44262 Salt Cay Brochure.qxd

44262 Salt Cay Brochure.qxd
5/18/06
11:26 AM
Page 1
The White House
District Commisioner’s Office
From the southwest corner of the schoolyard, the two-story
building visible in the far distance to the southwest is the Old
Commissioner’s office, another beautiful example of Caribbean
architecture. The building has been unused for many years and
is no longer safe to enter, but it is definitely worth a look from
the outside.
Immediately to the right (west) beyond the schoolyard is the
ruin of an old salt storage “shed” in the traditional Salt Cay
stone design.
The next site, probably Salt Cay’s most famous architectural site,
is the ruin of the Harriott salt merchant’s operation, as well as the
still-occupied Harriott home, the two and one half story White
House. Completed in 1840 to replace the original Harriott home
that had been destroyed by a 15-foot hurricane tidal surge in
1813, the White House has the stone roof and other features
common to homes seen in Bermuda today. On the ocean side of
the White House is a protected mini-harbor where the long boats
were brought ashore and loaded with salt. The salt was brought
to the site by donkey cart, ground and bagged into burlap bags,
and hung to drip onto the sloping floor of the shipping warehouse
before being loaded into the boats waiting below. Unfortunately,
the ruins are not safe for entry today, and should be viewed from
the outside.
The White House, the Harriott salt facility, the ponds to the east
of the White House and the open area to the south were among
the locations prominently featured in the 1941 movie Bahama
Passage, which was filmed on Salt Cay.
From the famous crowd scene site just to the south of White
House the road that goes off to the southwest across the ponds
can be used to reach the Old Commissioner’s House and the
South Creek. En route, signs direct the visitor to Pat’s Place
where you can sample Pat’s famous cracked conch and other
local delicacies.
Continuing south on Victoria Street from the White House, the
next building is H&P Enterprises, another good place to get a soft
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drink, camera batteries, etc. Beyond H&P, the first road going
east will lead to the Old Commissioner’s House. The second
road going east leads to Smith’s Store, again a good place for
drinks and other supplies. Beyond Smith’s store is the Salt Cay
Cricket Field and Community Center on the right. This road
leads to the backside of the Old Commissioner’s House.
Both of the South District east-west roads will eventually lead
to the South Creek. Famous for shelling, bird watching and its
blue hole, the South Creek was a deep-water port as recently
as 100 years ago. Today, it is completely silted in with fine,
white sand. The wading is warm and wonderful, but be
careful not to be caught too far out when the swift-moving tide
comes rolling in. There is a bird watching shelter to the
southwest side of the creek.
Restaurants & Pubs
Accommodations:
Coral Reef Bar & Grill
Salt Cay Divers
Ph: 649-946-6940
Compass Rose Cottage
www.saltcay.us
Ph: 559-222-7282/Fax: 559-222-1243
E-mail: info@saltcay.us
Green Flash Café
www.saltcaytours.net
Deane’s Doc
Ph: 649-946-6904
Island Thyme Bistro & I/T Pizza Kitchen
www.islandthyme.tc
North District
Ph/Fax: 649-946-6977
Email: pwiii@aol.com
Mt. Pleasant Bar & Restaurant
North District
Ph: 946-6927
Pat’s Place
www.saltcay.org/patindex.htm
South District
Ph: 946-6919
Gift Shops
Art Gallery & Gift Shop
Island Thyme Bistro
Splash Boutique
Salt Cay Divers
The Salty Conch
Windmills Plantation
Recreation
Pirate’s Hideaway
Continuing south along Victoria Street beyond the streets of
South District will bring you to the Pirate’s Hideaway
guesthouse. Immediately across the street from Pirate’s
Hideaway is the beachfront Periwinkle Park. For the intrepid
hiker, more than a mile further south is a high sand dune
overlooking the South Point and a lovely beach for snorkeling.
