Exploring Cayman Brac's Abandoned Divi Tiara Beach Resort (Video & Photos)

[vincent54]

The other issue with the abandoned buildings so close to the dump is the increasing numbers of rats on the West End which eventually use these as homes. I went to photograph the crashed drug plane in the dump and there were rat nests everywhere. Clean up the property and manage the dump and keep the rodents under control.

It was a beautiful resort a few years ago, can't see why it can't be brought back to life. Cheers

 

[oly5050user]

Do not know how true this is but I was told by people on Bonaire a long time ago that Divi closed Tiara because they wanted to have a gambling casino on the Brac and the govt would not allow it. So Divi resorts choose to spend alot of $$$$ on Bonaire and open a new resort north of Flamingo Beach where the old Sunset Beach Hotel once stood..They started clearing the property but seems to have run out of money, property has been vacant and unused for years now.....Shame as Tiara was a great experience for us many times.
I cannot believe Divi Resorts excuse about difficulty for guests bringing their gear there due to limited air service. I think they are full of s**t.. I used to go to the Brac alot and stayed at the old Buccaneer Hotel and Tiara Beach .
True very early on getting there was difficult and typically on an old DC3 aircraft that was 50 years old!
But that was on a unpaved runway. Last time on the Brac airport was paved and jets can access it from Grand Cayman.No baggage/weight problems.

 

[jordanliles]

Do not know how true this is but I was told by people on Bonaire a long time ago that Divi closed Tiara because they wanted to have a gambling casino on the Brac and the govt would not allow it. So Divi resorts choose to spend alot of $$$$ on Bonaire and open a new resort north of Flamingo Beach where the old Sunset Beach Hotel once stood..They started clearing the property but seems to have run out of money, property has been vacant and unused for years now.....Shame as Tiara was a great experience for us many times.
I cannot believe Divi Resorts excuse about difficulty for guests bringing their gear there due to limited air service. I think they are full of s**t.. I used to go to the Brac alot and stayed at the old Buccaneer Hotel and Tiara Beach .
True very early on getting there was difficult and typically on an old DC3 aircraft that was 50 years old!
But that was on a unpaved runway. Last time on the Brac airport was paved and jets can access it from Grand Cayman.No baggage/weight problems.

Interesting. I just received a reply in an email from someone that said he remembers visiting the resort and having to wait for a second plane to bring his scuba gear back because of weight regulations. Sounds annoying. Anyway, hope you enjoyed it.

 

[caymaniac]

Interesting. I just received a reply in an email from someone that said he remembers visiting the resort and having to wait for a second plane to bring his scuba gear back because of weight regulations. Sounds annoying. Anyway, hope you enjoyed it.

That has happened to me at Little Cayman as well Cayman Brac.

 

[Doctorfish]

We used to go there every year and it was a great place. It did gradually decline over the years and it seemed that there was very little money going into upkeep of resort or boats. One of the photos above looked like Cliffy, the short order breakfast cook. He used to make a serious omelet and sell Caymanite jewellery on the side. CB has always been easier to access than LC ever since Cayman Airways took over the route from Islandair. I think the Tibbets family used to run a DC3 there as well, so lack of access is a lame excuse for closing. Anyone who knows the Caymanian people must realize that there will never be a casino allowed on these islands.

Baggage is always an isue for the sister islands but what does not get there today, arrives tomorrow AM.

 

[mikeycanuk]

I believe 5050user has it correct. To add (if memory serves) Martin mentioned that the resort can't be sold for either trust or some other red-tape legal issues. Something ridiculous has to be the reason to let a property simply rot away until only the land value remains. btw rats? what rats.....and what dump?

On a similar vein at the end of the road there is also a vacant house that I imagine is the most westerly point on the Brac. Anyone know that story? Looks like a really nice spot, if not rather noisy from the crashing waves. That I could live with however...

 

[caymaniac]

One of the photos above looked like Cliffy, the short order breakfast cook. He used to make a serious omelet ...

Yep, that's Cliff. I never seen the dirtier inside of a car than Cliffs car, he gave us a lift once when he saw we were walking...I had to stand on two pounds of trash paper and plastic bags as well as old french frys.
Dirty car but he would help you out, give the shirt off his back type of guy and you couldn't help but like him.
Not only did he serve up the omelets but he served up a few jokes every morning and he always made me laugh.

 

[billinwilliamston]

There is no business reason for Divi to do anything with the property. As long as they don't need the cash flow, they have no financial incentive to be in a hurry to sell, restore or redevelop the land. No one is forcing them to keep the property up and there's no taxes to pay, so why not just let it rot? The property is like money in the bank. Much like the blown-out, abandoned oceanfront houses on Grand Cayman's east end, the value is in the location not the buildings. The one true thing about oceanfront property is that they aren't making any more of it, so they have nothing to lose by sitting on it until they get the right offer for the land.

Please understand I am not in any way saying it's a good thing, but I do understand why it sits and rots.

 

[jordanliles]

On a similar vein at the end of the road there is also a vacant house that I imagine is the most westerly point on the Brac. Anyone know that story? Looks like a really nice spot, if not rather noisy from the crashing waves. That I could live with however...

I know exactly the one you're talking about. Not sure why it's abandoned. It's the only one on the west end, and it's very beautiful.

 

[vincent54]

I believe 5050user has it correct. To add (if memory serves) Martin mentioned that the resort can't be sold for either trust or some other red-tape legal issues. Something ridiculous has to be the reason to let a property simply rot away until only the land value remains. btw rats? what rats.....and what dump?

On a similar vein at the end of the road there is also a vacant house that I imagine is the most westerly point on the Brac. Anyone know that story? Looks like a really nice spot, if not rather noisy from the crashing waves. That I could live with however...

Just east of the intersection is the dump and it is a rat infested mess. The dump is a problem and will only get worse. No one has spent any effort to manage the site properly. If you walk around the coconut trees on west end near Divi and Reef Resort almost all grounded coconuts have their ends gnawed open. . Tear down the abandoned structures and you'll have the prettiest property on the island, and one less place to harbor the vermin.

The metal pyramid house was blown apart in Paloma. Beautiful beach. Make offer and put your house on pillars. Cheers