User:Vickihalliday/Golden Hotel and Resort

Goldeneye Hotel and Resort is located on the Caribbean Sea near the village of Oracabessa, Jamaica. It is owned by Chris Blackwell, a philanthropist and entertainment entrepreneur who founded Island Records, Palm Pictures and Island Outpost, a company that owns and operates his boutique hotels.

Property History[edit]

Goldeneye was originally built by Ian Fleming, who created the James Bond character and who wrote all of his Bond novels while living there.

Fleming purchased 15 acres of land on a former donkey racetrack in 1946 after hearing about the property from a friend. The home was built based on a sketch by the author and incorporated features such as glassless windows, a position almost overhanging the sea and great simplicity.

Thirteen years after Fleming's death in August, 1964, Blackwell purchased the property from the Fleming family. For years Goldeneye was primarily used by Blackwell as a place to entertain his friends, and the property was used primarily for entertainment. Blackwell added to the original acreage in small parcels to reach a current total of forty acres. In the late 1980s, Blackwell formed the Island Outpost Company and opened the property as a small hotel.

In 2007, Goldeneye was closed for major additions and renovations. It will reopen in 2010.

Property Layout[edit]

The property is less like a hotel than it is a compound of tropical buildings, gardens and private beaches. As Blackwell expanded the property, he also expanded various cottages and huts around an inner lagoon that is sandwiched between two beaches, Bond Beach and Low Cay Beach. While luxurious, it is also a private world of casual privacy with outdoor showers and the odd bathtub in a garden with a sea view.

Fleming Villa

The original house was updated but still much the same three bedroom home that Fleming designed. Included in the decor is his writing desk and other historical pieces of furniture. The house has a private swimming pool, a private beach as well as private gardens.

Villas 1,2,3 and Royal Palm Villa

Small villas ranging from one to three bedrooms each. All are separate houses and private from one another. Each has a private garden and access to private beaches.

Beach Cottages

A small series of recently built cottages located on Low Cay Beach.

Renovations[edit]

Extensive additions and new building is included in the current renovation. Two restaurants, a supermarket, a water sports center, a health spa, lagoon cottages and a number of private beach cottages are being built while preserving the intimate feeling of the resort.

Celebrity[edit]

Fleming's Goldeneye became the social epicenter of Jamaica's north coast along with nearby Firefly owned by Noel Coward, and Bolt House, owned by Chris Blackwell's mother, Blanche, who was a long time friend of Fleming. The property was popular with Hollywood and British film stars, artists and literary greats. The property also attracted British aristocrats and heads of state. Errol Flynn, Lucian Freud, Truman Capote, Patrick Leigh Fermor, The Duchess of Devonshire, Princess Margaret, and Prime Minister Anthony Eden were all visitors. Eden made the property the temporary Headquarters for the British government during the Suez Crisis of 1956. Before Eden left, he planted a tree in the garden thus starting a Goldeneye custom that continues.

The Goldeneye of the Blackwell era has also attracted celebrities. Until opened as a hotel, Blackwell used it to entertain friends. Many musicians, writers, entertainers and other talent stayed at Goldeneye to vacation as well as work. The private and casual atmosphere still attracts creativity.

Among the celebrities who have stayed at Goldeneye:

Goldeneye Garden[edit]

A tradition, which was started by Sir Anthony Eden when he and his wife, Clarissa, planted a Santa Maria tree before departing from Goldeneye, is still ongoing. Today, there are hundreds of mango, lime, orange and ackee trees in the garden. Each was planted by a guest, has a small plaque saying who planted it and when. A $1000 donation required goes to the Oracabessa Foundation.

Other Goldeneye Projects[edit]

Royal Hut is a line towels and textiles used in the hotel. The brand was created by Blackwell's late wife, Mary Vinson.

Blackwell's Rum was created at Goldeneye and its distribution is currently limited to Jamaica.

Unity Hammocks is acraft project funded by the Mary Vinson Blackwell Foundation. Featured are hammocks made by women living in nearby Unity, Trelawney Parish.

The Oracabessa Foundation was founded by Blackwell. It funds and endorses local restoration, locally grown goods, and promotion of Jamaican culture.

The Goldeneye Film Festival was founded in 2004 and included outdoor screenings at Goldeneye and Firefly. It will come out of hiatus in December, 2010.

Palm Pictures is an entertainment company founded by Blackwell. Its headquarters are at Goldeneye.

In Popular Culture[edit]

Noel Coward rented Goldeneye for two months before buying his own home, Firefly.

Dr. No, the first James Bond film, was shot in Jamaica. Chris Blackwell was hired as a location scout at the suggestion of Fleming.

"Every Breath You Take" was written by Sting while staying at Goldeneye.

Two people have broken their toe on the bed in the Fleming house. Princess Margaret and Glenn O'Brien.

All of Fleming's James Bond thrillers were written at Goldeneye.