It all began in the 1950s when Howard and Chelle Hulford, after several visits to the Caribbean island of Antigua as tourists, decided to find a tranquil, beautiful spot where they could build a private villa and host family and close friends.
© Curtain Bluff
After years of searching, they selected a site on the island’s south coast that at the time was little more than a goat pasture. When the Antiguan government was reluctant to sell the land for a single private home, it was suggested the Hulfords build a hotel instead—helping to foster Antigua’s fledgling tourism industry.
Two-story Curtain Bluff, perched between two beaches and a bluff overlooking the Caribbean Sea, opened in 1962 with 22 guestrooms. Over six decades the property has expanded thoughtfully and today features 72 rooms, a freshwater swimming pool, suites with plunge pools, four tennis courts, a dock with sailboats, a fitness center and squash court, plus two charming beachside restaurants. This year the resort celebrates its 60th anniversary as one of the Caribbean’s most enduring and beloved destinations.
© Curtain Bluff
Despite decades of consolidation in the hotel industry, Curtain Bluff remains family-owned. After Mr. Hulford’s death in 2009, his wife Chelle continued to care for the property and lives on-site in the Bluff House. She has preserved the couple’s philosophy of running an intimate, family-oriented retreat where long-term relationships between guests and staff are valued, the grounds are protected, televisions are intentionally absent from guest rooms, and dinner attire is smart casual—traditions that many guests still cherish.
The Hulfords also invested deeply in the nearby community. In 1974 they established the Old Road Fund, named for the resort’s location in Old Road Village, to improve the quality of life for staff and their families. What began as support for clothing and school supplies quickly expanded to include opportunities such as tennis lessons and equipment for local children—introducing skills that opened pathways to careers. The resort matches guest donations; funds have supported college scholarships, major medical procedures and educational grants for staff members and their families. For the Hulfords, giving back was simply “the right thing to do.”
© Joanna Tricorache
Summer rates at Curtain Bluff range from $790 to $1,500 per night, double occupancy, with special offers for extended stays. The all-inclusive plan covers accommodations and three daily meals at the Tamarind and Seagrape restaurants, bar drinks, afternoon tea, a weekly beach party luncheon, water and land sports, nightly entertainment and WiFi. To protect guests and staff, the resort closes for hurricane season from July 31 to October 22.