Takuma Boutique Hotel and Tours takes guests on wild, historical ride
THERE IS treasure waiting to be discovered in Mount Zion, St James, said Delroy Allen, managing director of Takuma Boutique Hotel and Tours. Allen is also the greatgreat-grandson of Takuma, the White Witch of Rose Hall, Annie Palmer’s last lover, who was believed to have orchestrated her death and freed slaves on the plantations.
“Here in the biblical hills of holy Mount Zion, which has been around for over 200 years, since the days of slavery, there is actual treasure, silver and gold, hidden. This treasure is that of Takuma, also referred to as Takoo,” Allen told The Sunday Gleaner.
“When I was six years old, my ancestor dreamt to me to educate people about the history of the land, find the treasure and to build a legacy in his name,” he continued.
A five-storey hotel now sits on the propert, replacing the two-bedroom, two-window, wooden house where Allen, his four siblings and mother lived. On the heels of introducing the hotel to the public, the Allen family planned a special ‘treasure hunt’ tour for representatives of the media, which included veteran radio and television broadcaster Fae Ellington as well as Miss Jamaica World 1978, Joan McDonald.
Armed with a metal detector, Allen wasted no time and shouted “Day oh!”, signlaling that the tour was about to begin. And like all great stories about mystery, history, adventure, and modern romance, it began with a tour of the ancient church at the centre of the community. The Mount Zion United Church, which was founded in 1838, still stands firm and neighbours the Mount Zion Primary School. It was built by slaves, and one of the church’s prominent parishioners was, reputedly, Annie Palmer.
“Our guests have the opportunity to go to church as we believe it’s important to call on the spirits for our protection,” Delroy said.
The trek is approximately two and three-quarter miles from the church, starting out on foot through backyards then on to the ranch nestled in a patchwork of hedgerows and luminous grassland. Takoo’s treasure, he claims, is further in the hills. Guests were provided with three options; to do the tour by foot, horseback, or off-road vehicles. It was definitely one wild ride, going uphill on horseback proving much more difficult than the walk downhill at the end of the journey. No silver or gold was found. Though the treasure hunt was unsuccessful, there were sentimental rewards from gaining new knowledge of the community’s history and interacting with the residents, and last, but certainly not least, the tranquil view of the lush countryside and the shimmering azure of the Caribbean Sea from the top of the hill.
“The tour is just getting started, but we want when more of our local fruits like naseberry, sweet sop, guinep, papaya, and mangoes are in season, for guests to be able to pick and sample them as part of the educational aspect of the tour. They can also arrange to visit local farms. I recommend doing the tour on foot as one of our core values is to encourage healthy living and staying fit,” Allen said.
Coleen Allen, his wife and the interior designer responsible for the layout of each suite at the hotel, explained that as a family, they agreed that guests should be exposed to the historical background of Mount Zion and experience local culture and tradition, but that “it is also important that they do so in comfort”.
“Our goal was to create a decor that is warm, vibrant, and cheerful and showcases aspects of Jamaican culture. It was also important that each suite be unique as we want new and repeat guests to have a different experience regarding their accommodations. Most of the furniture was made, and or, purchased in Jamaica, including Mount Zion as we believe in supporting our local craftsmen and businesses,” she added.
The Takuma Boutique Hotel reveals rooms with unique layouts yet still maintaining a sense of harmony with the overall feel and style. There are four two-bedroom suites, and each bears the name of a historical landmark or figure in the community: Mango Bush, Short Cut, Banana Spring, and Jabula Hill. The two one-bedrooms are named Waterfall and Exchange.
“We wanted to set ourselves apart from the ‘big box hotels’ by offering guests an up-close and personal experience of local living and lifestyle, so we opted for a modern feel where each room is different but still included aspects of the culture such as furnishings made from wicker and wood,” Coleen Allen said. “Mount Zion is a close-knit community that has a rich history rooted in Jamaica’s colonial past where Delroy’s ancestors grew up and which reggae greats like Coco Tea, Garnet Silk, and the great Robert Nesta Marley have revered in their songs. Our hotel is the perfect place to offer visitors a taste of community tourism and local living, and it was only fitting that the hotel be named after Takuma,” she continued