Necker Island is set to resume receiving guests in about six weeks, said Kenton Jones, the resort’s general manager, and plans are being made to rebuild Sir Richard Branson’s Great House, after it was destroyed by fire last month during Tropical Storm Irene.
“In truth, all of us really loved the old house, so it’s not going to have major changes to it,” Mr. Jones said. “The overall character and everything else we’re going to keep as close as we can to what we had.”
The new house will duplicate the open floor plan and “understated” look of the original Great House and will likely feature larger bedrooms for guests, he said.
“We’re pushing to have the project finished in 18 months,” he said. “From our perspective, reopening is a priority.”
See the Sept. 15, 2011 edition for full coverage.