The ruins of Arnos Vale

Located on the north-western side of Tobago, the Arnos Vale plantation was once a thriving sugar estate powered by a massive waterwheel. It was established by the British in the 1700s after they took control of the land from the early Amerindian settlers. The estate fell into ruins after sugar production ceased on the island in the 1960s. It was later restored into a tourist facility that housed a museum, restaurant overlooking the waterwheel and sugar factory machinery in the late 1990s.

Today, the place is back to a state of ruins. Still, it has some charm; primarily for those who like an adventure with a slight element of fear to add to the thrill. Upon first arriving at the sight, it was clear that this is not a place to visit on your own. After exiting the taxi on the main road to Les Couteaux, you walk down a rather lonely trail where leaves of tall plants on either side of the driveway, reach over to almost touch each other. It is off this driveway that you find the entrance that leads to a long wooden walkway with railings straight ahead.To the right just as you enter lies what was once an Amerindian museum, that housed artifacts discovered during the restoration of the site. The museum has been vandalised with many of the glass cases that housed historic artifacts broken and some of the artifacts destroyed.

Venturing down the walkway is quite precarious as the wood is rotting in some places and the roof overhead caving in others.

The towering waterwheel and other machinery from the old sugar factory lie ahead (albeit in derelict condition). However the less than structurally sound walkway can make the venture a dangerous one. With bats finding homes in the ceilings and the sheer desertedness of the place, the site has an eerie feeling that could thrill some while sending others fleeing as fast as their legs can carry them. It is said that even locals avoid coming here; something I picked up from the taxi driver who brought. Indeed, it is quite easy to jump out of your skin at the slightest sound and this is not a place to visit by yourself.

Even though the place has a ghostly feel and is a mere shadow of its former glory, it is a good spot to visit with a group. Apart from the bats that have taken up residence, here, there are species of birds and small animals that can be spotted. Along the walkways, the many bamboo trees and other greenery make here a place some nature lovers would find appealing.

Furthermore, the site shows glimpses of what the sugar-mill and plantation was like back in the 18th and 19th centuries as well as points to the wonderful work that was done in restoring it into a tourist sight.

Sadly though, it also shows how little we tend to value and preserve our environment as so many other sites of our natural and architectural heritage remain in a state of degradation and decay.