Belmont Estate

Spans the communities of Tivoli,
Grenada
Grenada
473-442-9524

Type: Sightseeing

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Belmont Estate spans the communities of Tivoli, Hermitage and Coobarrie in the parishes of St. Patrick and St. Andrew. It was John Aitcheson from Airdrie in Scotland who owned the estate when it was leased to Alexander Campbell in 1770. Campbell would later lose his life at Fedon’s Camp. When Aitcheson died in 1780, the estate was valued at close to US$2.5 million in today’s money. Purchased by the Houstoun family of London, England, it remained in their trust until 1944. Then it was sold to the Nyack family, who still own it today. This was something of a landmark as the Nyacks were the first Grenadians of Indian descent to own an estate. Belmont was one of their six plantations on the island. It is quite unusual for an estate to have had only three owners since 1765. Ruins of the sugarworks stand as a centerpiece for the garden in a working plantation that has turned from sugar to cocoa and nutmeg, with an additional 10 acres of fruit trees. Striving to be organic and working to help build their local communities, Belmont is very active in a number of ways. Summer school programs and the building of a local library are just two of their commitments so far. Here you can observe the process of what happens to a cocoa bean from harvest to export. Although cocoa is grown on the estate, Belmont also purchases from local farmers and sells directly to the Grenada Cocoa Association. Visitors can inspect not only the cocoa process, but also the making of coconut oil and charcoal, and walk along the nature trails within the estate. As part of their cocoa bean tour, you get a taste of “cocoa tea.” A small museum gives a glimpse into the life of the owners, Mr. & Mrs. Nyack, with clothing, furniture, horseracing memorabilia and plantation records. A tasty West Indian lunch is served on the premises. It’s essential to call for reser-vations as Belmont is sure to be busy during the high season.