For $650,000 You Can Buy Yourself a Piece of History

Want to buy a nice hotel?

Remote and romantic location, excellent war anecdotes in the bar, good fishing, lots of sheep and penguins around.

All you need is $650,000 and a desire to become a part of the checkered history of Britain’s Falkland Islands colony, coveted by Argentina.

London property agents announced Thursday that the Upland Goose in the Falklands capital of Port Stanley is up for sale. Owner Desmond King has decided to retire after running the hotel for 16 years.

The Upland Goose became famous in 1982 when its telephone switchboard maintained a link with the outside world after a British task force drove out Argentine forces who briefly occupied the South Atlantic territory.

Grants & Partners, the London agents, said the hotel is constantly full and ripe for development as tourist traffic builds up with twice-weekly, 17-hour flights from Britain.

The Upland Goose has 16 bedrooms and approval to add eight more, two lounges, two dining rooms, a bar and a four-bedroom flat for the new owner.