The story of Cutlass Bay Resort begins with its construction in 1953, making
it the first resort on Cat Island. The club was built by a pair of Americans,
Jim Frew and Herb Shriner. Herb
Shiner’s name you might remember from his time in the lights of Hollywood
and on American television including visits to “Your Show of Shows”.
Local
entertainment became available with the opening of the Galleon Club just
down the road from Cutlass Bay Resort in Bains town. The Galleon was constructed
by “Old B” a local gentleman that had his start touring the island with
his jukebox in the van and a mobile generator behind on a trailer.
Old B is to this day a leader of his people in the south of Cat Island,
but now we call him A.T. Bain. Still amazing is compared to other countries,
Cat Island did not join the age of electricity until the 1990’s leaving
its only source of power to be from generators.
The Galleon brought entertainers from Nassau as well as local Rake n’
Scrape bands to its stage. Sam and the Soul Rockers were the first live
act to perform on Cat Island, playing their music along with Cat Island’s
first beauty contest. The first crown of beauty queen was awarded to Nora
Rolle, daughter of Elmena and Naaman Rolle.
In the 60’s the Club grew an airstrip and dive facilities to cater to
the small yet growing tourist trade that was beginning to find sleepy
Cat Island. Somewhere in its quaintness and local warmth visitors found
a comfort that touched them inside, a feeling akin to a chance encounter
with an unknown family member. It was this that created a family of guests
that returned to this place of comfort time and time again, drawing into
their new family fellow guests, staff and management, and the friendship
of the local people.