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Mount Healthy National Park: A Glimpse into Tortola's Sugar Plantation Past

Discover Tortola's past at Mount Healthy National Park, home to the BVI's only intact 18th-century sugar plantation windmill.

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Explore the ruins of an 18th-century sugar plantation at Mount Healthy National Park, home to the only intact windmill in the British Virgin Islands. This small but historically significant site offers a window into the island's colonial past and the lives of enslaved Africans who worked the fields.

A brief summary to Mount Healthy National Park

Local tips

  • Combine your visit with a stop at the nearby bar for panoramic views of the surrounding landscape.
  • Wear sturdy shoes, as the terrain can be uneven and rocky.
  • Visit early in the day to avoid crowds and the heat.
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Getting There

  • Taxi

    From Road Town, the easiest way to reach Mount Healthy National Park is by taxi. Taxis are readily available near the ferry terminal. A shared taxi to the park will cost approximately $12 per person. Confirm the fare with the driver before starting your journey. The ride is about 15-20 minutes.

  • Walking

    For those staying in the vicinity of Cane Garden Bay, a hike to Mount Healthy National Park is possible. Begin by heading towards the ridge and following the trails towards Leonards. The trail from Cane Garden Bay is steep but offers beautiful views. Follow signs directing you to Mount Healthy National Park. Note that the terrain is rugged, so wear appropriate footwear.

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Discover more about Mount Healthy National Park

Mount Healthy National Park, located on the north shore of Tortola, offers a poignant glimpse into the British Virgin Islands' history. The park's centerpiece is the remarkably preserved stone windmill, a relic from an 18th-century sugar plantation. This windmill is the only one of its kind still standing in the BVI, making it a unique historical landmark. Once part of a 250-acre estate, the Mount Healthy plantation relied on the labor of enslaved Africans who cultivated sugarcane on the terraced slopes. The windmill was the heart of the operation, used to grind the harvested cane and extract its juice, which was then processed into sugar for export to Britain. The large arched openings in the windmill's thick walls served as entry points for sugarcane and exit routes for crushed cane. While the sugar industry declined following emancipation in 1834 due to hurricanes and drought, the Mount Healthy windmill remains as a reminder of this era. Across the road from the windmill, visitors can also see the ruins of an animal-powered mill, factory, distillery, hospital, and living quarters, offering a more complete picture of plantation life. Today, Mount Healthy National Park provides a tranquil setting to reflect on the island's past. Visitors can wander through the ruins, imagine the bustling activity of the plantation, and learn about the lives of those who lived and worked there.

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