The Abandoned Mansion on Bird Cay

After following the road leading away from the abandoned village we came upon a rocky gate.  Signs of an estate!

It was another quarter mile by road or brush before a mansion came into view.

We entered the mansion through the kitchen.  Every drawer and cabinet was open and half full of condiments or plastic.  Pieces of a deteriorating map lay strewn over the kitchen island along side a Smithsonian magazine dated 2000.  So I guess we can assume that every one cleared out about 16 years ago. But based on furniture, appliances and decorative themes throughout, I'm going to guess that they showed up in the late 1960's/early 1970's.  

A propane tank for Motor Yacht "B_____"

Just off the kitchen: A turquoise study with wicker light shades and book shelf cubby. 

Upstairs we found the children's room and master bedroom. Both had a lot of books.

Master suite.

Master sun room with oil paints on the window sill.

The master patio, with wooden stairs leading to the roof.

AJ shook a coconut from a tree while he was up there.

Stairs in the master bedroom descend into a large bar/music/entertainment room, allowing masters of the house to make a grand entrance.

The entertainment room lead to a patio room that lead to the pool.

The magnificent pool.

AJ carries his coconut.

I think we could all get used to this view.

Behind the bar/patio rooms is a work-out/play  room.

They didn't keep the Vita Master!?

There are two downstairs bedrooms,

that open into a courtyard! 

I've always wanted a courtyard.

We walked about a mile and a half back to the dinghy an hour before sunset. 

Conch tracks!

There were no real clues on the property about who built the mansion or why they left. However, some internet research yielded half of the answer.  Standard oil man Francis Francis bought the island, named it "Bird Cay", and built the mansion as a private retreat in the 1940's.  Guests of the mansion included Belgium's King Leopold III, The Duke of Windsor, Rock Hudson, David Niven, Marlene Dietrich, and Greta Garbo.  The 250 acre island is now for sale for 9 million dollars.