Jamaica
News - Real Estate - Projects
Source: February 6, 2007
Facelift for Fleming's Goldeneye property
Goldeneye, the scenic rural retreat in eastern
Jamaica where British author Ian Fleming created the James Bond character that
spawned dozens of novels and films, is getting a facelift.
Work begins in June on 82 villas, cottages and
suites at the 40-hectare property overlooking a harbour in St Mary parish, Jason
Henzell, president of luxury hotelier Island Outpost, said today.
Henzell said Goldeneye's current owner, media
mogul Chris Blackwell - who is also the owner of Island Outpost - wanted to use
the property for tourism.
"He wants to develop a new niche in
Jamaica called residential tourism, where people buy land, visit and ultimately
promote the island," he said.
He declined to comment on the project's cost.
Fleming bought Goldeneye in the mid-1940s when
it spanned just 16 hectares, and wrote several books there.
One of those novels, Casino Royale, was the first
to feature the super spy and charmer James Bond.
Fleming died in 1964 and some of his
memorabilia is kept at the site.
Several 007 movies including Live and Let Die and
Dr No were filmed near the estate, and it shares a name with the 1995 Bond film
GoldenEye.
The property was also briefly owned by the
late reggae great Bob Marley, who bought Goldeneye in 1976 and sold it the
following year to Blackwell.
Blackwell founded the Island Records label that
launched Marley to international stardom.
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