By Rachel Robertson



It was just a few years ago that Bob Morand sat in a café in downtown Anacortes and gazed across the street at the historic McNaught Building, musing over his coffee about what could be done to resurrect the vacant building. Located on Commercial Street, the five-story building towers over everything nearby, and is topped by an eye-catching cupola. Majestic is the word that came to Morand’s mind.

“(The building) really stood out as, ‘Holy cow, this is our white knight,’” Morand says. The idea was to create a true destination for Anacortes—an anchor that would help spur a revitalization of the downtown.

Guy Davidson partnered with Morand on the restoration of the Anacortes landmark, which had literally been knocked down and dragged around in the past. It was built in 1889 as an office building for the McNaught Land Co., and for several years operated as a mercantile. But James McNaught had misjudged where the commercial district would be centered, and so in 1907 two stories of the building were taken apart and rolled down the street atop logs and pulled by horses 11 blocks to its current location. In 2001, the building was nearly destroyed by a fire. Another group of investors purchased it in 2003 and completed about 40 percent of the renovations before the current owners bought it in 2005.

Davidson and Morand wanted to create an elegant boutique hotel that had the additional draws of a luxury spa, up-scale restaurant, and comfortable pub. When they went searching for someone to lease the spa and restaurant, they came up with Mike Keenan, owner of Bellingham’s Chrysalis Inn and Spa. Rather than lease, Keenan signed on as the third partner in the venture.

Almost three years now since it opened, Morand says that other downtown businesses have also followed suit, cleaning up the look of the main street. “I think it's added quite a unique change for the city—one it really needed,” he says.



History meets modern luxury



Majestic aptly describes the impact of the lobby decor: Oriental rugs over marble floors, a brass chandelier hanging from the lofty ceiling, and a curved staircase leading up to the second floor spa and salon.

Each of the 21 guest rooms is unique, from studios to a large two-room suite. The Majestic Suite on the top floor, for example, definitely offers more than a cookie-cutter hotel experience: the interesting angles of the ceiling and crown molding are a reminder that it is an historic building, and features such as two spacious bathrooms, a wet bar, and two plasma televisions speak to the focus on modern luxury.

General manager, Sara Herschberger points out all the rooms still retain the old-fashioned water radiator heat. “So, it's really warm, just really cozy,” she says.

Leather chairs and a fireplace create a comfortable atmosphere in the pub. Morand says he felt that having a great bar would be a way to bring in business for rest of the Majestic venues and so they instituted a happy hour that runs every day of the week. “We think we have the best happy hour in Anacortes ... that's the one thing we really hang our hat on,” he says. Another attraction is the local and regional musicians who perform on Friday and Saturday nights.

The restaurant draws both locals and tourists, serving dinner and hosting special occasion events such as Mother’s Day or Easter brunches in the light and airy dining room. The adjoining Garden Room feels like a glassed-in porch with several large windows overlooking the courtyard. In the summers, Morand says people often rent the Garden Room and courtyard together for events such as weddings in which people can flow back and forth between the indoor and outdoor space.

The two dining areas are also available for meeting space, especially during the day when the dining room is not in use, but also the Garden Room can be closed off for meetings while the dining room is open for walk-in business.

Decorated in warm earth tones, the spa is an inviting oasis with a long list of services. In addition to typical offerings such as massages and pedicures, guests can indulge in hydrotherapy like the Ancient Oceans Bath. The facility also boasts a hair salon, where services include access to the eucalyptus steam room in the spa.

Herschberger says the spa and hotel rooms together offer a great opportunity for people to have a special weekend away. The Majestic offers an Island Breeze Summer package that includes a night stay, a voucher for dinner, two one-hour massages, champagne and chocolates.

The cupola is a must-see, with a stunning 360-degree view of the city, the port, and the bay, it is no wonder that more than one wedding has been held in the petite space. Indeed, it has inspired spontaneous ceremonies, says Morand, who twice has been asked to serve as best man. But it’s also a great place just to sit and read a book.

Although Herschberger is working to improve the Monday-through-Thursday business at the hotel, she says the weekends take care of themselves, and overall business is going well. Their re-vamped Web site and the addition of listings with Expedia and hotels.com are also bringing in more new business. “So, if somebody wants to make a reservation, they need to get on it now,” she cautions. Information: (360) 299-1400, toll free at (877) 370-0100 and http://www.majesticinnandspa.com