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Grande Island holds historical significance as a defense fort that protected the Philippines for four centuries. It was first occupied by the Spanish Empire and in 1885, was fortified as an island fortress together with its port city, Olongapo. Grande Island then became the key to the overall defense of Manila. The Spanish ascertained that if Subic Bay was controlled by an enemy, it could easily be made into a support base which could expedite the attack and captivity of Manila.
The Spanish were correct in judging that Subic Bay was the key to protecting Manila. In 1898, the U.S. Navy led by Admiral Dewey, attacked Manila Bay before the Spanish could complete their fortification of Grande Island. The American gunboats Raleigh and Concord, together with Filipino insurgence troops, captured Grande and Subic. With the signing of a peace treaty between Spain and the U.S., Subic Bay was then left largely undisturbed.
1n 1905, the U.S. Army purchased Grande Island and began arming it. It was given the name Fort Wint in honor of Brigadier General Theodore J. Wint, U.S. Army. Guns were mounted in the batteries. The batteries were assigned the following names: Warwick (10-inch guns), Woodruff and Hall (6-inch guns), and Jewell & Flake (3-inch guns). To this day, the remains of these batteries and some of their cannons can be seen on Grande Island.
On December 12, 1941, Japanese planes began to bomb Fort Wint and fired upon it with machine guns. No personal injuries were suffered by any Fort Wint personnel. It was later ordered abandoned on Christmas Eve. All of the fixed Coastal Defense systems were rendered useless and left in place.
The Japanese then garrisoned Fort Wint with anti-aircraft guns and automatic weapons. No efforts were made to repair the American guns or to build a new permanent fortification.
When Manila fell during World War II, the Japanese abandoned Subic Bay to protect Manila. In December 1944, the U.S. captured Subic Bay without firing a single shot. The Americans then developed it into a supply base.
During the post World War II period, Grande Island was abandoned and then rediscovered. Many sailors and marines used the island as a rest and recreational center during the Vietnam War.
In April 1975 at the end of the Vietnam War, Grande Island was made into a haven for 43,000 Vietnamese and Cambodian men, women and children refugees. Grande Island served as a temporary housing area until the refugees could be transferred to a more permanent location. This was called “Operation New Life”. One year later, the Grande Island Recreation Center was opened to military personnel and their dependents and was established as a Family Recreational Center.
Grande Island Resort has 80 chalet rooms with private verandas. The breezes in the beachfront chalets are particularly refreshing, especially in the evening after a hearty meal at the Orchid Garden Restaurant. The bathrooms are well-appointed with black marble walls and countertops and a sophisticated shower system with multi-directional nozzles to point the streams of water at your body in varying angles. Each chalet has white walls and is decorated in warm reds and natural colored rattan headboards and furniture.
There are also 10 more Hotel rooms to choose from. Just like the Chalets, these Hotel rooms come with two big queen-sized beds, airconditioning, mini refrigerator and a private bathroom but without the added comfort of a private veranda and more convenient access to the beach.perfect for guests looking for basic comfortable accommodations at a budget price.
Finally, we have our Honeymoon Suite located right next to the Side Beach. This suite is exclusive for couples and VIPs only and comes with a private pool, Jacuzzi, steam and sauna rooms.
Chalet Room Amenities
• Generous queen-sized beds with fiber filled duvets for mite-free sleeping
• Black marble bathroom walls and countertops with multi-directional shower nozzles
• Television with cable channels
• Free WIFI access
• IDD/NDD telephone
• Executive writing desk
• Electronic safe
• Coffee and tea-making facilities
• Private minibar and refrigerator
• Electronic key card control system
• Air-conditioning
• Solar heated hot water and cold water
• 220AC universal outlets
Honeymoon Suite Amenities
• Fluffy king-sized bed with warm bedside lighting
• Fiber filled duvet for mite-free sleeping
• 54-inch Television with cable channels
• Free WIFI access
• IDD/NDD telephone
• Living room with bar
• Private swimming pool
• Sundeck loungers and patio table set
• Sauna and steam rooms
• Jacuzzi
• His and hers personal sinks
• Hot and cold water
• Private mini-bar and refrigerator
• Terrycloth bathrobes
• Air-conditioning
• Electronic safe
• 220AC universal outlets
Hotel Room Amenities
• Generous queen-sized beds with fiber filled duvets for mite-free sleeping
• Television with cable channels
• Free WIFI access
• IDD/NDD telephone
• Executive writing desk
• Coffee and tea-making facilities
• Private mini-bar and refrigerator
• Electronic key card control system
• Air-conditioning
• Hot and cold water
• 220AC universal outlets
Grande Island Lobby
Start your day at Grande right by having a satisfying breakfast at the sun-brightened Grande lobby area. Sip a refreshing glass of orange juice or savor the fragrant smell of a cup of freshly brewed coffee, served with your choice of a Continental or Grande Filipino breakfast. When you’re in the mood for lighter fare for lunch or dinner, the Grande Island Lobby also offers pasta lovers Creamy Fettuccine Carbonara and Spaghetti Bolognese. Not in the mood for pasta? Try our delicious Tuna or Ham & Cheese Sandwiches, both served with crisp lettuce leaves and slices of juicy tomatoes. Wherever your appetite leads you, enjoying all your meals here will be even more pleasurable because you’ll be having them right beside the wide, blue and breezy expanse of Subic Bay.