Adventures Unlimited
E-mail: windmillsaltcay@tciway.tc
Ph: 649-946-6962/Fax: 649-946-6930
Salt Cay Divers
www.scdivers.tc
Ph: 649-946-6906/Fax: 649-946-6940
E-mail: scdivers@tciway.tc
Salt Cay Tours
www.saltcaytours.net
Ph: 649-946-6904
E-mail: saltcaytours@gmail.com
Published and Copyrighted by Island Thyme Bistro.
Other portions copyrighted by Elinor Davies, Nelson Hay, &
Porter Williams
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www.saltcay.org
Salt Cay
Visitors Guide
Hyacinth Cottage
www.hyacinthcottage.com
Ph: 649-946-6906
E-mail: scdivers@tciway
Mt. Pleasant Guest House
www.mtpleasantsaltcay.com
Ph/Fax: 649-946-6927
Email:mtpdiver@aol.com
Quarry
Cottages
Pirates Hideaway
www.pirateshideaway.com
Ph/Fax: 649-946-6909
Email: piratequeen3@hotmail.com
Purple Conch Cottage
www.purpleconch.com
Toll Free PH: 866-791-2667/Salt Cay PH: 649-946-6969
U.S. Phone: 202-550-5235
Email: purpleconch@att.net
The Vistas
www.saltcay.net
Ph: 649-946-6906/Fax: 649-946-6940
Email: scdivers@tciway.tc
Owner: Ph: 919-571-0207/Fax: 919-847-0780
E-Mail: gwkane@nc.rr.com
Sandy Toes
www.saltcay.org/sandytoes/index.htm
Ph: 649-946-6940
Salina
Windmills
Plantation
Whale
House Bay
Lighthouse
Airport
Nettie’s
Island
Thyme
Mount Pleasant
Coral Reef
Green Flash
Ruin
Taylor’s
Hall
Tradewinds
Mangroves
Villa
Frangipani
Salina
Hyacinth
Cottage
White House
Sandy toes
Sunset Reef
Pat’s Place
The Vistas
Pirate’s
Hideaway
Compass
Rose
Sunset Reef Villas
www.sunsetreef.com
Ph/Fax: 649-941-7753
Phone: 649-232-1029/Cell: 649-242-6540
Email: sunsetreef@aol.com
Tradewinds Guest Suites
www.tradewinds.tc
Phone: 649-946-6906/Fax: 649-946-6940
E-mail: tradewinds@tciway.tc
Windmills Plantation
www.windmillsplantation.com
Ph: 649-946-6962/Fax: 649-946-6930
E-mail: windmillsaltcay@tciway.tc
Self Guided Tours
Compliments of:
Villa Frangipani
www.saltcayvilla.com
Phone: 649-946-6909
E-mail: info@saltcayvilla.com
Island Thyme Bistro
www.islandthyme.tc
www.saltcay.org
www.saltcay.org
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Welcome To Our Island!
All sixty-three of us are glad that you are here. We
hope you have a mystical time enjoying the magical
“Salt Cay Experience”.
Salt Cay is a blending of contradictions-old & new,
mystery and simplicity, hardship and high hopes, solitude
and solid community-that has conspired to create the
magical patchwork quality of Salt Cay life. It is a reality
onto itself, with isolated sugar-sand beaches, rugged iron
shore coastlines and unique pockets of local island
history and traditions, which add depth and dimension to
it’s island flavor.
The spectacular underwater adventures and the
stunningly remote and pristine beaches of Salt Cay are
known and loved by scuba divers and water-friendly
travelers worldwide.
Salt Cay is virtually undeveloped and is a peace-seeker’s
delight. Many are surprised to learn that less than 100
years ago, the island boasted over 1,100 residents and
was considered the economic hub of the Turks & Caicos’
salt industry. Today it is a remnant of a life and a
tradition not quite forgotten. Salt Cay whispers a
haunting and wistful sonata of solitude among the
abandoned ruins and relics of the past.
AROUND THE ISLAND:
Our sun is intense. Protect yourself with
sunscreen and sunglasses.
Dehydration happens quickly. Drink plenty
of fluids.
