Bahamas Philately: Nassau Beach Lodge

In 1957, it was announced that the new Nassau Beach Lodge was to be operated by George W Gill Jr, a wealthy Fort Lauderdale construction company. The hotel was originally named ‘The Nassau‘ and was advertised as Nassau’s newest air conditioned hotel, on the beach, with nightly entertainment. However, it appears the company abandoned plans to operate the hotel, and instead bought and operated the British Colonial Hotel, announcing in 1958 major renovations to the British Colonial.

The Nassau was taken over by Howard Johnson who had owned a well known restaurant chain in the United States since 1929. In 1954 it began to run motels and The Nassau would be their first international hotel. The original name of the hotel was changed to be branded Howard Johnson’s Nassau Beach Lodge.

Howard Johnson’s Nassau Beach Lodge opened 25 January 1958 (although also cited as 4 February 1958). It contained 278 rooms and 22 suites, each with a “bath, air-conditioner, and private balcony with sea views.” Its speciality rooms included the Cave Lounge, the Lamplighter Room, the Howard Johnson Restaurant, and a poolside bar called Goomboy Bar offering delights such as “snacks, beverages and authentic island music by native artists.”

The lodge would go under two additional phases of expansion and its name changed to the Nassau Beach Hotel by 1962. The hotel finally closed on 4 January 2008 and was demolished in 2012.