Half Moon Hotel

Half Moon Hotel & Cottage Colony, Rose Hall.

Harold deLisser, a Montegonian lawyer, recruited 17 American, British and Bermudian shareholders to purchase a 35-acre parcel of land he owned. The land had been the loading dock for Rose Hall's sugar shipments.
17 cottages were built, one for each investor, and a 30-room hotel.
Opened January 20, 1954. Some of the better known shareholders were Laurence Armour, Donald Deskey, Harvey Firestone Jr., Richard Reynolds, and Rosser Reeves. Harold deLisser was named the hotel's first managing director. William Chadbourne named Chairman of the Board.
One prominent Washington DC businessman and later a cottage owner Karl Corby was heard to say of Half Moon, "It is one of the finest setups for a vacation any place in the world and I look forward to many years of enjoyment."
In 1961, Robert Trent Jones Sr. designs 18-hole golf course.
In 1961, Senator John F. Kennedy spends a month at the hotel before his inauguration. Jacqueline Kennedy writes her will in Cottage 1.
In 1962, the golf course opens.
In 1962, HRH Princess Margaret visits the hotel.
In 1963, Heinz Simonitsch hired as Manager.
In 1965, Heinz Simonitsch promoted to managing director.
In 1965, 30 new rooms were opened as part of an extension and renovation program. The project included construction of a shopping plaza, new administrative offices, swimming pools, water fountains, a car port and a driveway.
In 1970, Hibiscus Pool built. Club House Grill opened. The hotel pioneers in-house spa therapies on the island.
In 1972, the hotel numbers 60 rooms, 17 cottages, 18 swimming pools, seven tennis courts, 10 resort shops, card room, meeting room, art gallery, sauna and massage facilities, golf course and pro shop.
In 1978, squash courts built at Golf Pro Shop.
In 1979, Half Moon buys The Colony, the neighboring hotel. After renovation, the Great House Villas (now the Oleander rooms and suites) open.
In 1979, vacation club ownership begins.
In 1980, 56 acres of land to the east was purchased.
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In 1997, the Founders Cove building was destroyed by a fire. The building was rebuilt in months, and that winter was one of the resort's most successful winter seasons.
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In 2003, the original 30-room hotel was demolished.
In 2024, the hotel had 228 guestrooms and suites on 400 acres.