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Top Attractions in Oracabessa

James Bond Beach

James Bond Beach is a beach that sits on a small peninsula at Oracabessa Bay, about 10 miles from Ocho Rios on Jamaicas north coast. The beach has brightly painted changing rooms, a water sports centre, a bar, and a restaurant. It is surrounded by crystal clear water on three sides, and the mountains of St Mary reach straight down to the sea, a sight which serves as the beachs backdrop. Its expansive lawns are a regular venue for concerts by international artists such as Rihanna, Ziggy Marley, and Lauryn Hill. Scenes from the James Bond movie Dr. No were filmed at the beach. The two-story Moonraker bar, open on all sides, can hold up to 200 people; however, the only time it becomes full is during occasional jazz, blues, soca, and reggae concerts. The Bond-related décor is subdued, obvious only in the names of movies painted on small bamboo pieces that hang over the first-floor bar. There are no Bond souvenir stands. Celebrity friends of owner Chris Blackwell are known to stop by.

Golden Clouds

Golden Clouds was the name given by Ruth Bryan Owen, the first female US ambassador, to her house in Oracabessa, Jamaica. It is situated between Goldeneye, where Ian Fleming wrote many of the James Bond novels, and Noël Coward's Firefly Estate. The award-winning ocean front 11-bedroom estate is on 6 acres of manicured gardens with over 500 feet of shoreline and its own private beach. Owen oversaw the construction of the luxurious villa and entertained many famous guests there including Clark Gable, Carole Lombard, and Charlie Chaplin. Ambassador Owen purchased the property from Chris Blackwell's mother, Blanche, who at the time owned several thousand acres of real estate near Oracabessa, and had also sold properties to both Fleming and Coward. 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 musicians Willie Nelson and Jimmy Buffett, and film stars Denzel Washington and Robert De Niro. The villa has also hosted many weddings and is consistently ranked as one of the top Caribbean wedding destinations. In addition to being a popular wedding location, Golden Clouds has also served as a movie location and was featured in the film The Mighty Quinn, starring Denzel Washington, Robert Townsend, and Mimi Rogers. Golden Clouds has also been featured on several television shows including Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, and as a grand prize on The Price Is Right. Golden Cloud’s neoclassical architectural design was based on Casa Figueras, an 18th-century luxury villa that Owen stayed at during her first trip to Spain, and reflects Oracabessa's heritage as a Spanish settlement. In 1996, Golden Clouds received the prestigious Governor General's Award from the Jamaica Institute of Architects for its outstanding design, which combines historical elements with modern amenities. In 2009, Golden Clouds was purchased by bestselling author and musician Colin Simpson and his wife, Oksana. Colin Simpson is the great-great grandson of renowned slavery abolitionist James Phillippo who built the first church in the area and helped establish Oracabessa as one of Jamaica's first Free Villages. The Simpsons were married at Golden Clouds in 2001, and in an interview with The 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. One of Golden Cloud's most famous early guests was Charlie Chaplin, who was a good friend of original owner, Ruth Bryan Owen. In a note to Owen, Chaplin described Golden Clouds as "A wonderfully magical place where time stands still. It is, simply paradise." While these words were written over 100 years ago, very little has changed since that time, and guests still use words such as "magical" and "paradise" when describing their stay at Golden Clouds. Golden Clouds is located in the Oracabessa Bay Fish Sanctuary, which was established in 2010 to protect Oracabessa's marine ecosystem. Through investments by the Oracabessa Foundation, Seacology, and GEF, the Fish Sanctuary has reintroduced Sea turtles and thousands of new coral into 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. The reef located directly in front of Golden Clouds is one of the largest in Oracabessa Bay and is a popular dive destination due to its diverse reef structure, vibrant marine life, and close proximity to the Cayman Trough. This trough starts on the edge of the Fish Sanctuary with walls that begin at 60 ft. and drop down to over 150 ft. The walls are covered in a large variety of hard and soft corals and contain many overhangs and ledges that are home to lobsters, king crab, green and spotted moray eels, as well as a host of other marine creatures. Beyond the boundaries of the Oracabessa Bay Fish Sanctuary, the Cayman Trough plunges to depths of over 25,000 ft and is renowned for deep-water sport fishing including marlin and tuna.

Goldeneye

Goldeneye is the original name of James Bond novelist Ian Fleming's estate on Oracabessa bay on the northern coastline of Jamaica. He purchased land (15 acres (61,000 m2)) adjacent to the renowned Golden Clouds estate in 1946 and built his home on the edge of a cliff overlooking a private beach. Constructed from Fleming's sketch, the modest three bedroom structure was fitted with wooden jalousie windows and a swimming pool. Fleming's visitors at Goldeneye included actors, musicians and filmmakers. The property now operates as Goldeneye Hotel and Resort, an upmarket retreat consisting of Fleming's main house and several cottages. The estate is located in the Oracabessa Bay Fish Sanctuary, established in 2011 to protect the area's marine ecosystem. It is adjacent to James Bond Beach.
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