Compass Cay
Compass Cay is located mid way down the Exumas at the Southern boundary of the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park. Within the park, no fishing or taking of any plant or animal is allowed. The Park Rangers, based in Warderick Wells, patrol the area to ensure that the local flora and fauna can grow without the usual threat of mankind’s presence. With scheduled flights arriving at the airstrip on Staniel Cay only 6 miles to the south, the COMPASS CAY RESORT and MARINA will provide an easily accessible, environmentally friendly place to stay and enjoy these wonderful islands.
Tucker Rolle related that an attempt to establish a cotton plantation had once been made on Compass Cay. It failed after a few years — a fate of all the other attempts throughout the Bahamas. Cotton can still be found growing wild in some areas.
The very W segment of the island had housed a small village and residents farmed it for food. Tucker's grandparents had once lived there. There are ruins of the village hidden in the scrub.
At the the NE tip of the large crescent beach on the SE area of the island, the ruins of what had once been a bungalow perched on the rock can be seen. This home had a spectacular view. It was owned by one of the women who owned the Cay, Hester. The second woman lived in a separate home. There were two jeeps on the island used by Hester and the other woman to get around on the island. Apparently they met head-on one night and Hester received a hand injury that required her to be flown off the island for treatment. She recovered and returned to the island but being of advanced age with no family or relatives to help she found island living too much and abandoned the house. Time and storms wrecked destruction and the spectacular ruins remain while the rock promontory it sits upon is also crumbling into the sea. A periodic visitor to the island has cleaned it up enough to be able to use it as an exercise facility.
