Cable Beach, Bahamas

Cable Beach is a beach, resort destination, and populated place on the northern coast of New Providence Island in the Bahamas west of Nassau. It spans two and a half miles.^[1] It is home to Pompey Market.^[2] Cable Beach features a golf course, five luxury resorts, and the largest casino in the country that attracts most of its visitors. The beach offers a multitude of water sports, excess space to tan and sun bath, and provides a very alive nighttime feel for those who enjoy the starry skies. Its mix of excitement and relief puts it at the top of destinations for visitors who are looking for a feeling of luxury while relaxing. The peak tourist season runs from mid-December to April, with the most favorable weather occurring between March and June. During this period, average daytime temperatures range from 82°F to 86°F (28°C to 30°C), making it ideal for beach activities and outdoor excursions.Jet skiing is a common recreational activity for tourists due to the calm, clear waters and often is considered by beachfront resorts and independent vendors with options for guided tours or freestyle riding.^[3]

2009 map

History

It is said Cable Beach owes its name to an 1892 submarine telegraph cable linking Jupiter, Florida to Goodman's Bay.^[4]

Tourism in the area dates back as early as the 1940s, and by the 1950s, it had become a centre for hotel development. It was called the Bahamian Riviera.^{[citation needed]}

The Emerald Beach Hotel, opened in 1954, was the first air conditioned hotel and opened the largest casino in the Bahamas. Although the hotel is defunct and has been replaced more than once, the casino is still in use to this day.^[5]

Howard Deering Johnson's first venture outside of the United States opened in 1958 in Cable Beach.^[6]

Cable Beach experienced a period of instability in the wake of Bahamian independence and liberation as well as the rise of the newer Paradise Island and other tourism competitors. The PLP government headed by Lynden Pindling began buying failing hotels.^[7] A number of these were re-privatised in the 1990s when the FNM came into power.

• 
  Skyline in 1988
• 
  Skyline in 2015

Resorts and hotels

• Goldwynn Resort and Residences
• Baha Mar
• Breezes
• Casuarinas
• Marley Resort and Spa
• Meliá Nassau Beach
• Ocean West Boutique Hotel
• Sandals Royal Bahamian
• Westwind Club

Defunct

• Ambassador Beach Hotel
• The Balmoral
• Crystal Palace Resort (replaced by Baha Mar)
• Hyatt Emerald Beach Hotel (replaced by Crystal Palace)
• Nassau Beach Lodge (replaced by Baha Mar)
• Sheraton Nassau Beach Resort (replaced by Meliá)
• Sonesta Beach Hotel^[8]