The Orca Inn is a great place to stay, as long as you understand where you are staying and as long as you determine ahead of time that it meets your needs
The Orca Inn is not fancy. If you want luxury then book a luxury hotel (and pay luxury rates). The Orca Inn may not be fancy but it is fun, clean, quirky, and the staff are friendly and responsive. It’s not on the waterfront but it’s a pretty easy walk to get there. Maybe 15 minutes?
A lot of the negative reviews I have seen are really frustrating because the Orca Inn is very transparent and upfront about what it is. It is a great option for people on a budget who want to experience San Juan Island. It works for me because I am a very active traveler and I don’t spend all day lounging in my room. I wake up, explore the island all day, and come back to my room to shower and sleep. In the morning there is complimentary coffee available in the office so I drink my coffee and set off for the day. There is not a restaurant on site but there are plenty in the area and my room had a little fridge for leftovers
In summary it’s a fun quirky motel with a fascinating history. If you book a room, pay attention to what you are reserving and make sure it meets your needs