Gros Islet was, by most local accounts, a quiet fishing village well into the 20th century — the transformation began in earnest once the surrounding mangrove swampland was dredged in the 1970s to create Rodney Bay Marina and the causeway linking the mainland to Pigeon Island. Today the district anchors Saint Lucia’s international real estate market, taking in everything from marina-front condos to sprawling hillside estates. The village itself still hosts the island’s best-known weekly event — the Gros Islet Friday Night Street Party, a tradition the Tourism Authority notes has run for more than 50 years, with grilled food, live music, and the whole street given over to the crowd. A short drive inland or up into the hills trades that energy for privacy, with gated communities and villa developments keeping the airport and the marina close without the noise. Between strong rental demand, reliable infrastructure, and a lifestyle that doesn’t force a choice between convenience and beauty, Gros Islet is where most property searches on the island begin.

During WW II there was an American naval base located there that was the home to a sea planes unit that searched the regional waters for German U-boats. One of the few items remaining from those days is ‘the ramp’ which today is the parking area located between the a Hotel and restaurant on Reduit Beach. During the earlier times it was the actual ramp the seaplanes used to enter and exit the sea.

Following the war, tourism development in this area was nearly non existent until the project involving excavating the swamplands to make the inner harbour began. The dirt that was removed was dumped to the north forming the causeway that connects the original shoreline to Pigeon Island, which was a true island prior to the project. It wasn’t long, of course, until resorts and hotels began springing up nearly everywhere around the beautiful beach and picturesque inner harbour. A major concentration of tourism activity is located in Rodney Bay with the largest expanse of white sandy beaches, a bustling marina, shopping malls, casino, restaurants and entertainment not to mention the most sort after real estate. However the old village of Gros Islet is still a flourishing district. Gros Islet has an international reputation for its Friday Night Jump Up street party but many visitors find liming in the village other nights of the week without the throngs of partiers to be a fun time as well. There are many neighbourhoods within this district with one the highest population density. Popularly called the next Capital every amenity can be found here from legal services to private schools. Today, Pigeon Island is a National Landmark with plenty of ruins from days past.