Happy birthday to us! In July 2003, Sunset at the Palms began welcoming its first guests to our tranquil piece of paradise. But did you know that our resort actually dates to 1987?
Sunset at the Palms was originally designed as a resort laboratory for engineers. Built by the Urban Development Corporation of the Government of Jamaica and the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica, the 10 original “cabin” units, which housed a total of 20 rooms, attracted engineers from all over the world who came to Negril to study the wetlands that are adjacent to our property. The Royal Palm Reserve, the largest preserved wetlands in Jamaica, was part of the 6,000 acres that make up what we call the “Negril Morass,” a natural producer of peat. Engineers rotated through the facility, studying and evaluating the quantity and quality of the peat found in the morass. After three years of research, they determined that the use of peat to produce energy in quantities that could fulfill the island’s energy needs was not a viable option.
In 1991, the facility was sold to a Jamaican couple, Faye and Maxie Bell, who added additional units and re-opened the property as Negril Cabins. Their resort featured jungle-like gardens that included many of the large palms and stands of bamboo that still exist on the property today.
In 2003, our current owners, another Jamaican family, the Kerrs, purchased the property and named it “Sunset at the Palms.” They enlarged and covered the open-air dining area of Palm Grove Restaurant; turned the pre-existing small conference room into the a la carte restaurant, Lotus Leaf Restaurant; and added roofed entryways to all accommodations. The family added still more units and transformed all 85 guest rooms from rustic cabins to treehouse-style retreats with Polynesian ambiance. That’s the type of decor that you still see today.
Other additions have included the resort’s pool, which was just renovated last year, as well as Palm Breeze Beach Bar & Grill for beachside dining. The Kerrs also transformed the resort’s gardens from an untamed jungle to one that includes not only plenty of palms and bamboo, but also a variety of beautiful flowering plants indigenous to Jamaica.
Today, you can enjoy the resort’s serene accommodations, Caribbean fusion dining, lush gardens, weekly guided nature walks, pristine beach and incredible sunsets, all of which help you to disconnect, relax and enjoy the chill in Negril.
In honor of our 21st anniversary, from now through July 31, we’re offering two nights free when you book a seven-night stay. The anniversary special also includes a $100 resort credit, SwayAway deferred payment option, and the resort’s “Change for Any Reason” waiver. Valued at $50, the waiver allows you to cancel or change your hotel arrangements up to the day of your departure for any reason. This deal can be booked for travel dates that include August 17 through September 30, 2024, December 14 – 26, 2024, and March 15 through April 19, 2025. To book the anniversary special, use code SATP21 here.