The facade is of Craigleith stone, perhaps as an advert for the quarry to the west of Edinburgh on which the Adam brothers' firm had recently taken a lease.
In 1814, Sir Hew Dalrymple purchased the island from North Berwick Town Council.
It is named for the Blue Mountain, and hence the economy of the town is centred around tourism, particularly on the Blue Mountain ski resort and the private Craigleith and Alpine Ski Clubs.