The Story Of Folly Ruins Jamaica

A crumbling testament to the power of pursuing a dream, Folly Ruins on the north coast of Jamaica stirs the imagination. This derelict mansion-house on a private peninsula adjacent to Port Antonio still draws visitors to this quiet corner of the island. From wealthy American explorers to dancehall artists, the history of Folly Mansion is a Jamaican legend.
In 1904, Folly Point was a quiet, unspoilt outcrop on this far-flung British colony. The uninterrupted views of the Caribbean sea are captivating—turn around and the lush Blue Mountains dominate the skyline. The local Titchfield Hotel was the place to be seen for wealthy visitors seeking a bit of winter sun. One in particular, Alfred Mitchell from Connecticut, was so taken by the place that he chose to build a winter home for himself and his wife Annie, a member of the Tiffany family.

The costly undertaking resulted in a magnificent mansion house with an indoor salt-water pool, private power station, and cupola room for admiring the view. The grounds were cultivated as a tropical garden, which thrived in what is the wettest parish in Jamaica.

However Mitchell died just six years after its completion and his wife sold up and left two years later. The new owners didn’t stay long either and the property ended up abandoned only 12 years after it was built. There was a brief moment of relief when the famous actor Errol Flynn considered buying the house. However, the Jamaican Government had taken over the property by then, and only offered a lease.

The slow decline into ruin began under government management. As with so many of the older grand houses of Jamaica, neglect and looting accelerated mother nature’s work. By 1935 the roof had fallen in as a consequence of the supporting structure being looted, and the wooden floors were long gone.

Local legend has it that the use of salt water in the concrete was the cause of the building’s ruin. There is no evidence of this; in fact the concrete portion of the structure is the only part that remains.

Folly Ruins offer an atmospheric reminder of times gone-by. Fenced off for safety reasons, it is still possible to visit the site and marvel at what must have been a magnificent property.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.