TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Dawn and Oyster Pond

For the oldtimers:

After staying at the old Caravanserai for our first 2 or 3 trips to St. Martin, we switched to the Dawn Beach Hotel for a couple of stays. Here are a few pictures of the area from that time up to the destruction of Dawn Beach itself. We had seen the area earlier – like 1977.



Not much different in ‘79.



This is the old Oyster Pond hotel – long before the pond was upgraded to a bay. I don’t think we were ever inside.

1981 was our first stay at Dawn Beach.






We repeated in ’83.
[img]https://t.imgbox.com/mohW3lZh.jpg[/img]
[img]https://t.imgbox.com/SKGZH6wP.jpg[/img]
[img]https://t.imgbox.com/03F3QO0s.jpg[/img]

By 1986 we were staying at GCBC, but Dawn Beach seemed the same except for new roofs.
[img]https://t.imgbox.com/o2ZvNWfZ.jpg[/img]
Oyster Pond was getting busier in ‘89
[img]https://t.imgbox.com/PPooaczx.jpg[/img]
and ’94.
[img]https://t.imgbox.com/jUIO6Bpu.jpg[/img]
[img]https://t.imgbox.com/SgeCOsv4.jpg[/img]
Luis wrecked the hotel on’95. This is a result still in 1997.
[img]https://t.imgbox.com/VaoIWf7w.jpg[/img]
Oyster Pond was getting developed in 1998,
[img]https://t.imgbox.com/SgeCOsv4.jpg[/img]
and moreso in 2000.
[img]https://t.imgbox.com/SgeCOsv4.jpg[/img]
[img]https://t.imgbox.com/suSJzgsc.jpg[/img]
[img]https://t.imgbox.com/DzzCg42f.jpg[/img]
Scavenger’s beach bar was a favorite of ours. Marla, who owned the shop at GCBC cooked. Chairmon rented the chairs. These are from 1991.
[img]https://t.imgbox.com/1gB6OsXc.jpg[/img]
[img]https://t.imgbox.com/Uw4xx84h.jpg[/img]
In 2005 clearing for what became the Westin began to violate whatever environmental rules St. Martin had. Don’t know why the last little palm tree was still surviving.
[img]https://t.imgbox.com/EUNRFMPR.jpg[/img]
[img]https://t.imgbox.com/SRAbpYhf.jpg[/img]
[img]https://t.imgbox.com/6x8zDEVq.jpg[/img]
The other side of Scavenger’s was still the same.
[img]https://t.imgbox.com/lJdQP89X.jpg[/img]
We have nothing later.

<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />This is so amazing! Thank you soo much for sharing. The perspective it gives is invaluable.

thanks for the pictures! I was never at Dawn Beach before 95, I don't think. I'm confused, was Dawn Beach Hotel where OBBR is now?

No,it was just before where the Westin is now. The central building at OBBR has been there for a long time (60s?)Oyster Pond Yacht Club.

OK, thanks.

Great pictures, thanks!

Priceless pics for all, but especially those of us who have been part of the development since 1998. Thanks.

Thanks for the photos---lots of memories for us since 1980.

Enjoyed seeing Oyster Pond pictures. We started visiting in early 1990s. My question is about Algeria. How did you find this time share resort now. We stayed there once about 5 years ago and enjoyed it but also know they have had management issues.

Thank you for those!

I always enjoyed spending the day at Dawn Beach. Taking a dip in the pool was refreshing after a hot, sandy day on the beach.
It felt "old style" Caribbean.

The Westin is an abomination.

Thanks for the shout out!! I lived on the Pond in the early 80's and my father-in-law, along with Alan Busby had the "Rusty Chair" beach bar in the coconut grove that is now Coral Beach Club. My sons grew up swimming in the pool at Dawn Beach Hotel. So enjoyed my years of Scavengers, the best of my life!! My love of Dawn Beach runs deep!!

Hey R. & Beachette, remember well that little resort on Dawn Beach, that was really development back in the day. We went there with "Elaine" for an afternoon, then it was gone, but still the Westin remains! Loved the old pictures, remember the island well in the 70's & of course, my husband has memories even further back! Maybe Orient can come back like it was in the old days before government intervention?