Villa Description
Currently NOT accepting reservations after October 2010.
Sitting high in the lush landscape of Cockpit Country stands a rustic Eighteenth Century Great House named Good Hope. On 2,000 acres 600’ above sea level, Good Hope is framed by dramatic blue-gray mountains and renowned for its excellent food, outdoor activities and country trails. Its grounds are fertile with papaya, oranges, ackee, breadfruit, bananas and coconuts as well as fields of flowers and grasses where cows and horses graze. The country road up from Falmouth weaves by 200-year-old stone fences past fields and orchards, cattle and horses ... gently leading back in time to a quiet era of a more peaceful, healthy and idyllic lifestyle.
This magical perch commands sweeping views of the Queen of Spain Valley, endless acres of plantation land and the refreshing Martha Brae River that wanders through thick bamboo forests below. The entire panorama takes in 20,000 acres of softly rolling mountains whose velvet texture changes with the light hour by hour. While extraordinarily private, this remarkable site is only a 45-minute drive east of the Montego Bay airport and 19 minutes from the beach.
Built in 1755 in classic Georgian style, the Great House was owned by the Tharpe and Tenison families in past centuries. Its current owners have lovingly updated the buildings while retaining many original features, including the first hot water bath in the Caribbean made in late 1700’s and 14’ tall Palladian windows trimmed with plantation shutters. The floors creak, the tall windows squeak, the feeling is a magical trip back in time. Yet, today’s guests enjoy modern comforts and gracious service in this unique home atop a working plantation. Rooms are appointed with antiques. Polished rare wood floors are throughout. Guests may enjoy tennis, hiking through the luxuriant unspoiled grounds, and horseback riding (100 miles of trails, different trail rides possible each day from mountaintop to cool riverbed through untouched bush country). Good Hope has hosted countless ambassadorial parties and fashion shoots (Vogue, Guess, Mademoiselle, Travel & Leisure, Elle) ... and has been beloved as a perfect setting for weddings and family reunions. It would be remiss not to mention the sounds of Good Hope. To stand still for several moments invites the sounds of horses neighing across the valley, the braying of a distant donkey, perhaps the bawling of a calfing cow, the chirping of birds and merely the wind. Stopping quietly to listen is part of the magic of Good Hope. Here is a tranquil, spiritually uplifting retreat.
Food at Good Hope is extraordinary. Its chefs rank with the best. Favorites are grilled tenderloin, curried shrimp and blackened snapper as well as homemade hors d’oeuvres, soups and desserts. Mealtime at Good Hope will be one of your fondest memories. Guests are asked to prepay for groceries ($45 per adult per day, $25 for children 12 and under). Wine, liquor, soft drinks, bottled water and snacks are additional and are billed locally.
Trail rides will cost $45 per person. Youngsters too small for trail rides can be led around the stable yard by one of the grooms. Older children love to wake early and help the grooms round up the horses.
ACCOMMODATIONS
THE GREAT HOUSE
3 BEDROOMS Sitting Room, Music Room, Dining Room and Bar with pool table
Barley Room Queensize bed, en-suite bathroom with tub/shower combination
Copper Room Queensize bed, en-suite bathroom with antique 18th Century copper tub and shower
Blue Room Optional twin beds or 1 kingsize bed, en-suite bathroom with tub/shower combination
COUNTING HOUSE
1 BEDROOM
Romantic queen-bedded room with bath in the former Counting House for the farm.
CARRIAGE HOUSE
6 BEDROOMS *
Partners Room
Queensize bed, en-suite bathroom with tub/shower combination, 2 antique wardrobes.
Tharpe Room
Kingsize or twin beds, en-suite bathroom with tub/shower combination.
Tenison Room
Queensize bed, en-suite bathroom with tub/shower combination.
Williams Room
Twin 4-poster beds, en-suite bathroom with tub/shower combination
Thompson Room
Twin 4-poster beds, en-suite bathroom with tub/shower combination
Sitting Room Upstairs room with 3 additional twin beds for children, shares the upstairs hall bathroom
STUDIO Queensize bed, en-suite bathroom (below family room)
No televisions or telephones are in the bedrooms. A cordless telephone is in the Good Hope kitchen. A second phone, fax machine and computer with Internet access are in the Great House office.
RIVER COTTAGE
3 air-conditioned bedrooms ... each with bath or shower: 1 full, 1 queen,
1 king or 2 twins
Swimming pool
Living room with TV, VCR, sound system
Shaded verandah trimmed in lacy bamboo
Staffed by cook/housekeeper/laundress and butler/gardener
Next to the river ... 2-minute walk across 300-year-old stone bridge to a delightful
swimming hole with a rope swing and floating platform in a green bamboo garden.
Have cookouts at the river as often as you wish.
All twin beds can be kissed together as kingsize beds. While Good Hope can accommodate 33 guests, its configuration in individual buildings and cottages makes it perfectly suitable for 2 or 3 couples or a small family.
Good Hope`s Private Beach
Fifteen minutes down the mountain from Good Hope is its own beautiful private, white sand beach on 1.5 acres of pristine undeveloped property. The adjacent property is 22 acres of more long, lovely private beach. Wonderful swimming may be enjoyed and it is protected by a live reef. Its beach house is a charming new stone cottage with commercial kitchen, bathrooms, bar, nap room, upper deck and an outdoor shower folly fed by a hollow bamboo. Both beach towels and chaises are provided. Water toys, snorkels and kayaks are complimentary. Jet skis may be rented for additional fees. The Good Hope cooks will pack picnic baskets of delicious lunches and drinks for you to take with you
OTHER ACTIVITIES
West of Good Hope:
* Golf is 45 minutes west at three excellent courses: Cinnamon Hill, Half Moon and White Witch
* Windsurfing is 22 minutes away at Bounty Bay
* Silver Sands is a 30-minute drive east ... half mile of white sand beach, good swimming and dining
* Bamboo poled rafting down the Martha Brae River is just 20 minutes away, Windsor Caves are nearby for caving
* Half Moon Golf, Tennis & Beach Club is 45 minutes west. Golf course; tennis; deep sea fishing; sailing, windsurfing, snorkeling and scuba diving; more horseback riding; biking; spa, massage and hairdresser; shopping village; medical center; bars, restaurants, nightclub. The Ritz Carlton Hotel is adjacent to Half Moon.
East of Good Hope: Lively Ocho Rios ... 55 minutes east
* Dolphin Cove. Swim with the dolphins! Wear swimsuits and take towels, no jewelry. Reservations required with credit card deposit. Open every day. 8:30-5:30. 974-5335 or 795-0484 www.dolphincovejamaica.com
* Dunn's River Falls Wear swimsuits and water shoes (or you can rent them there) and climb the falls with guides.
Play on the beach and take a swim. Take your camera! Take dry clothes and have lunch
at Evita’s Italian Restaurant
WEDDINGS AT GOOD HOPE
* Nearest Hotel for additional guests ... PEBBLES is 15 minutes from Good Hope (Falmouth) 876-617-2495.
* Rose Hall Hotel is 30 minutes from Good Hope (Falmouth).
Guests staying at either of these can be shuttled to Good Hope.
Beachfront 
Pool - 18ft x 30ft