Orchid Garden Restaurant
Experience truly excellent Chinese cuisine at the Orchid Garden. Located between the hotel and chalets, the Orchid Garden is tended to by our superb chefs who know how to create really tasty mainstays like Sweet & Sour Pork, Lemon Chicken and Peking Duck. Kids will like the Orchid Garden Rice Toppings with 11 variations to pick from. Bigger adults in groups of ten or more will enjoy choosing among complete and well-priced Lauriat set menus featuring soup, five or six beef, pork, seafood, chicken, vegetable or noodle dishes and a sweet dessert that will put big smiles on their faces afterwards.
Function Rooms
A five function rooms suitable for seminars, conferences, product launches, weddings and private parties. Our smallest venue is 119 square meters going all the way up to the largest at 256 square meters. Each room is fully air conditioned with complete facilities to suit your occasion.
Five function rooms for you to choose from:
• Orchid Garden Restaurant & Bar – 100 persons capacity (banquet set up)
• Eagle Function Room – 300 persons capacity (theater set-up)
• Lovebird Function Room – 72 person capacity (theater set-up)
• Parrot Function Room – 72 person capacity (theater set-up)
• Swan Function Room – 220 person capacity (theater set-up)
• The Nest (Outdoor Area) – 630 person capacity (theater set-up)
Function Room Facilities:
• Overhead projector
• LCD projector
• White board with markers and eraser
• Paper and pencils
• Sound System
• Microphones
• Podium
Yacht
The M/V Princess Kat is one of Grande’s marine vessels. It can accommodate a private party of up to 70 persons and is suitable for intimate gatherings such as weddings and birthday parties as well as late afternoon cocktails.
Sea lovers can soak the sun’s rays up at any one of Grande’s Front and Side Beaches. Alternatively, they can also indulge in Grande’s water sports activities such as snorkeling, banana boat riding, water biking, kayaking and parasailing. There are also other water towable rides such as the mambo duo and chariot which two to three people can ride and have the time of their lives in being towed at fast speeds by a speedboat. Life vests are provided for guests’ safety.
Landlubbers can enjoy an afternoon of driving an ATV (All Terrain Vehicle) around the island and forest. Along the way they will see Battery Woodruff & Hall (6-inch guns), remnants of the Americans’ military presence on Grande Island during the Second World War. Beach volleyball, billiards, darts, chess, nature trekking and fishing are also options you can explore.
Grande Island Resort is located at Subic Bay Freeport Zone, currently a 2.5 hour drive from Manila passing through the old route using the San Fernando exit from NLEX. However, travel time will be reduced to only 1.5 hours from Balintawak, Quezon City in Metro Manila to Subic when the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx) re-opens. For the latest updates on the re-opening, please call the SCTEx Hotlines at (045) 865-2030, (02) 362-9997 and (02) 362-2246.
Directions:
By Car (old route) - Take the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) and exit at San Fernando. From the toll booth, turn right and drive towards Bataan. You will pass through the towns of Bacolor, Guagua, Lubao in Pampanga and Dinalupihan in Bataan where you make a right turn towards Olongapo and the Subic Bay Freeport Zone. Enter the Tipo Expressway and proceed to Rizal Highway. Turn into Burgos St. (at the corner of Subic Bay Yacht Club) and go towards Waterfront Road where the Grande Terminal is located. The terminal is almost across the SBMA Administration Building.
By Car (via SCTEx) - Drive to the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), take the Spur/NLE interchange located between the Dau and Sta. Inez Exits of the NLEX and proceed to the SCTEx Clark Logistics Toll Plaza. After crossing the bridge, follow the loop of the ramp towards Subic. Follow the road directional signage going to the Subic Bay Freeport Zone (SBFZ). Once inside the SBFZ, go to Rizal Highway, turn into Burgos St. (at the corner of Subic Bay Yacht Club) and go towards Waterfront Road where the Grande Island Terminal is located.
By Bus – Victory Liner and Saulog Transit regularly ply the routes of Olongapo City. When you get off the bus at Olongapo City, take a taxi cab and ask the driver to bring you directly to the Subic Bay Freeport Zone and to the Grande Island Terminal on Waterfront Road.
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