Golden Clouds
| Golden Clouds | |
|---|---|
 Aerial photo of Golden Clouds | |
  Golden Clouds Location within Jamaica | |
| General information | |
| Location | Oracabessa, Jamaica |
| Coordinates | 18°24′45″N76°56′28″W/ 18.412503°N 76.9410646°W[1] |
| Owner | Colin Simpson,Oksana Simpson |
| Management | Golden Clouds |
| Other information | |
| Number of suites | 12 |
| Parking | yes |
| Website | |
| goldenclouds | |
Golden Cloudswas the name given byRuth Bryan Owen,the first female US ambassador, to her house inOracabessa, Jamaica.[2][3]It is situated betweenGoldeneye,whereIan Flemingwrote many of theJames Bondnovels, andNoël Coward'sFirefly Estate.The ocean front 12-bedroom estate is on 7 acres (2.8 ha) of manicured lawn and gardens with over 500 feet (150 m) of shoreline and its own private beach.[4]
History[edit]
Ambassador Owen purchased the property in 1911 fromChris Blackwell's grandfather,Percy Lindo,whose family owned theJ. Wray and Nephew Ltd.distillery along with several thousand acres of real estate in the Oracabessa area.[5]Owen oversaw the construction of the luxuriousvillaand entertained many famous guests there includingClark Gable,Carole Lombard,andCharlie Chaplin.[2][6][7]
During the 1970s the estate was sold to Mr. and Mrs. Keeson, who restored the property. The Keesons began renting the villa to the public, and over the years the clientele has included a number of celebrities such as musiciansWillie NelsonandJimmy Buffett,[8]and film starsDenzel WashingtonandRobert De Niro.[9]The villa has also hosted many weddings and is consistently ranked as one of the top Caribbean wedding destinations.[10][11]
In addition to being a popular wedding location, Golden Clouds has also served as a movie location and was featured in the filmThe Mighty Quinn,starring Denzel Washington,Robert Townsend,andMimi Rogers.[12]Golden Clouds has also been featured on several television shows includingLifestyles of the Rich and Famous,and as a grand prize onThe Price Is Right.[13]
In 2009, Golden Clouds was purchased by bestselling author and musicianColin Simpsonand his wife, Oksana. Colin Simpson is the great-great grandson[14]of renowned slaveryabolitionistJames Phillippowho built the first church in the area and helped establish Oracabessa as one of Jamaica's firstFree Villages.[15]The Simpsons were married at Golden Clouds in 2001, and in an interview withThe Jamaican Observer,the new owners indicated their intention to carry on the century-old tradition of luxurious accommodations and casual elegance that has made the villa world-renowned.[16]
Famous clientele[edit]
One of Golden Cloud's most famous early guests was Charlie Chaplin, who was a good friend of original owner, Ruth Bryan Owen.[17]
Architecture[edit]
Golden Cloud'sneoclassicalarchitectural design was based on Casa Figueras, an 18th-century luxury villa that Owen stayed at during her first trip to Spain,[18]and reflects Oracabessa's heritage as a Spanish settlement.[19]In 1996, Golden Clouds received the Governor General's Award[20]from the Jamaica Institute of Architects for its design, which combines historical elements with modern amenities.
Sanctuary and attractions[edit]
Golden Clouds is located in theOracabessa Bay Fish Sanctuary,which was established in 2010 to protect Oracabessa's marine ecosystem.[21]Through investments by the Oracabessa Foundation,Seacology,[22]and GEF,[23]the Fish Sanctuary has reintroducedsea turtlesand thousands of newcoralinto the Oracabessa Bay area. An important part of the Fish Sanctuary is the Oracabessa Bay Turtle project. The Turtle project monitors the beaches in Oracabessa Bay, and in 2012 they helped the release of more than 16,000 hatchlings from their nests.[24]
The reef located directly in front of Golden Clouds is one of the largest in Oracabessa Bay.[25]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^"Wikimapia".Archivedfrom the original on August 26, 2011.RetrievedNovember 8,2010.
- ^abCaribbean Caravel, Ruth Brown Owen, Dodd, Mead & Co. (1949), New York, 222 pages.
- ^"Historical reference".June 8, 2017.Archivedfrom the original on February 17, 2018.RetrievedFebruary 17,2018.
- ^"Oracabessa - Where to Stay".Archivedfrom the original on December 17, 2015.RetrievedOctober 20,2014.
- ^"Reference to Blackwell family".Archivedfrom the original on November 28, 2021.RetrievedJanuary 14,2010.
- ^Cameron, Sarah (September 27, 2013).Jamaica Footprint Focus Guide.Footprint Travel Guides.ISBN978-1-909268-33-3– via Google Books.
- ^"Reference to notable guests".Archivedfrom the original on February 18, 2018.RetrievedFebruary 18,2018.
- ^Steve Eng (1998) Jimmy Buffett: The Man from Magaritaville Revealed, St. Martin's Press, P. 301ISBN978-0-312-16875-9
- ^Koss, Richard (2008) Jamaica (Country Guide), Lonely Planet, P. 162ISBN978-1-74104-693-9
- ^"Popular Wedding Destinations".Archivedfrom the original on March 3, 2016.RetrievedJune 11,2010.
- ^Modern Bride Magazine, Caribbean Wedding Dreams, p. 19, March 2008, Conde Nest Publishing
- ^Franklin J. Schaffner (Scarecrow Filmmakers Series) (1995) Scarecrow Publishing P. 277ISBN978-0-8108-1799-9
- ^"Television Feature".YouTube.February 8, 2012.Archivedfrom the original on August 22, 2020.RetrievedNovember 29,2016.
- ^Public Record Office Readers Guide No 11. PRO, Kew, Surrey, 2nd Edition, (2002) pp 116.ISBN1-903365-38-4
- ^Phillippo, James Mursell (July 3, 1843)."Jamaica: Its Past and Present State".J. Snow – via Google Books.
- ^Jamaica Observer p. 5, December 7, 2009 "Historic Oracabessa Villa Sold".
- ^Goodison, Lorna (March 26, 2013).Supplying Salt and Light: Poems.McClelland & Stewart.ISBN978-0-7710-3590-6– via Google Books.
- ^Caribbean Caravel, Ruth Brown Owen, Dodd, Mead & Co. (1949), New York, P. 114.
- ^"Historical Significance"(PDF).Archived fromthe original(PDF)on March 15, 2018.RetrievedMarch 15,2018.
- ^"Governor General's Award"(PDF).Archived(PDF)from the original on March 3, 2016.RetrievedJune 15,2010.
- ^"Oracabessa Foundation | Oracabessa Fish Sanctuary".Archived fromthe originalon May 26, 2012.RetrievedJanuary 15,2012.
- ^"Seacology grant".Archived fromthe originalon February 19, 2012.RetrievedJanuary 21,2014.
- ^GEF Grant information
- ^"Turtles in Oracabessa Bay".Archivedfrom the original on February 2, 2014.RetrievedJanuary 21,2014.
- ^"Sport fishing destination".Archivedfrom the original on February 23, 2018.RetrievedFebruary 21,2018.
