Billionaire lists private B.C. island complete with ghost town for $75 million
After 18 years of transforming B.C.'s James Island from an abandoned industrial town into a star-studded island retreat, reclusive U.S. telecom billionaire Craig McCaw has put the property back on the real estate market for $75-million.
Although the island is easily spotted from nearby Sidney, B.C., there are few locals who know the goings-on of the 342-hectare property, which is equipped with a Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course, a fake western village and a fleet of themed electric cars - all shielded from public view by a tight security detail.
A Post reporter visiting the island in 2006 was greeted at the dock by an island keeper driving a white Hummer equipped with a steel cage containing a German shepherd trained to sniff out invaders.
"Security hasn't been a problem in recent years - this fellow is fairly good at what he does," said Mark Lester with Sotheby's International Realty, who is overseeing the sale.
Mr. McCaw made his fortune as CEO of McCaw Cellular Communications, a U.S. cell phone pioneer, and is among a generation of billionaire Washington State tech giants, a group that also includes Amazon founder Jeffrey Bezos and Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen.
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