Whales are gentle giants, respect them.
Dining is a casual affair. Reservations are always
recommended, especially for dinner.
Water is precious. Please conserve it!
Our terrain is tough and vehicles are fragile.
Wear modest clothing on the roads, at the dock
and in the restaurants.
Livestock have the right of way. Keep to the left.
Our reefs are pristine…protect them!
www.saltcay.org
SELF GUIDED TOURS
Tours begin on Deane’s Dock at the harbor.
Tour 1
The Dock area is a great
place to pick up a snack or a
beverage. Try Coral Reef
Bar & Grill or the Green
Flash Café.
Face east (away from the
Coral Reef Bar & Grill water), and turn to your left
(north). To reach stunning
views of Salt Cay and of the surrounding waters with Grand Turk
in the distance, follow the road one-half mile to the top of the
ridge. En route you’ll pass the Mt. Pleasant Guest House on your
right, built in 1832 and formerly
owned for many years by the Morgan
family. A Government water catchment
and cistern are located on the left near
the ocean.
Tour 2
Tour 3
Tour 4
Again facing east from Deane’s Dock, follow the Airport Road
straight ahead. Nettie’s Store, on the right, is a “out island”
grocery store, and a good place to pick up a soft drink or candy
bar for your hike. Next to
Nettie’s is the Island Thyme
Bistro a fun place for
breakfast, lunch, & dinner.
The libations are potent, the
pizza the best and you can
hear the latest happenings
“on island.” Maybe a howl
Nettie’s
or two?
Instead of taking the North Beach Road, turn to the right (south)
on a rocky road, disguised as a cow path (Peckman’s Highway).
Just before the airport Peckman’s Highway will take you in about
one-half mile to the base of Taylor’s Hill, site of a ruin reported
as a former whale watching station and an eccentric salt
merchant’s home—perhaps it was both. It is known that the
Turks Island Whaling Company was in operation in Salt Cay in
1845. The 360-degree view is worth the climb, which is 59 feet
above sea level. Be careful to avoid the acacia thorns. Taylor’s
Hill is privately owned.
The small island visible
just offshore is Whale
Island, where whales
were brought ashore and
butchered in the old days
of small-scale local
whaling.
Facing east at Deane’s Dock. Straight ahead, right across the
road, is one of the Turks and Caicos Government’s cisterns that
supply water to Salt Cay. An underground pipe connects this
cistern to water catchments and cisterns in the northeast and
south central areas of the island. Turn right (south) onto Victoria
Street to begin the tour.
Beyond Nettie’s and still only about one tenth mile from Deane’s
Dock, the Salt Cay Methodist Church is on the right. While a
classic example of British colonial architecture, the church was
actually built by newly freed slaves in the 1840s. Renovation
efforts have been ongoing since 1996. The church is open to the
public—just go on in. There is no charge, but contributions
would be welcomed. Mrs. Alice Selver, a Methodist who lives
across the road, can tell you how to contribute.
Further along, notice the two graves in
the bushes on your left, rumored to be
Green Flash
pirate graves, but in any case very old
Cafe
and unusual in being located near the
beach rather than in one of the four cemeteries on the island.
Bear left around the edge of the pond at the foot of the ridge,
since the pond bottom can be muddy even in the dry season.
At the top of the ridge (Little Bluff Lookout) next to the sitting
bench is a British cannon from the late 18th century where it is
said the Bermudan Militia was stationed to protect Salt Cay from
the French, who would periodically raid the island for salt.
From Little Bluff Lookout, the view to
the north and east is of Salt Cay’s
spectacular North Beach. Nearby
Cotton Cay is visible just beyond the
Windmills Plantation beachfront
resort, which is one of the top rated
resorts in the Caribbean.
Continuing east less than a
mile will bring you to the
Salt Cay Airport. En route,
you will pass the Church of
God of Prophecy and the
Salt Cay Police Station.
There is a public telephone
at the airport.
