TRADERS' RIDGE RESORT

RESORT HISTORY     

For more information on the resort or to book  a reservation, please visit the resort website at www.tradersridge.com or call (877) 350-1300.

Yap is a tropical island 9 degrees north of the Equator lying between Guam and the Philippines. Approximately 7000 people live on the main and outer islands. The island is cooled by trade winds and occasional tropical showers. This is the most traditional island in the Federated States of Micronesia- a land of stone money; another world!

Traders’ Ridge Resort, on the island of Yap, is an outstanding example of the adaptive reuse of two historic buildings. The hotel was originally a Seabee Inn constructed during World War II, which was rebuilt and expanded into a 22 room luxury hotel. During the hotel construction a dilapidated former Japanese command post was discovered 100 feet away from the former inn. This building was restored and turned into the Traders’ Ridge Bar & Restaurant.

 After the initial jungle development of the Ethnic Art Institute it was found that there were very little if any comfortable tourist accommodations on the island of Yap and few if any places to eat. This prompted the decision to develop the Seabee Inn and the adjacent Japanese command post into a resort called “Traders’ Ridge”. The name was derived from the resort’s location, situated on a ridge overlooking Chamorro Bay. The architectural design reflects the Victorian plantation style favored by the trader clipper ship captains of the 19^th Century. A conference room was built to accommodate group meetings and business meetings. Later a swimming pool was added at the request of the guests, and a dock with an activity center for sailing, fishing, diving and water activities was created.

The Ethnic Arts Village that had been created by the Foundation deep in the jungle to revive the lost arts of Micronesia was then moved onto the four star property of Traders’ Ridge in 2002. The completed hotel includes a massage retreat, an outdoor banquet area under the giant monkey pod tree and the onsite Ethnic Art Institute with a traditional dance amphitheater.

The island is a former U.S. Trust Territory, now a member of the Federated States of Micronesia and is a U.S. Protectorate that uses U.S. Currency. The U.S. provides military and diplomatic services. While the locals remain very traditional; (most wear native island dress), they conveniently speak English. The island government provides services such as an international airport, a hospital, and a community college. All areas have potable water. Lying 450 miles Southwest of Guam, midway between major population centers of Europe and the United States, Traders' Ridge accommodates visitors from all over the world including the Pacific Rim, Asia, United States, Europe and Australia.

Now there is a first class, four star, boutique resort on Yap- the only one to be found in Micronesia where you can hike, bike, kayak, sail, dive and fish- and at the same time have a unique cultural experience in comfort with outstanding service, dining al fresco with a command post view. It’s another world!