Perched on a hill, with view to kill for, sits one of the haunting tales of Jamaican history. The Rose Hall Great House near Montego Bay, Jamaica is one of the most powerful, albeit haunting, displays of this country’s rich history. Jamaica is known mostly for its white sand beaches, calm swimming pool-like waters and perfect cliff diving spots. With all that excitement it is easy to forget about the stories of this Caribbean gem. From days that pirates and privateers battled over these waters to the days where slaves were delivered to work on the sugar plantations Jamaica has one of the deepest histories in the entire region.
Rose Hall Great House is, in many ways, the hub of that powerful, and often frightening history.
Born in Haiti, Rose Hall’s original owner, wealthy Annie Palmer, was know to practice voodoo and carry on an extravagant lifestyle. However, she was more well known for killing off three of her husbands and finding all means possible to terrorize the slaves that she owned.
The lovely guides that escort people through the house today tell stories of Annies treacheries including bringing slaves and secret lovers into her bedroom then murdering them after having her way with them. Stories of ghosts run rampant throughout the house although, despite the beautiful surroundings, as one walks through the house they often start to realize that this is a haunted house, or at the very least the scene of a very long horror movie.
Want to Visit Rose Hall Great House?
When I visited Rose Hall, I was a part of an organized tour by the Jamaican tourism board. I’m not sure if it’s possible to visit on your own. The best thing to do is to send an email to Rose Hall directly to ask about how to book a visit.