Great Escapes
Situated on the border of the parish of St. James and Hanover, Destiny is part of an exclusive residential enclave tucked away high in the hills. Here you glimpse some of the most fabulous homes with names such as Silent Waters, Great River House, River Mist …
You wake up in the clouds under a veil of morning mist, and as it rises slowly the majesty of the Blue Mountains unfolds before you.
Simply breathtaking.
Nothing stands between you and the dense primeval forest on the steep mountainside, except of course the Great River, a sheer drop some 500 ft. below.
This was the view that captivated Chicago attorney John Kearney, who was so enchanted with the place that was to change his destiny... it’s one of those life stories, unbelievable but true:
John came to Jamaica for the first time in 1982 with friends for a three-day break. Quite simply he fell in love with the island: “it’s just a beautiful place, with beautiful people,” he says. On leaving, he asked a friend to look out for any properties for sale, as he was interested in buying. By the time his plane landed back in Chicago, the friend called to say he had found somewhere. That turned out to be a villa at Tryall, which he bought. “Trips to the island became more frequent, and I grew to love the place more and more. After four years I made one of those life-changing decisions - I packed my bags leaving the corporate world behind, and moved to Jamaica to start a new life.”
His first venture was in the restaurant business: “I bought Marguerites, Fine Dining Restaurant and Beer Garden on the coastal hip strip in Montego Bay, which over the years turned into Margaritaville. It was a favourite place with locals from all over the island, and we had a large expat crowd as in those days the garment industry was in full swing. It was a good mix. We introduced ‘Spring Break’ – and it became a popular haunt for all the college students from overseas. I also encouraged several of my friends and colleagues in the U.S. and elsewhere to invest in Jamaica and build and remodel homes at Tamarind Hill, Tryall and Great River. My dream soon became an occupation.
“As I started to get to know my way around the island, I began looking for other properties for myself.” While other investors tend to opt for beachfront properties, John was drawn to the mountains. “When I came across this location - seven acres, well-fruited, on the border of the parish of St. James and Hanover, stretching halfway down the mountainside to the river below, I just knew it was the perfect place. I came up with the name ‘Destiny’ and I had a clear idea of the home I wanted to build. I commissioned architect Tom Reed from Barrington, Illinois and he and his wife Dayanne were involved in all aspects of the design, building, décor.”
John’s criteria for the design was multifaceted: it had to be a place that was in harmony with nature, fitting seamlessly into the landscape with lots of natural light; it had to optimize the 280 degree view encompassing the mountains, the sea and the city of Montego Bay - taking in the sunsets, glitter of the bay at nights, moonlit evenings; and it had to maximize the cool climate, bringing the outdoors inside with lots of windows – you can actually look right through the house from almost any vantage point.
In the design of the house he referenced the Jamaican great houses. Intrigued by the legacy of old plantation homes on the island, he wanted to recreate the mass and power of their structure, and give the building a sense of respectability and permanence, as if it had been here long before. So there are the thick columns, archways, high ceilings, generously proportioned rooms and island nuances such as the plantation shutters; the flooring, cool polished travertine tiles finish the look. Room planning was carefully thought-out with several areas for entertaining, lounging options and private nooks –there’s a formal dining area and large lounge with floor to ceiling glass doors that slide right back on all three sides; a breakfast terrace, poolside pavilion, and a circular, thatch-covered palaver house with a bar, flat screen television and comfortable seating.
Emphasis is on luxury and comfort. Accommodation includes two spacious cabana suites overlooking the main infinity pool; a secluded honeymoon suite with its own private infinity pool, an outdoor rain shower built into the rocks and a small gazebo accessed by a steep narrow wooden stairway. There is also an upstairs annex, with its own suite and roof top terrace.
Almost all the furniture is custom-made from the cedar trees on property. The workmanship is by local carpenters at a small workshop in Montego Bay. There are great walls for hanging large-scale art and there are a few colourful abstracts and a life-size portrait of his love, Christine who he met in Jamaica twenty years ago. Exotic fusions include sculptural statues and art objects, pieces collected from his well-travelled journeys – mostly from Bali where John says he has built a beautiful four bedroom home overlooking another river valley.
The kitchen is substantial, with a great view –large hotel style cupboards well stocked with crockery and glassware speak to lavish entertaining on a grand scale, and there’s a huge eight burner industrial stove. The kitchen is the domain of chef Vincent Whittaker who has worked with Destiny from the beginning. “He worked with me from Margaritaville days, he is an amazing chef and can prepare anything and everything. Fine dining is very much a part of Destiny, and guests are pleasantly surprised at this added bonus – in fact, many professional chefs have stayed as guests, and they go into the kitchen to help Vincent out – but once they see how he cooks, they leave it to him.”
From concept to reality, Destiny took twelve months to complete.“Jamaican masons and carpenters are highly skilled - they are old school - everything is strong and well built.”
“We have been renting Destiny for over eight years” says Lisa Hendrickson, owner of Jamaica Treasures villa rental agency “and it has always attracted clients worldwide from the USA, Canada and Europe. It has been a favourite for those clients looking for more than just a luxury villa; they wanted their villa to be awesome!
Of all the properties we list in Jamaica, this is the only property that has two infinity pools, one being very private to make the perfect honeymoon suite. We have had intimate weddings here at Destiny, perfect for couples looking to share their special occasion with their closest friends and family. Guests love the feeling of Destiny, not only for its stunning architectural aspects, but the staff, who will spoil you like no other. It has its own personal chef, first class butler service, housekeepers, laundress, pool man, and gardeners. The villa can accommodate 8 people. Guests can enjoy the beach and golf at Tryall close by, and trendy nightlife on the hip strip in Montego Bay.
