West End, Grand Bahama
Encyclopedia
West End is the oldest town and westernmost settlement on the Bahamian island of Grand Bahama
. It is the current capital of Grand Bahama
, contrary to the belief that Freeport City is the capital of the island. It is also the third largest settlement in the Bahamas
. There is one airport in West End, West End Airport
, which serves mostly cargo aircraft.
It achieved notoriety as a rum-running
port during prohibition. In the 1950s development began on the Grand Bahama Club and Jack Tar marina, which opened in 1960. However, over the years the marina fell into disrepair and the whole city of West End was of little economic import to Grand Bahama. In 2001, the marina was purchased by Holding Capital Group which renamed it Old Bahama Bay. Significant renovations followed including complete refurbishment of the docks, many new canals cut for luxury home sites, luxury condos built, and restaurants built.
In 2009 the Ginn Company defaulted on a $650 million Credit Suisse loan which a major portion of the loan was used to fund Ginn Sur Mer. The project once pegged at $5 billion would have included thousands of home sites, 4 star resort hotel, two golf courses, airport and mega yacht marina has now come to a complete halt. Bogged down with numerous United States lawsuits filed by disgruntled buyers who alleged that Robert (Bobby) Ginn sold land that appears to have been owned by several Bahamian families who have resided for generations in the historic settlement. The lawsuits filed in the U.S. and Bahamas courts are still ongoing.
Grand Bahama
Grand Bahama is one of the northernmost of the islands of the Bahamas, and the closest major island to the United States, lying off the state of Florida. Grand Bahama is the fifth largest island in the Bahamas island chain of approximately 700 islands and 2,400 cays...
. It is the current capital of Grand Bahama
Grand Bahama
Grand Bahama is one of the northernmost of the islands of the Bahamas, and the closest major island to the United States, lying off the state of Florida. Grand Bahama is the fifth largest island in the Bahamas island chain of approximately 700 islands and 2,400 cays...
, contrary to the belief that Freeport City is the capital of the island. It is also the third largest settlement in the Bahamas
The Bahamas
The Bahamas , officially the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, is a nation consisting of 29 islands, 661 cays, and 2,387 islets . It is located in the Atlantic Ocean north of Cuba and Hispaniola , northwest of the Turks and Caicos Islands, and southeast of the United States...
. There is one airport in West End, West End Airport
West End Airport
West End Airport is an airport that serves Grand Bahama. While smaller than the other airport on the island located in Freeport, this airport has two runways each in length. This airport was recently re-opened and serves mostly cargo aircraft. The main runway is runway 10 and is the westernmost...
, which serves mostly cargo aircraft.
It achieved notoriety as a rum-running
Rum-running
Rum-running, also known as bootlegging, is the illegal business of transporting alcoholic beverages where such transportation is forbidden by law...
port during prohibition. In the 1950s development began on the Grand Bahama Club and Jack Tar marina, which opened in 1960. However, over the years the marina fell into disrepair and the whole city of West End was of little economic import to Grand Bahama. In 2001, the marina was purchased by Holding Capital Group which renamed it Old Bahama Bay. Significant renovations followed including complete refurbishment of the docks, many new canals cut for luxury home sites, luxury condos built, and restaurants built.
In 2009 the Ginn Company defaulted on a $650 million Credit Suisse loan which a major portion of the loan was used to fund Ginn Sur Mer. The project once pegged at $5 billion would have included thousands of home sites, 4 star resort hotel, two golf courses, airport and mega yacht marina has now come to a complete halt. Bogged down with numerous United States lawsuits filed by disgruntled buyers who alleged that Robert (Bobby) Ginn sold land that appears to have been owned by several Bahamian families who have resided for generations in the historic settlement. The lawsuits filed in the U.S. and Bahamas courts are still ongoing.
Additional Sources
- http://www.grandbahamavacations.com/about-the-island/towns-and-settlements/
- http://population.mongabay.com/population/bahamas/3571224/west-end
- http://www.papayashouse.net/downloads/west%20nov.pdf