Royal Plantation, which first opened its doors in the glamorous 1950’s as Plantation Inn, was originally part of the sprawling Coconut Grove Estate, owned by Mary Melhado. The resort began its days as a “sister” hotel to the adjacent, Jamaica Inn, operated by husband-and-wife team Cy and Gloria Elkins. Gloria—who came from a prestigious line of hoteliers (the Stuart and Pringle families) who had helped put Jamaica’s fledgling tourist industry on the map—decided that the stunning property next door would prove ideal for a supremely elegant inn. So, armed with a stellar reputation and proven, international credentials, Gloria gathered together an impressive group of investors, which included Mr. Howard Wolff of New York, Dr. Lenworth Jacobs of St. Ann’s Bay and Mr. Douglas Tucker, a prominent lawyer from Brown’s Town, to help make her vision a reality. Quickly and accurately grasping the almost unlimited potential of this venture, these men rapidly joined forces with Gloria, becoming the very first directors of this new hotel, which was to be called—appropriately enough for a former estate—Plantation Inn. Thus, with Howard Wolff as its first Chairman and Len Jacobs as its first Vice-Chairman, Plantation Inn opened its doors to much fanfare and immediate, meteoric success in 1957.

Initially the hotel comprised only two floors, on what is today the eastern wing of Royal Plantation. The early construction was undertaken by the Kingston firm of Marley & Plant. Then, after a few years, the 3-storey west wing was added. Eventually, the east wing gained a third floor and, finally, during the early 1980’s, under the ownership of brothers Anthony & Merrick Watson, another extension occurred, resulting in a further 22 rooms. The Watsons—proud of the professional expertise readily and competently available right here in Jamaica—implemented the designs of Harry Simpson, a Montego Bay architect, and employed the building expertise of local Ocho Rios contractors, Maffessanti & Sons Ltd.

The parallel birth of the sumptuous, on-site Villa Plantana, dates back to the proprietorship of John Young, owner of the renowned Lantana Hotel in Bermuda, who built this gorgeous private house for his son, Jay, to live in when he came to Jamaica to take over as manager of the hotel.

Plantation Inn’s very first manager was the universally respected Cy Elkins, who brought over many of Jamaica Inn’s best staff to the new hotel. At first this symbiotic arrangement seemed to work out well. But, when Cy left Gloria for another love, she never forgave him, both for his desertion of their marriage and his pilfering of Jamaica Inn’s treasured staff members! Over his time at the inn, Cy’s greatest coup took place when he somehow managed to obtain the services of Theophilus Caiaphas Palmer of Ocho Rios, one of only two Jamaican Sommeliers to have trained in France under the watchful eyes of acclaimed oenologist, Alex Lichine.

Sydney Attwood, an effete, haughty, handsome and erudite Englishman replaced Cy after he had flown the coop, and the island, with his new bride. While Sydney, a former BBC employee in London, impressed many with his rather plummy accent and his perfect Oxford English, his management style left a lot to be desired! Treating Plantation Inn as his personal fiefdom, Sydney expended great sums of money on whimsical purchases, such as crested shower curtains from Hong Kong and a grand piano—without authorization. Not surprisingly, Sydney’s personal life was also quite indiscreet and one of his more glaring indiscretions finally ended his somewhat tarnished career at the hotel. He was succeeded as manager by John Cota, who worked tirelessly and successfully to bring some order out of the chaos left by his predecessor.

In the mid 1980's, Plantation Inn began to reap public accolades to go along with the private acclaim that had long held it in such good stead amongst the ranks of high society. The hotel was twice mentioned in Rene Lecler’s book, 300 Best Hotels in the World, and received similar accolades in Courvoisier’s Book of the Best, edited by Lord Lichfield.

Throughout the years, this resort has always been a magnet for the rich, famous, privileged, powerful, aristocratic and worthy, such as various members of the British Royal Family, the Earl of Mansfield and Mansfield, Sir Winston Churchill, Richard Nixon, Pierre Trudeau, Prince Ernst of Hanover (the husband of Princess Caroline of Monaco), the younger brother of the Maharajah of Jaipur, Mr. & Mrs. Stanhope Joel, of the South African diamond dynasty, and Mrs. Coretta Scott King, the widow of Martin Luther King Jr.

Stars of the stage, screen and recording studio have also long flocked to Royal Plantation, drawn by its promise of peace and its ability to act as a secluded refuge from the hordes of adoring fans, the unwelcome glare of publicity and the ever mounting pressures and demands of celebrity. Luminaries such as Eartha Kitt and Australian film star, Peter Finch, gladly retreated to this plush haven where they were welcomed warmly and discreetly, by the expertly trained staff who treated them like honored guests, rather than merely celebrities—a characteristic of Royal Plantation’s hospitality that has always been greatly appreciated by our more recognizable visitors.

Artists, art patrons and art lovers have always found a home at Royal Plantation, where, to this day, fine art weekends with world-renowned local artists occur monthly and exquisite, original paintings line the walls. The tradition began in the 1950’s when English playwright, Noel Coward, would often bring guests here to dine from his nearby home, Firefly, on the inn’s gourmet cuisine. And popular author, Ian Fleming, would take breaks from writing his James Bond novels and come here from his house, Goldeneye, to enjoy the amiable company and gourmet fare. Richmond Barthe, the renowned American sculptor, frequently stayed here as well.

As time passed, the artistic theme continued. Anthony and Jean Watson, one-time owners of the hotel, started a charming practice that continues to this day when they began to host exclusive piano concerts in the upstairs Drawing Room. Some of the stellar performers who regaled guests at these recitals included Dame Moura Lympany from London, Ilan Rogoff of Israel and Lady Aberdeen, who was better known in her capacity as a conductor of the annual Opera Season held at her ancestral home, Haddo House, in Aberdeen, Scotland.

In the 21st Century Royal Plantation’s reputation for excellence and opulence has been resuscitated and rejuvenated by its current owner, the internationally renowned hotelier and entrepreneur, Gordon “Butch” Stewart, who purchased the inn in 2000 and rapidly restored it to its former glory. A native of Ocho Rios, who spent his formative years in this very town, Stewart spent his childhood dreaming of owning this sublimely sophisticated resort—today his wishes have been fulfilled beyond even his wildest expectations.

In its current incarnation as Royal Plantation, the hotel again thrives, acting as a beacon for those discerning few who accept only the best and demand a transcendent level of excellence. Plantation Inn’s guest list once read like an issue of Who’s Who and, in the present day, Royal Plantation continues to uphold that storied standard. Today, as you stroll across our manicured gardens and through our lavishly adorned halls, you’ll most likely hear the very same sounds that have always made this spot so sought-after—the clinking of martini glasses, the tinkling of piano keys and the laughter and witty banter ringing out—all a triumphant signal that Royal Plantation’s halcyon days have returned, promising a whole new era of unforgettable memories.