On Jamaica’s magnetic south coast, Jakes Hotel has always existed slightly outside of time. A bohemian cluster of seaside cottages, verandas and saltwater rhythms, it was built on creativity, community and the pioneering spirit of founder Sally Henzell, her children Jason and Justine, and her late husband Perry Henzell — the visionary filmmaker behind The Harder They Come.
After Hurricane Melissa passed through the region in late October, Treasure Beach felt the sweep of the storm, but not its devastation. Today, the village’s spirit remains intact, the hotel’s heartbeat is strong, and Jakes is set to reopen on December 18 with renewed optimism and its signature, unforced charm.
The social heart of Jamaica’s south coast
Though known for its tranquility, Jakes has long been one of the most socially vibrant corners of the island. Mornings unfold with strong coffee and sea breezes. Afternoons stretch between the seaside pool, nearby coves, bike paths and farmers’ fields. Evenings gather naturally at Jack Sprat Bar & Restaurant, the legendary beachfront hub where jerk chicken pizza, fresh catch from local boats and easy conversation define the rhythm of the night.
Writers edit manuscripts beneath almond trees. Filmmakers regroup after long shooting days. Locals and guests mingle without hierarchy or performance. The feeling is immediate and unmistakable: this is a living community, not a manufactured escape.
Reopening with intention
When Jakes reopens, 30 accommodations will be available, with four suites remaining offline for final enhancements. The surrounding landscape, now in a natural phase of renewal, is being thoughtfully reimagined with native plantings and resilient design principles. What might otherwise be framed as post-storm repair is instead being approached as a long-term investment in the land, guided by the Henzell family and community members.
Guests will find the Jakes they know — sunsets from the dock, breezy verandas, driftwood paths and deep stillness — but with a refreshed vitality that reflects care rather than urgency.
Sally Henzell’s design language, still alive
Long before “sustainable design” entered the global lexicon, Sally Henzell practiced it instinctively. Jakes was built room by room using local hands, reclaimed materials and a joyful disregard for convention. Colored bottles embedded in concrete walls became stained-glass mosaics. Broken china, shells, driftwood and objects found at sea were transformed rather than discarded.
Her palette mirrors the Caribbean itself: turmeric yellows, bougainvillea pinks, sea-washed greens. The architecture is less formal structure than sculpture — an invitation to live inside color, breeze and memory. That sensibility remains the soul of Jakes today, with every room feeling personal, crafted and quietly expressive.
The Henzell family remains deeply involved in the property, ensuring the hotel evolves without losing its essential poetry.
A community anchor: BREDS
To understand Jakes is to understand Treasure Beach — not as a resort zone, but as a culturally alive village shaped by fishermen, farmers, artists, coaches and storytellers.
That ethos is embodied by BREDS The Treasure Beach Foundation, co-founded by Jason Henzell in 1998. What began as a simple request from local youth for a basketball court has grown into a major community engine, raising more than US$5 million to support education, youth sports, sustainable agriculture and environmental conservation. Jakes contributes through its long-running Dollar-A-Night program and ongoing collaborative initiatives.
In the wake of Hurricane Melissa, BREDS has raised an additional US$400,000 from donors worldwide. As the island moves through post-storm stabilization, the foundation’s work is more critical than ever. Guests don’t simply stay at Jakes — they participate in a model of tourism that strengthens community from within.
Literary roots and global storytelling
Jakes has long drawn creative thinkers not only for its beauty, but for its atmosphere — contemplative, elemental and generous with both solitude and story.
Treasure Cot, one of the area’s earliest cottages, holds a singular place in literary history. It was here that Alex Haley wrote Roots, drawing inspiration from the village’s quiet rhythms, fishing boats and open horizon. Built by Sally Henzell’s father in 1941 — the year she was born — the cottage stands as a reminder that great ideas often emerge from great stillness.
That legacy continues through the Calabash International Literary Festival, founded by poet Dr. Kwame Dawes, novelist Colin Channer and producer Justine Henzell. Every two years, Treasure Beach becomes a global stage for literature, music and performance, welcoming writers and audiences from across the Caribbean diaspora and beyond.
Why now
For travelers seeking an experience that is real rather than polished, Jakes reopens at exactly the right moment. Treasure Beach was not hit as hard as other regions, the village atmosphere is warm and confident, and community-driven work is thriving.
The return of Jakes signals more than a reopening. It is a reaffirmation of place, culture and a tourism philosophy that gives back rather than takes. Guests arriving via Kingston will find the improved 2.5-hour drive scenic and straightforward — a long exhale into one of the Caribbean’s most singular enclaves.
What Jakes has always been
A place built by artists.
Sustained by community.
Guided by creativity.
On December 18, Jakes Treasure Beach opens its doors once again — unchanged at its core, and exactly as it should be.
