Moonhole

Abandon Art Colony

Useful Information

Location:	Bequia Island, Northern Grenadines. (12.991820, -61.276175)
Open:	no restrictions. [2021]
Fee:	free. [2021]
Classification:	Natural Bridge
Light:	bring torch
Dimension:
Guided tours:	self guided
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:
Address:	Moonhole Company Limited, P.O. Box 30, Port Elizabeth, Bequia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Moonhole Office, Winifred Kydd - Managing Director, Tel: +1-784-458-3277, Fax: +1-784-457-3222. E-mail:
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1964	Moonhole Company Limited formed.

Description

Moonhole is the name of an eco lodge on the small island Bequia Island, which belongs to the Northern Grenadines. Actually the name was given to a natural bridge, which was created by the erosional forces of the sea in the basaltic rock of the coast. As the bridge sometimes allows the moon to shine through, it was called Moonhole.

In the 1950s Thomas and Gladys Johnston, retired New Yorkers. Thomas worked at MacCann, in the advertising business, when they came to the island they first run the Sunny Caribbee Hotel. They were invited to visit the giant natural bridge known as Moonhole by the family that owned the uninhabited western end of Bequia. At this time this part of the island was accessible only by foot or by boat. Tom and Gladdie trekked to the site, and the bridge soon became their favorite spot on Bequia. First they had the idea to build a campsite underneath the bridge. Soon they started building houses beneath the arch with the aid of local masons from the nearby Paget Farm. They used only local rocks, wood and any kind of material they found at the beach.

The Moonhole house caught the attention of friend and its reputation spread. It was published by the New York Times, the National Geographic, and Sports Illustrated. Finally friends urged them to build additional houses and they founded the Moonhole community.

The rooms had no water and no electricity, if there were trees the houses wer bouilt around them. They use cisterns to collect rainwater for drinking and washing and solar cells. The central dining room has a large veranda and a large bar, made from a humpback whale's jaw bone. Today there are 17 houses and a staff of 15 full time.