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Invercauld Great House along the waterfront between town and the hospital is the most striking structure in Black River, with well-preserved Georgian architecture. The great house was built in 1894 by Patrick Leydon. It was for many years a hotel but has fallen out of use and sits idle within its gated compound.
Invercauld Great House along the waterfront between town and the hospital is the most striking structure in Black River, with well-preserved Georgian architecture. The great house was built in 1894 by Patrick Leydon. It was for many years a hotel but has fallen out of use and sits idle within its gated compound.
Luana Orchid Farm (admission US$5) offers formal tours by appointment only to check out the 150,000-odd local and foreign orchid plants at the 1.5-acre farm. Dr. Bennett has bred several new varieties himself. The farm is located on the northern outskirts of Black River along the road between Black River and Middle Quarters, opposite Luana Sports Club and quarry.
Theater
Jamaica has a vibrant tradition in theater, pantomime, and spoken word performances, with annual shows and competitions sponsored by the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (www.jcdc.org.jm). Events are held throughout the year but come to a head during the weeks around Emancipation and Independence in early August.
Gambling was, until recently, illegal in Jamaica, while "gaming" was not, so long as you are 18 and over. Off-track betting (OTB) is supported by nearby Caymanas Park racetrack with OTB outlets across the island carrying local as well as overseas races.
If your goal is to hit the main sights and take in a bit of the South Coast culture, a night or two in Black River, a few days in Treasure Beach, and a night in Mandeville is probably sufficient. Treasure Beach is one of those places where a certain type of person falls into the groove immediately and finds it very difficult to leave.
Thankfully, Jamaica's South Coast is a welcome respite from the hustling that goes on in virtually every other area of the island that participates in the tourism industry. The most important dangers and annoyances in the region are accordingly more nature-oriented than human-related.
An important economic center in years past, especially for the export of logwood and mahogany, Black River is today a quiet literal and littoral backwater parish capital, with the main tourist attraction being the river at the heart of town that serves as the entry point into the Great Morass.
Carib Cinema plays Hollywood films (Cross Roads, box office tel. 876/926-6106, movie times tel. 876/906-1090, www.palaceamusement.com, typical show times 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. daily, admission US$6).
The parishes of Portland and St. Thomas form Jamaica's easternmost region and contain the island's least exploited natural treasures. A quiet town in the center of Portland's coast affectionately known as "Portie," Port Antonio boasts some of Jamaica's most secluded beaches among a handful of other stunning natural wonders.
