Rock Sound was established by Arthur Vining Davis, a millionaire industrialist, who made his money in aluminium. In 1940, Davis who had moved to retire in South Florida suddenly decided to embarked on a land buying spree in Florida and in the Bahamas. As part of this spree, Davis purchase 6,000 acres in Rock Sound, Eleuthera. Davis developed his own employment-generating Three Tree Farm at Rock Sound, as well as a second home estate for the wealthy called the Rock Sound Club.
In 1952 he wanted to build a 300-room hotel at Half Sound, but the government turned him down so he sold his interests to Juan Trippe. Juan Trippe, founder of Pan American Airways, established Eleuthera Properties Ltd.to acquire 8000 acres in south Eleuthera from Arthur Vining Davis. Trippe used his airline connections to ensure that a steady stream of airline travellers chose Eleuthera as their holiday destination. After taking over Davis’ holdings on South Eleuthera, he expanded the Rock Sound airport so Pan Am jets from New York and Miami could fly in daily.
In 1965 the Rock Sound Club opened brand new beach cottages and was renamed Rock Sound Club and Beach Cottages. The Rock Sound Club closed in 1973 but the cottages continue to exist.
Postcards
Natural Color Publishers Inc (M67000 Series)
References
- Bahamianology – The Men Who Built Rock Sound, Eleuthera In A Pre-Independent Bahamas 1940 (part one)
- Flying Magazine Dec 1965
- Point O’Vue: South Eleuthera Property History
