Fort Thomas site in St. Kitts to be transformed into $30M cultural and heritage park

The historic Fort Thomas property in St. Kitts is entering a bold new chapter. The 8.7-acre site, long a silent witness to the island’s past, will soon be reborn as a $30 million development blending culture, education, and tourism.

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Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew led the official groundbreaking for The Symbol of Love Museum and Monuments, calling it the end of “two decades of silence” at one of the nation’s most storied landmarks.

“Twenty-six years ago, in 1999, the Government of Saint Kitts and Nevis acquired this property. For too long, it stood idle, its rich history fading,” he said. “Many of us remember when Fort Thomas hosted music festivals, alive with energy and culture. Today, that silence ends.”

Under a new lease agreement with ABL Inc.—a Caribbean developer known for innovative tourism projects—Fort Thomas will be redeveloped into a world-class cultural and heritage park.

At the heart of the project will be two major institutions: the Caribbean Museum of History and the International Museum, designed to celebrate the region’s shared identity while placing it within a global context.

“This project is about preservation and transformation,” Prime Minister Drew said. “Our Caribbean Museum will tell our story—one of resilience, creativity, and unity—while our International Museum will connect us to the wider world.”

The development will include botanical gardens with water features, dining and retail spaces showcasing authentic Caribbean hospitality, and a jetty that will enhance sea access for cruise visitors. Replicas of major world heritage monuments will also honor figures who shaped history through courage, justice, and peace.

The government emphasized that the project is a pure foreign direct investment, independent of the Citizenship by Investment Programme. Ownership will transfer only after the developer fulfills its commitments, with strict provisions for local workforce participation, environmental protection, and archaeological supervision to safeguard the fort’s legacy.

Tourism Minister Marsha Henderson said the initiative aligns closely with the country’s sustainable tourism strategy. “We have two limbs in sustainable tourism—preserving our natural and heritage sites, and ensuring social inclusion,” she said. “Children will be able to come here, local vendors and residents will be part of what happens on these grounds, and so we welcome this development wholeheartedly.”

The project also dovetails with the national tourism brand, ‘Venture Deeper’, which invites visitors to explore the layered history and identity of Saint Kitts and Nevis. “This development will make Fort Thomas an epicentre of Caribbean and international history,” Dr. Drew said. “It will celebrate our past, honor global heritage, and position Saint Kitts as the Caribbean’s most authentic and innovative tourism destination.”