New Caribbean island resort first in more than a century
A new Ritz-Carlton and a world class marina — those are among prospects for the first new island property in a century to be built in the Caribbean.
The uninhabited island development of West Caicos Reserve is located on the Western end of the Turks & Caicos archipelago. Plans are to open next year.
Backers say the project will be an “environmentally responsible, ultra-luxurious resort community” that will include a 125-room Ritz-Carlton. There will also be a marina.
“Its most sought-after features, however, aren’t man-made: sublime virgin beaches, brilliant azure waters, 500-acre Lake Catherine and famed Molasses Reef, rumored to be the final resting place of Columbus’ Pinta and ranking among the world’s top dive sites, “according to a news release.
West Caicos Reserve will also have a natural wildlife sanctuary, two national parks and an array of archaeological and cultural sites. Just six miles southwest of Providenciales, the resort will reachable only by boat, small plane or helicopter.
“Molasses Reef, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, is the first property in a new Ritz-Carlton resort brand that will introduce singular boutique resorts in exotic, hideaway destinations,” says a news release.
Developers say a large percentage of the 11-square-mile island will remain forever undeveloped, while all buildings will be completely low-density, creating minimal impact on the environment.
Report by David Wilkening
David
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