Island Boasts Major Hotels and Villas, Golf Courses and More in Various Stages of Development
Basseterre, St. Kitts – St. Kitts is taking its tourism product to the next level with a number of new developments designed to attract visitors to the island, all of which demonstrate its dedication to becoming “the next Caribbean adventure” while remaining true to its culture, heritage and natural beauty.
Projects that are currently planned or underway
Beaumont Park Racetrack
Aiming to provide a new type of entertainment on St. Kitts, construction is underway on the $17 million venue located in the Dieppe Bay region of northern St. Kitts that will be part of the Whitegate Development project. It will host horse and greyhound races and include a Grand Stand, stalls for 100 horses, a six furlong or three-quarter mile track, a butterfly garden and food and beverage outlets. There will be professional trainers and grooms to care for the horses and a partnership has been arranged with a U.S. jockey school. In addition, there will be special investment programs for individuals who would like to become a horse or greyhound owner.
Kittitian Heights
As another part of the Whitegate development, this 390-acre, $140 million project will include an 18-hole championship golf course complete with clubhouse, golf academy and more; boutique hotel in a series of Kittitian cottages; luxury villas built on ½ to 1 acre lots; St. Christopher’s Estate luxury townhouses and condominiums with a lagoon style swimming pool complex; luxury spa and wellness center; recording studio; Willet’s Bluff condominium apartments with infinity edge swimming pools; and an artist’s village around an open square housing cafes, restaurants, shops, studios, a cinema and studio apartments. Construction is expected to begin within the next six months. annually each winter, making for a myriad of natural splendor.
Cable Bay Resort and Villa Development
Scheduled to begin construction in January 2006, this $70 million project in the Frigate Bay area of St. Kitts will be comprised of a 300-room resort on 39 acres encompassing 160 villas along with a spa, clubhouse, pool and multiple restaurants. 150 rooms are scheduled for opening by March 2007 in time to accommodate guests visiting for the ICC Cricket World Cup.
Warner Park
In preparation for hosting the ICC World Cup Cricket Championships in 2007, this venue is being redeveloped into a modern sporting and entertainment facility that will feature a cricket stadium, player’s pavilion, soccer facilities, covered stands and food and beverage outlets. The stadium is currently under construction. The overall redevelopment of Warner Park, located in St. Kitts’ capital city of Basseterre, will cost $12 million with $6 million for the cricket facility.
Ottley’s Plantation Inn
This distinctive plantation inn has significantly extended its open-air Royal Palm restaurant, set adjacent to the pool and sharing the remaining walls of the plantation’s original sugar factory, with the addition of the “Ocean View” dining room. The room features its own bar and can accommodate 60 additional diners or up to 100 for a banquet. On the ocean side of the room is a finely woven mesh shade that pulls down to shield diners from inclement weather. The restaurant was awarded Fielding’s Five Star Restaurant Award and serves upscale Caribbean fare blending tastes from around the world. Ottley’s, set on 35 unspoiled acres of lush tropical grounds on the northern side of St. Kitts, has also added many new tropical plants to its lawns and upgraded its spa menu.
Marine World St. Kitts
Currently under construction on South Friar’s Bay Beach on the island’s southern peninsula, Marine World boasts 4 acres of world class facilities. It will feature a stingray lagoon, dolphin encounters including swimming with dolphins, an educational hut where visitors can learn about marine life, a beach bar and grill and a nature trail and aviary with tropical birds, butterflies and even a few local green vervet monkeys. The park will also showcase other interaction-friendly marine creatures such as sea lions and nurse sharks. In addition, Marine World St. Kitts will offer watersports that are carefully selected in order not to disturb the marine life. To provide the best possible environment for the dolphins, the park will have a marine biologist on site, large dolphin areas, constant filtration of seawater and maximum utilization of natural surroundings. Total cost of the project is approximately $16 million. Construction is expected to be complete for a summer 2006 opening.
The Estates on Sundance Ridge
Beginning construction in the first quarter of 2006, this project will consist of 15 luxury villas on 15 landscaped acres on the Southeast Peninsula of St. Kitts just south of the Frigate Bay area, boasting unobstructed panoramic views of the Atlantic, Caribbean and neighboring island of Nevis. The expansive villas will be set in a private, gated community and will feature a minimum of 5,300 sq. ft. of covered living space between the interior and the exterior verandahs. Each villa will be fully handicap-accessible and can be custom built to the buyer’s preferences based on either the “Solerno” or “Suncatcher” models. The Solerno features 3 bedrooms, 4 baths, kitchen, great room, dining room, garage and expansive verandah with swimming pool. The Suncatcher will also have these features but will have 5 baths, a home theater/gym area, study and climate controlled storage in approximately 7,500 sq. ft. Kitchen features include upscale wood/glass cabinetry and a full complement of stainless steel appliances including ice maker, wine refrigerator and under-counter plasma TV while Master Bath features include separate his/hers vanities, whirlpool tubs and dual-showers with ceramic tiling. Solar pool heating, interior/exterior spas, bidets, observation decks, interior fountains, verandah fireplaces and verandah kitchens may be added. Villa prices start at US $2.1 million.
Calypso Bay Resort
Situated on 14 manicured acres in the picturesque Frigate Bay area of St. Kitts, this property will contain 55 one, two and three bedroom villas as well as central facilities including an infiniti-edge swimming pool. Each villa will have ceramic tile flooring, Italian quartz or granite kitchen counters, pine ceiling boards, a garden area and optional plunge pools. Construction is underway and will be ongoing as villas are sold. Villa prices begin at US $295,000.
Sunrise Villas
Located in the Frigate Bay area of St. Kitts, these 39 villas will be constructed on 8.6 acres of scenic land overlooking the Royal St. Kitts Golf Club. Construction is expected to commence in October 2005 and be completed in December 2006.
In addition, other projects being implemented on St. Kitts that have been previously announced include: the 18-hole La Vallee Golf Course with driving range, clubhouse and land set aside for a marina, hotel/resort/villa complex, sports complex and expansion of the course to 27 holes; the 1,700 acre Auberge luxury resort development (previously known as the Whispering Head Resort project) including a small boutique hotel, luxury villas, spa, restaurants and an 18-hole championship golf course with clubhouse; Rawlins Plantation’s new cottages and spa; Heritage Plantation luxury villas with fitness center, spa, putting green, tennis court, pool, whirlpool, children’s playground and café; and the expansion of the Port Zante cruise facility with a second pier and retail shops including Kay’s Fine Jewelry and Boolchand’s. The island also recently announced a new tourism website with features including live chat and virtual tours.
“St. Kitts has begun the next chapter in our history with the closure of our 360-year old sugar industry and an increased focus on tourism as a revenue generator for the economy,” commented Richard “Ricky” O. Skerritt, Minister of State in the Ministry of Tourism, Sports and Culture for St. Kitts “We are pursuing many new projects that will enhance our tourism product, but with the utmost care and consideration for sustainable development in harmony with the natural beauty of St. Kitts. Our goal is to maintain a strong Kittitian flavor while establishing and maintaining the highest possible standards of service.”
