Telecommunications entrepreneur and billionaire Craig McCaw, whose brother John McCaw formerly owned the Vancouver Canucks, is selling B.C.'s James Island for $75 million.
"We went public with this offering on Friday (June 1) so this is very fresh," said broker Mark Lester, senior vice-president of the specialized assets group at Sotheby's International Realty.
The southern Gulf island boasts a Jack Nicklaus-designed 18-hole golf course as well as a 5,000-square-foot main residence, four two-bedroom homes and two one-bedroom dwellings.
There is also an entertainment complex that has a pool table, shuffleboard space and an arcade as well as large seating areas, a bar and a dining room.
McCaw bought the island for US$19 million in 1994.
"Construction had commenced on the golf course [in 1994]," Lester told Business in Vancouver June 4. "When I first saw the island, which was about 10 years ago, I think the first 10 holes were done. Now, it's spectacular."
McCaw founded McCaw Cellular (now part of AT&T Mobility) and Clearwire Corp. He is regularly listed as one of the richest Americans and, in 2009, ranked No. 212 on Forbes' ranking.
Long considered residents of Seattle, the McCaw family has also owned property in Sidney on Vancouver Island, which is a 10-minute boat ride from James Island.
"They live in Santa Barbara now," Lester said. "They're just not using it as much as they'd like to. Unfortunately, that's the reality."
This listing can be found on Sotheby's website.
