Paradise Island is one of the most attractive islands in the Bahamas, lying off the shore of Nassau, a city situated in the northern end of the island, New Providence. The island is connected to the larger island of New Providence via two bridges that cross over Nassau Harbor. Paradise Island is famous for the vast seaside resort Atlantis that looms large over the island with visible silhouettes seen from a distance from the sea. Atlantis is also fondly known as ‘Vegas-by-the-Sea-Resort’ and has been a location for many famous films and TV soap series.
Previously known as Hog Island, the island got its present name after the A&P Supermarket heir, Huntington Hartford arrived here and bought the island from Axel Wenner-Gren. He developed the island having hired John Volk, an architect to build the Ocean Club, Hurricane Hole, Café Martinique, the Golf Course and several other important resort facilities. He also purchased a 14th century French-Augustinian monastery, the Cloisters and had it installed on Paradise Island too. Paradise Island was opened in 1962 with a grand ceremony that was featured in well-known magazines, Newsweek and Time.
The island continued to develop with major resort improvements being carried out by Jim Crosby and Jack Davis, who later single-handedly planned and legalized gambling here and the first casino came up and did incredible business for the first year, as it had no other competitors on the island. Later in the 1980’s Paradise Island was sold and resold and is today owned by Sol Kerzner and its estimated price is $2 billion. Paradise Island is not only popular for its casinos, but also for its long stretching beaches and some great resorts around it.
The scenic beauty of the place has been visualized by many of us in the films that have been shot here. The long quiet beaches in contrast to the crowded resorts and casinos can offer travelers a peaceful retreat away from the frolicking crowd. It is a great place to visit in the Caribbean, which is most targeted by tourists for its luscious beaches.
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