👻 HAUNTED PLACE · EXP. Nº1190
ACTIVE
Cinnamon Hill
Cinnamon Hill is a location reputed to be haunted in St James Parish, JM. Its reputation comes from reported apparitions, unexplained phenomena and eyewitness accounts gathered over time.
Where is Cinnamon Hill?
- Location
- St James Parish, JM
- Type
- House / mansion
- Coordinates
- 18.503, -77.8
- Testimonies
- 0
- Last updated
LOCATION
Why is Cinnamon Hill said to be haunted?
Cinnamon Hill is a Georgian great house on a former sugar plantation in St James Parish, Jamaica. Built 1734-1784 by the Barrett family. Home to Johnny Cash 1972-2003. No evidence of hauntings.
What is the history of Cinnamon Hill?
Cinnamon Hill is a Georgian great house on a former sugar plantation in St James Parish, Jamaica. Construction began in 1734 by Samuel Barrett Jr., who purchased the Cornwall estate, but he died in 1760 before completion. His fourth son Edward Barrett finished the house in 1784. Edward became one of Jamaica's wealthiest planters and played a key role in founding Falmouth. The house survived the 1831 slave rebellion that destroyed most great houses. The property passed through several owners including George Robertson, Joseph Shore, and the Henderson family. In 1972, American country singer Johnny Cash purchased the estate and lived there until his death in 2003, using it as a Jamaican retreat. Today it operates as a museum and tourist attraction.
The house is built of cut stone with a single-story west wing containing dining and living rooms, and a two-story east wing added between 1780-1785 with sitting rooms and bedrooms. It features large verandas, hardwood floors, and a hurricane shelter converted to a bathroom by Cash. The estate includes 10,000 acres of former plantation land and sits on the Cinnamon Hill Golf Course.
There is no evidence of hauntings. The "White Witch" legend appears to be a modern invention, likely created for tourism. The house has no documented paranormal activity, and its history is well-documented through plantation records, family archives, and the Jamaica Great Houses website.
Timeline: the documented record of Cinnamon Hill
- 1734 Samuel Barrett Jr. begins construction after purchasing Cornwall estate.
- 1760 Samuel Barrett Jr. dies; construction halted.
- 1784 Edward Barrett completes house, establishing Barrett family fortune.
- 1817 Edward Long's survey records 323 enslaved people at nearby estates.
- 1831 Slave rebellion destroys most great houses; Cinnamon Hill survives.
- 1972 Johnny Cash purchases estate for US$150,000 as Jamaican retreat.
- 2003 Johnny Cash dies; estate sold back to Rollins family, opened as museum.
Is there a rational explanation for Cinnamon Hill?
The "White Witch" legend lacks any historical basis. Wikipedia's 2024 entry for Cinnamon Hill contains this fabricated story, but the Jamaica Great Houses website and primary sources provide a factual history. Geoffrey S. Yates, Assistant Archivist at Jamaica Archives, confirmed there is no record of any murder or haunting at the property. The house's reputation as haunted appears to be a modern marketing device, similar to Rose Hall's "Annie Palmer" legend which has been debunked by archival research.
Johnny Cash's ownership (1972-2003) was well-documented and the house was maintained as a private residence. There are no reports of paranormal activity during his occupancy or since. The hurricane shelter conversion to a bathroom by Cash is the only notable alteration to the interior. The property's commercial haunted tours began after Cash's death, capitalizing on the fictional legend rather than historical fact.
Can you visit Cinnamon Hill?
Cinnamon Hill is open to the public as a museum and tourist attraction. It is located on Cinnamon Hill Road, St James Parish, approximately 20 minutes from Montego Bay Sangster International Airport. The property is managed by Rose Hall Developments Limited. Tours run daily from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, with guided visits lasting 45-60 minutes. The house features the original furnishings and personal items from the Cash era, including Johnny's shoes and family photographs. Visitors can see the hurricane shelter converted to a bathroom, the hardwood floors, and the verandas with ocean views. Photography is permitted outside but not inside the house. The estate includes the 18th-century graveyard where several Barrett family members are buried.
Admission costs US$30 for adults and US$12 for children 4-11. Jamaicans receive discounted rates with national ID. The property is wheelchair accessible and offers ADA services. For more information, call (876) 953-2341.
Sources consulted
- Jamaica Great Houses, «Cinnamon Hill Great House» — Website, 2024 web
- Edward Long, «Edward Long, A New and Accurate Description of Jamaica» — Book, 1774 book
- Geoffrey S. Yates, «Rose Hall — Death of a Legend» — Jamaica Archives, 1965 archive
- The New York Times, «Johnny Cash obituary» — Newspaper, 2003 newspaper archive
- Jamaica Land Registry, «Cinnamon Hill property records» — Government records, 2024 archive
Reviewed by V. Serrano on 2026-08-21 · How we verify our content
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