UDC to construct jerk centre at Dunn’s River Park and Falls
THE Urban Development Corporation (UDC), the Government agency that owns Dunn’s River Falls and Park Attraction, plans to construct a jerk centre, restaurant and bar on the grounds of the internationally acclaimed attraction, thereby expanding the culinary offerings available to visitors.
Dunn’s River currently operates only two restaurants named Haydens and Too Cool, offering guests a selection of spicy jerk chicken, pork, fish, curried goat, snacks, and drinks. However, for a more expansive menu of spicy jerk meals, visitors often opt to leave the park and visit nearby jerk spots.
Jerk is a must-have for many vacationers on the island.
The style of cooking native to Jamaica, in which meat is dry-rubbed or wet-marinated with a hot spice mixture which consists of an exotic blend of scallions, onions, Scotch bonnet peppers, salt, thyme, allspice, black pepper and many other spices.
This, coupled with the opportunity to ascend the 960-foot tall Dunn’s River Falls — the only one of its kind in the Caribbean, if not the world — provides visitors with an authentic Jamaican experience.
The waterfalls are terraced like giant natural stairs, although some aspects incorporate man-made reconfigurations. Several small lagoons are interspersed among the vertical sections of the falls, which flow into the Caribbean Sea at the western end of a white-sand beach.
The UDC is now on the hunt for qualified contractors to construct the jerk centre and restaurant. A site visit is scheduled to be held at the St Ann-based park on April 10, for bidders wishing to participate in the procurement process.
Details on where exactly on the property the jerk centre, restaurant and bar will be placed along with the expected groundbreaking and completion date, have not been disclosed by the Government agency.
Over the years, several improvements have been made to the attraction which is managed by the St Ann Development Company Limited (SADCO), a subsidiary of the UDC. This includes physical upgrades and concessionaires who manage businesses on the property to enhance Dunn’s River’s natural offerings.
Dunn’s River Falls welcomes upwards of one million local and overseas visitors each year. The attraction is one of the preferred destinations for cruise ship passengers.
Dunn’s River Falls was named the Porthole Cruise Magazine’s 2020 Editor-in-chief ‘Best Caribbean Attraction’, nominated for the 10-Best Reader’s Choice Award, Expert Choice Award and received recognition from Trip Advisor as well as Jamaica’s National Tourism Excellence Awards as a top 10 performer.
The attraction has previously won the World Travel Awards four times. It is now aiming to secure its fifth award this year.