Hotel Overview

Resort History: How a Crescent-Shaped Beach Became a Legendary Resort

In 1954, a group of wealthy individuals—including Donald Deskey, designer of Radio City Music Hall; Harvey Firestone, Jr. of The Firestone Tire and Rubber Company; Richard Reynolds of the Reynolds Metal Company and Jamaican bauxite company; oil and real-estate entrepreneur Curtis Steuart and Mrs. Laurence Armour of U.S. meat packaging giant Armour Packing Company—chose to build an exclusive vacation resort on a perfectly shaped crescent beach that they aptly named "Half Moon." That same year, Half Moon Hotel & Cottage Colony officially opened with 17 whitewashed cottages overlooking Half Moon Bay and 30 beachfront homes.

As it does today, the resort attracted many luminaries of the day including Joan Crawford and her husband Alfred Steel (CEO of Pepsi-Cola), Clark Gable and HRH Princess Margaret. Other notable past guests include HRH Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip and HRH The Prince of Wales; Prince Rainer of Monaco; former United States President John F. and Jacqueline Kennedy; and George H. W. Bush when he was Vice President.

Over the years, Half Moon has undergone several renovations and additions, including the transformation of its signature villa, Fern Tree, into the award-winning Fern Tree, The Spa at Half Moon™. Eleven of the original cottages remain, a tribute to the legacy of the founders, whose descendants remain as resort shareholders.

In early December 2010, RockResorts (a subsidiary of Vail Resorts, Inc.) announced that it was adding Half Moon to its luxury resort collection. On Jan. 1, 2011, RockResorts took over management of all resort operations and Half Moon became part of the RockResorts brand, with the official name of Half Moon, A RockResort.

Founded in 1956 in the Caribbean by Laurance Rockefeller, RockResorts was acquired and re-launched by Vail Resorts in 2001. To this day, the environmental vision continues, with RockResorts’ collection of luxury properties in the United States and Caribbean focused on providing guests with exceptional experiences in spectacular natural settings. In particular, RockResorts has become known for its innovative environmental programs, superb cuisine using locally grown and sustainable ingredients, exquisite spas with locally inspired treatments, and welcoming hospitality from its friendly and attentive staff.

Environmental Responsibility

Like RockResorts, Half Moon is committed to the protection and preservation of the environment for the benefit of local citizens, resort guests and future generations. A Green Globe-certified resort, Half Moon has a dedicated team of staff volunteers (headed by the resort’s Environmental Manager) whose mission is to speadhead, teach and institute environmental best practices both at the resort and in designated local communities. In addition to managing the resort’s environmental programme, the team identifies environmental risks, records and monitors environmental impacts and implements environmental and sustainability measures. Learn more about Half Moon’s Environmental and Community Outreach Programmes.

Today: A Jewel of the Caribbean

Situated on two miles of white-sand beach in Rose Hall, Jamaica, the 400-acre Half Moon offers 398 guest rooms, suites, villas and cottages. In addition, this luxury resort features the award-winning Fern Tree Spa, a Robert Trent Jones, Sr.-designed 18-hole golf course, 13 tennis courts, a teen centre, a Children’s Village, an equestrian centre, 54 swimming pools, six restaurants, seven bars, a Dolphin Lagoon and more.

Learn more about Half Moon’s elegant accommodations, array of amenities and seemingly endless activities. You can also view our photo gallery, access up-to-date weather statistics and map detailed directions to the resort.

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Rose Hall, Jamaica, W.I.