Open 8:30 AM until 6:00 PM Seven Days a Week

Lowell was born in the North Sound, Virgin Gorda to the Late Lawrence and Venetia Wheatley on June 15, 1946.  His father and his late brother Wilmore were both great sea captains. Like them, Lowell developed a love for the sea.  However, his first real job was in 1963, working overseas for the company that was then doing the construction work on the Little Dix Bay resort. In this job, he was able to save enough money to buy a small boat and begin his own lobster fishing business.

In 1969 Lowell moved to Anegada to fish for lobster to supply the Bitter End Yacht Club.   He quickly realized that it was a costly exercise to travel back and forth between Anegada and North Sound daily.  Ever the innovator and problem solver,  he built a lobster pool to preserve his catch until he had enough to make it worth traveling to Virgin Gorda. 

At the time, British businessman Kenneth Bates had leased the majority of Anegada from the British Government and was working on a massive development of Anegada as the "Anegada Development Corporation". This work was very unpopular, and eventually resulted in the termination of the project and lease by the government. Anegada began to return to its original state of peace and quiet. The halted development left behind many abandoned pieces of construction, one of which was the as yet unopened Anegada Reef Hotel. The abandoned 20-room building was then only used by visiting campers.  Everything had become rusty and gad generally fallen into a state of serious disrepair.

In this mess, Lowell saw opportunity.  He realized that with some dedication and hard work, the Anegada Reef Hotel could bring life back to Anegada.   In 1976, Lowell negotiated a lease with the Government, who was then the owner of the hotel property.  After months of hard work, the Anegada Reef Hotel was opened for business.  Lowell and his lovely wife Sue developed it, the first hotel on Anegada, into one of the most unique places in all the world.  Over the years the hotel and its anchorage became a favorite stopover for visiting yachtsmen, and Lowell became a friend to all who visited.

During that time Lowell also made countless rescues of yachts and sailors that stumbled upon the treacherous Anegada reef at night and in weather so foul that no one else would dare to venture out. He had a strong sense of responsibility to Anegada visitors -- whether he had ever met them or not.

Lowell was one of those people that seemed to have endless energy. I cannot recall ever seeing him be still for more than an instant. Even at rest, I am certain that his mind was still racing. He was always engaged in a project at his beloved Anegada Reef Hotel, which he and Sue built into a place that was extraordinarily peaceful, pleasant and comfortable. In fact, he was frequently involved in numerous bits of improvement all over Anegada, and always had more things planned. Lowell believed that if anything was worth doing, it was worth doing properly. Sadly, the accident that took his life came while he was doing one of his favorite things -- working.

Lowell and Sue were a great pair, with Sue adding the fine touches that made Anegada attractive to women and non-sailors.  Many other Anegada entrepreneurs are now reaping the rewards of their efforts.

This man was truly a larger-than-life character, a brother to all. No matter what the circumstance, you could count on a smile and a cheerful word from him. He put the sparkle in Anegada.

The world is indeed a much emptier place without him.

The images of Lowell below are from our own photos and from others who kindly contributed them. I hope that they will bring a smile to you and warmth to your heart, as they do for me.

(courtesy of N.W. Mangum)

Lowell and Young Charlie

Lowell at the Bar in the 1980's

Lowell building the Breakwater

Lowell Fishing on Basic Lady

Lowell and Baby Charlie

Thoughtful Lowell

Lowell, Sue, and Charlie

Chef Lowell

Lowell tending bar

A successful catch

Lowell the congenial host

Lowell and Sue

Lowell with Walker and Nancy Mangum in 2000

Lowell and grandson Lawrence in June, 2000

Make sure to stop by Sue’s Purple Turtle Boutique and write a note in the Memorial Book honoring her past husband, Lowell Wheatley.  As you know, Lowell was the inspiration behind the Anegada Reef Hotel, and, with the help of his wife, Sue, built it into a prime destination point in the BVI till his tragic and untimely death.  Remember Lowell in your own words by signing the Memorial Book on the porch of the Purple Turtle.