Bay Area Island Sold To Unknown Buyer

SAN FRANCISCO — A small, uninhabited island south of the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge will soon have a new owner, according to multiple reports, but the price tag and buyer's identity have yet to be revealed.

Red Rock Island — known at times as Molate Island, Golden Rock and Treasure Rock — has a colorful history, including tales of pirates burying gold. Previous owners include a 19th-century Naval commander, state senator and pioneer Selim E. Woodworth, who maintained a cabin and hunting preserve on the land.

Now the Bay Area's only privately-owned island, the 5.8-acre property is about to change hands for the first time in many years.

According to The Real Deal, current owner Brock Durning inherited the land from his father Mack, who was business partners with a gem dealer who bought the Red Rock Island for $50,000 in 1964. Durning listed the island for sale at $25 million through Christie's International Realty last year, and a contract closed with an undisclosed buyer and unknown terms last month, The Real Deal reported.

According to SFGate, the new owner will have their work cut out for them if they plan to utilize the land in a new way. The borders of three counties — Marin, Contra Costa and San Francisco — run through the island, and it lacks access to basic amenities like running water and electricity. The listing agent told SFGate no feasibility studies have been completed to determine possible future uses for the island.