Fischer’s Cove to be fully functional by 2019

After sustaining considerable damage from the hurricanes, the privately-owned Fischer’s Cove Beach Hotel on Virgin Gorda is aiming to be fully operational by 2019.

Proprietor Anderson ‘Andy’ Flax told BVI News yesterday that the beachfront property consisting of eight cottages, 12 rooms, a bar and restaurant, a lounge, and a beach bar hut sustained roughly $1.2 million worth of damage.

Flax said the main open-dining area, the lobby, as well as significant portions of the roof, doors, and windows, are all in need of repair.

The dining room was also undermined during the hurricanes and has since been demolished. Work is said to be underway and is projected for completion by the end of March.

Six rooms are also under reconstruction and will be ready in the next few weeks, Flax said.

Meanwhile, the facility’s lounge, kitchen, bar, and four other rooms are currently in operation.

He said the restaurant is currently able to provide dining for 50 guests and the hotel can accommodate a total of 12 persons in the four rooms that are still intact.

Not yet cashed in on insurance  

The hotel was an insured property and like many others in the territory, the owners are still waiting on the insurance settlement.

As a result, the reconstruction works are being funded out of pocket with the assistance of friends, Flax told BVI News.

Evacuation

He said the popular hotel had to evacuate guests before the unprecedented hurricanes last year.

Though describing the decision as a ‘tough’, Flax said the guests had to be evacuated because of the hotel’s close proximity to the sea.

Almost 80 percent of the territory’s infrastructure is said to have been damaged in last year’s hurricanes.

Grateful 

Flax said he is grateful to the Virgin Gorda community for their assistance after the disasters.

“Things have progressed very well and I must say most of them [in the community] chipped in with whatever was necessary and it helped us to get going.”

“I will say, all in all, God has been good to us. Next season, I would say we should be pretty much well on stream,” he said.

Fischer’s Cove is located in Spanish Town and has been part of the cultural fabric of Virgin Gorda for decades.