5 million.

This week, Brock Durning, who inherited the island from his father, put the island on the market for $25 million, listing it for the first time on a multiple listing service – a database that allows real estate agents to see other real estate agents’ listings.

Viewings for the island are by appointment only, said Red Rock real estate agent Chris Lim.

“We can go by chartered yacht or boat, seaplane or helicopter,” Lim said.

‘For those who are a bit more adventurous, we can do jet skiing, kayaking or even paragliding.

‘There is so much possible on this island. The views of San Francisco, Belvedere, the Oakland hills and the Bay Bridge are incredible.”

Like any good real estate agent, Lin wanted to get to know his property to understand what he is selling. So he took a private bus to spend a whole day on the island.

“I felt an undeniable connection to Northern California: the rugged landscape, the pristine beaches and the deep, mesmerizing blue water,” he said.

He added: ‘I am interested in finding a potential buyer who is aware of the exceptionally rare nature of the property. Whether it concerns nature conservation or potential development.’

In August, an entire island complete with a lighthouse and a small one-room cottage in Maine sold for just $400,000, but it had no bathrooms or running water.

At the top end of the private island budget was a Florida mansion worth $218 million.

The 11-bedroom, 15-bathroom home was on a private island in Palm Beach, Florida.

In addition to ample space for guests to stay, the mansion also featured two swimming pools, a five-car garage, a tennis court, a hair salon, a library, a wine room, a home gym, an elevator, and an indoor spa with massage room. and sauna.

Across the Atlantic Ocean, a private island off the coast of Scotland was listed for just $187,000.

The small price tag may be due to the fact that there are no buildings on the land, so potential buyers interested in making this island their home will need to inquire about planning permission.