Daviot Kelly & Sacha Walters, Staff Reporters

The property's gelding Star Boy does his thing to mill cane juice while Danny makes sure to catch every drop. - photo by barbara ellington

Think of Negril and the seven-mile stretch of white sand beach, as well as the hot nightclubs and tour guides come to mind.

Well just outside this hustle and bustle in Sheffield, Westmoreland, lies a truly Jamaican attraction. The pristine lawns, cane fields and whole atmosphere that just reeks of old Jamaica was all bush 19 years ago when Leonard Green first came to the lot.

Since then, The Cane Mill has blossomed into one of Jamaica's best kept secrets and one of the attractions that really gives you a feel of ol' time Jamaica. But 19 years ago, none of their friends could have imagined that.

"We used to just come down here, lay a blanket down and just think about what we were going to do with the place," said Mr. Green. "First we did the lawn so it was one big lawn area and then the driveway," he explained. That driveway now leads to Parakeet Hill, the guest house perched on the top of the property. The idea for the guest house came to Green and it started with three rooms. Now the project, which is still in the development stages, has blossomed into five.

THE APPEAL

What makes The Cane Mill so different from other attractions is its connection with Jamaica past. The actual horse-drawn cane mill produces cane juice the old-fashioned way, a cane mill, crushing the cane stalks placed between its wheels.

Imagine drinking the cane juice right after it's produced, no preservatives, no additives; just the authentic, raw goodness. The three acres of cane that provide the product are accessible via a walk down a grassy path. All the while as we toured, Mr. Green (a lawyer by profession would you believe) gives us the history of sugar cane in Jamaica and the wider West Indies, chronicling the time when it was indeed king. Like any good tour, this one teaches you about the history of Jamrock while giving you an appreciation of where the country is now.

The guest house is furnished with antique furniture right here in the island. The owner went around the island gathering everything from the lighting fixtures to the lounge chairs which you can easily fall asleep in and forget about the beds. However, one of the beds is particularly grand, the 200-year-old mahogany four-poster bed in one of the main rooms. Now that's rustic!

Guests, whether local or foreign are also treated to 'real' Jamaican food at the property's restaurant. With the estate embedded in a farming community, the farmers are supported by the buying of their produce. The special on the day the Lifestyle team visited was curried goat and stewed beef. It was all washed down with cane juice, fresh from the mill, of course. If you want to add some spirit to it, try the 'Double Trouble', a combination of coconut rum and cane juice (trademarked). The restaurant is housed in a thatched area. The garden, reggae music (and on occasion live band), as well as the copper falls make for a truly 'yard' feeling. Hotels and beachside cafés can delight you only so much.

ANOTHER DIMENSION

As if The Cane Mill hadn't enough of an allure on its own, the method of just getting there adds a little something extra. Guests who want a real thrill can access the property from the South Negril River. Guests can go either by boat or by raft. If you're not a water person, then the drive from Negril is even shorter. Either way, it is a fun ride, giving you the opportunity to enjoy nature at its best. Negril's Great Morass and the Royal Palm reserve (a beautiful and tranquil forest within the morass) are easily accessible from The Cane Mill and treks to check out their flora and fauna are a must once you made the journey!

The boat ride, tour of property, along with a meal, will cost US$40 per person. Special group rates of US$35 per person is available for groups of four or more persons.

If patrons want to spend a night in one of their five unique rooms, the price ranges from US$100 to US$150 per per night which includes breakfast.

FUTURE PLANS

When the property is fully operational, Mr. Green listed among them producing wet sugar just like the old days. Also, the Brick Oven bakery would produce wet sugar bullas for guests to take away and definitely enjoy. Also, the gift shop will feature more than your run-of-the-mill souvenirs.

Mr. Green would also like to have a tour service where he picks up his guests from the airport or dock and transports them straight to Negril South River and cruise along the waterway to The Cane Mill. And, the property, which commands a magnificent 360-degree view of towns and mountains in the distance, is the perfect setting for a garden wedding. Ambitious? Maybe, but then who would have thought that 23 acres of bush would have made it to this?

This is freshly milled cane juice but when spiked with the property's secret ingredients, it becomes their signature Double Trouble - a must-have on any visit.

One of the five bedrooms at the picturesque Cane Mill located at Parakeet Hill, Sheffield, Westmoreland.

Enjoy authentic Jamaican dishes in the lush garden with its distinctive copper falls. - photo by barbara ellington