Did you know that Leonardo DiCaprio bought an entire 104-acre Caribbean island for USD 1.75 million? The Academy Award-winning actor and environmental activist, alongside co-buyer and hotelier Jeff Gram, purchased the Blackadore Caye, which is a 104-acre uninhabited island off the coast of Belize. The pair had wanted to transform the property into the world’s first “restorative island”; the ambitious eco-resort project aims to heal a severely degraded ecosystem while operating as an ultra-luxury sustainable holiday destination. However, since the project first started, the actor has faced quite a lot of issues.
In 2005, Leonardo DiCaprio bought a Caribbean island to turn it into a unique resort
The New York Post reported that the actor invested USD 1.75 million into the 104-acre island, which is located west of Ambergris Caye, Belize, near the Belize Barrier Reef, back in 2005. Enlisting the help of architect Jason F. McLennan, the actor purchased the space with one aim in mind: to build a restorative island, or the world’s first eco-friendly resort.
The beloved actor purchased the island after he went there for a vacation in 2004. He bought it with the aim to start an eco resort without affecting the flora and fauna of the island. “(Instagram)
Labeled “Blackadore Caye: A Restorative Island,” this has been a passion project for the star since he first fell in love with the Caribbean island. The actor had been there for a holiday in Belize in 2004; he was staying at Cayo Espanto, an ultra-luxury resort owned by hotelier Jeff Gram. That was when he discovered Blackadore Caye.Before the purchase, the space had suffered from decades of overfishing, deforestation by local fishermen who used the island’s timber to smoke their catch, and severe coastline erosion, among other issues. Restoration plans to bring the island’s original included planting 20,000+ native red mangroves, rebuilding topsoil, installing artificial reefs and fish shelters, and establishing an on-site climate and marine research station.According to the actor’s plan, he kept roughly 50% to 58.6% of the island’s landmass untouched and designated as a permanent wildlife and habitat conservation reserve. Other than that, the resort plans to operate 100% off-grid using solar energy, rainwater harvesting, and zero-waste closed-loop water treatment systems. According to the report, the resort plans feature 68 guest villas and 48 private estate homes priced between USD 5 million and USD 15 million, alongside wellness programming curated with Deepak Chopra’s foundation. Guests would also undergo a mandatory ecology orientation upon arrival.
Leonardo DiCaprio’s resort has been facing legal issues
While the project was estimated to be completed first in 2018 and then 2020, there is still no definite date as to when DiCaprio’s resort will be finished. One of the main challenges that the actor has faced is meeting the rigorous LEED and Living Building Challenge standards. One of the first issues came in 2016, as in one of the first proposals, there was an arc-shaped platform of overwater bungalows extending into the surrounding waters.However, his plans were met with quite a lot of backlash. Local fishing guides, residents of Ambergris Caye, and marine conservation groups protested that the structures encroached on the Hol Chan Marine Reserve (Conservation Zone V), shaded seagrass beds, and threatened lucrative catch-and-release fly-fishing flats. Afterwards, the plans were scrapped, and the arc and all parts of the first proposal were interfering with the marine life.Originally, it had been scheduled to open in 2018 and later revised to 2020; construction has stalled repeatedly due to permitting hurdles, environmental reviews, and logistical challenges of building off-grid on an eroded sandbar. More than 20 years after the initial purchase, the resort has yet to open to the public.While the project started as a bold and ambitious project, there is no certainty as to when the actor will be able to complete the project and the construction while keeping everything in line with the rules and regulations to keep the area protected.DISCLAIMER: Figures presented in this article are derived from various public sources and are considered approximate unless explicitly noted. We may include direct input from celebrities or their teams when available. We are open to feedback on toientertainment@timesinternet.in.