Just before the airport, the
road has branches going off
to the left and right. Turning left (north) here will take you to the
North Beach. Passing the Windmills Plantation, there is a public
beach access marked by a stand of Australian pine (casuarina)
trees about a mile from the airport. Snorkeling on the close-in
reefs is, again, world class.
Island Thyme Bistro
For truly world-class snorkeling,
continue north along the path to Point
Pleasant. In addition to the coral and
tropical fish on top of the triangular
reef, to the east side there is a drop-off
Windmills
of up to 25 feet, with caves, overhangs,
Plantation
sponges and giant corals along the reef
wall. Turtles, rays and conchs are abundant here, in addition to
a wide variety of reef fish.
Pre-Columbian Arawaks & Tianos are believed to have once
occupied the area of the island to the east and south of the public
beach access. This is also a
favorite home of the now
endangered Turks and
Caicos iguana, which can
well exceed two feet in
length. Look for the iguana
tail tracks crossing the
road—they
look
like
Methodist Church
someone has drawn a line in
the sand with a stick.
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2
Mt. Pleasant
Guesthouse
We can’t leave Taylor Hill without addressing an old piece of
folklore. There are “mysterious” mounds of rocks on the top of
the hill. As a matter of fact an islander, Olwaldo who was born
and raised on Salt Cay prides himself as a local historian, notes
with a chuckle there is “nothing at all mysterious about them!”
He claims they are merely the result of the previous landowners’
efforts to clear the property for plantings and to make more
stonewalls.
The main salt pond dominates the view to the west, as it
apparently has since the Tianos occupied the island hundreds of
years before Columbus.
After the Bermudan
salt rakers arrived in
1645 they developed
the ponds for saltmaking, utilizing slave
labor to build the
system of canals, walls,
sluices and windmills,
the remains of which
Salt Cay Airport
can be seen today.
Continuing south on the Taylor’s Hill road will take you over the
east canal and sluice gates that provide and regulate the seawater
supply for the salt ponds.
This road connects up with east-west streets in South District in
about one half mile from Taylor’s Hill. Turning right (west) on
one of these streets will permit you to link up with Salt Cay’s
main north-south road, Victoria Street, and complete a full circle
back to Deane’s Dock (See Tour 4 for attractions en route).
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The first building, at the southwest corner of Airport Road, is an
old salt shed that is now used as Government storage shed.
Shortly beyond that the road crosses the west inlet canal and
sluice gates for the salt ponds. Just beyond the bridge, you will
pass the Tradewinds Guest Suites.
In two tenths of a mile
you’ll come to St. John’s
Anglican Church, which
was built in the 1790s.
Besides
being
an
architectural treasure, St.
John’s is a step into the past,
and its cemetery is the final
resting place of a number of
St. John’s
Salt Cay’s salt merchants
Anglican Church
and other notables. Notice
the beautiful Bermuda chimney in the old kitchen house by the
sea just across the alley to the north of St. John’s. To the east
across the ponds is a beautiful view of Taylor’s Hill.
Continuing south on Victoria Street, the next structure of note is
the old Brown House. The Brown House, one of the few old
wooden structures to survive the hurricanes over the years, was a
salt merchant’s home, built in the 1840s, if not before. This is
probably the oldest surviving wooden structure on the island,
since many were destroyed in the hurricane of 1945 and earlier
hurricanes. In typical fashion, the living quarters are upstairs,
while the basement was used for salt storage. The Brown House
is famous for its beautiful verandas, hand-made window louvers
and high ceilings.
Continuing south another one tenth of a mile, notice the derelict
building with the blue door and rusty roof. This was the
headquarters of the old Salt Cay Benevolent Society, through
which the islanders cooperated to provide funds for funeral
expenses, emergency loans, etc. before the advent of the TCI’s
National Insurance.
Right next to the old Benevolent Society building is the Salt Cay
Library, Salt Cay Clinic, a Government medical clinic with a
resident nurse, followed by the Mary Robinson Primary School
and the District Commissioner’s office. There is a public
telephone at the Commissioner’s office.
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