Steeped in History
Early 1700'S
From 1730, the earliest records available, Old Fort has borne its name. Originally a pirate stronghold, it was later seized by the Spaniards and changed hands between rivals multiple times before it was ultimately claimed by the British. Perched on a rocky rise above the beach and concealed from view by a magnificent silk-cotton tree, the fort commands a sweeping view of old Charlottesville Bay—an ideal vantage point for defense. At one time, the sea reached the very base of the rocky outcrop upon which the fort stands, and an underground passage once linked the shore below to the structure above.
1800's
Sisal surrounded the fort during most of the 1800s, when the property was used primarily as a plantation. The original building consisted of one large room on the ground floor with two towers, one on either corner overlooking the sea. A room on the second floor with a low sloping roof and dormer windows was connected to a room in each Tower.
The walls of this earliest section were constructed from rough rubble masonry over three feet thick, with layers of mortar and stone providing natural insulation against the island’s heat and humidity. Over the centuries, Old Fort remained in almost continuous use. In later years, it served first as a rustic hunting lodge and then as a plantation house, with additional rooms such as a bedroom and kitchen eventually added to expand the original structure.
1920's
The Old Fort entered into a glamorous era when American James Cox Brady won the property in a card game. Although Brady died soon after, his widow remarried a character named Suydam Cutting and the couple were famous world travelers. The first Western woman to visit Tibet, Mrs. Cutting received a pair of Llasa Apsos from the Dalai Lama. The fort remains the architectural beneficiary of these great adventures, with decor featuring tiles from Portugal and Holland and ornamental metalwork and lanterns from Spain.
2002 to Present
After a meticulous renovation, the Old Fort was reborn as a clubhouse that lovingly celebrates its storied past. A cannon sits proudly at the entrance, and guests relax amid amenities from the four corners of the world.
