Simms Long Island a Village Frozen Somewhere in the 1970s

From the outside, the white clapboard chapel at Simms doesn’t look much different than it did fifty years ago — or a hundred. The wooden pews, the graveyard out back, the road that turns from pavement to dirt a few hundred yards away. It’s the kind of place that makes you check your watch, then check it again, because nothing here seems to have changed in decades.

That’s the pull of Simms, the southernmost settlement on Long Island in the Bahamas. It’s not polished, not convenient, and not trying to be. What it offers is something increasingly rare in the islands: a living community that feels untouched by the tourism economy, where the pace of life hasn’t sped up to meet anyone else’s schedule. This guide covers what makes Simms worth the detour, how to get there, and what you need to know before you go.

Before diving into each part of Simms, here’s a quick overview of what you’ll find and why each piece matters.

The Simms Family Legacy

Simms isn’t named for a geographic feature or a colonial official — it’s named for the family that settled it. The Simms family were among the first permanent residents of this stretch of Long Island, and their descendants still live here today. That continuity is rare in the Bahamas, where many settlements shifted or faded after the end of the plantation era.

The family’s story traces back to enslaved Africans brought to the Bahamas during the colonial period. After emancipation, they established a free community on this stretch of the western shore, building homes, raising families, and working the land and sea. The result is a settlement that has remained continuously inhabited by the same bloodline for generations — a living link to the post-emancipation Bahamas that you won’t find in any museum.

What makes this more than a footnote is the way the settlement has kept its character. There’s no memorial, no interpretive sign — just the houses, the chapel, the graveyard, and the people who carry the family name. That’s the kind of history you have to sit with, not scroll past.

The Historic Chapel and Plantation Ruins

A short walk from the center of the settlement, the small white chapel stands as Simms’ most visible landmark. It’s a simple wooden structure with a white-painted exterior, the kind of building that could pass for a rural church anywhere in the Caribbean — but here, it’s one of the oldest surviving structures in the area.

The chapel is still used for services, though not on a regular weekly schedule. Most gatherings happen around family reunions, holidays, or special occasions, when descendants return to Simms and fill the pews again. The churchyard beside it contains the graves of early settlers, some with dates that trace back to the 1800s.

Nearby, the ruins of a Loyalist-era plantation offer a different kind of history. Stone walls, building foundations, and scattered remnants of a colonial estate sit half-hidden in the brush. These are the remains of the plantation economy that brought enslaved people to Long Island in the first place. Together, the chapel and the ruins tell both sides of the island’s story — the forced migration and the free community that followed.

Blue Holes and Natural Long Island

Long Island is famous for its blue holes — Dean’s Blue Hole near Clarence Town is the deepest in the world — but Simms has its own smaller versions, tucked away along the coast and inland. These aren’t touristed or signposted. You reach them by foot along the shoreline or by dinghy if you’re anchored offshore.

The limestone cliffs that frame this part of the coast are weathered into dramatic shapes, with rocky points and sandy coves alternating every few hundred yards. The water clarity is excellent in calm conditions, making the coves good for snorkeling right off the beach. There are no rental shops, no guides, no posted maps — you explore on your own or with a local who knows the area.

Heading into the water around Simms reframed the afternoon. Without crowds, without noise, it’s just you and the limestone and the clear green water — a reminder that not every good swimming spot needs a name on a map.

Visiting Simms Today

The settlement today is quiet. A few cars, a handful of houses, the chapel, and the dock. Residents are welcoming, but this is a private community — people live here, and visitors should treat it with the same respect they’d give any small town. Most people who come are cruising sailors stopping for a night or two, or day-trippers from other parts of Long Island.

Here’s a practical sequence for making the most of a visit.

Making It Work: Access and Logistics

Simms asks more of you than a typical Bahamas stop. Here’s how to meet it.

Getting to Simms

The most straightforward route for most visitors is fly into Stella Maris Airport (SML) from Nassau or Providenciales, then drive south. The 30-40 minute drive passes through several smaller settlements before the pavement ends. If you’re comfortable on rough roads, a rental car works. Otherwise, booking a private driver from Stella Maris is an option — ask at the airport or your accommodation.

For cruisers, Simms is a well-known stop on the Long Island circuit. The anchorage offers good protection in northerly winds, and the holding in sand is reliable. The ‘Let’s Geaux’ charter boat and other crewed yachts sometimes include Simms on their itineraries.

What to Pack

Beyond the obvious (water, food, sun protection), bring a printed or downloaded map. Cell service is unreliable in Simms, and the road network on southern Long Island is unmarked. A flashlight or headlamp is useful if you’re walking the coastal path near dusk. Snorkel gear is worth carrying — the coves are clear and uncrowded. If you have a drone, the coastline and blue holes look完全不同 from above, but check local regulations before flying.

Best Time to Visit

November through May is the dry season and the most comfortable window for visiting Simms. Temperatures are milder, rainfall is lower, and the roads are in better condition. Summer (June-October) brings heat, humidity, and a higher risk of tropical storms. The village itself is accessible year-round, but the rough road and lack of air-conditioned facilities make the cooler months a better choice for most visitors.

Before You Visit Simms, Long Island

Is Simms worth visiting if I’m not on a boat?

Yes, if you’re comfortable driving on unpaved roads and bringing your own supplies. The drive from Stella Maris Airport is manageable in a rental SUV, and the payoff is a place that feels genuinely different from anywhere else on the island.

If you’re short on time or prefer guided experiences, focus on the more accessible parts of Long Island like Dean’s Blue Hole or Cape Santa Maria. Simms rewards the traveler who has time to slow down.

Can you swim in the blue holes near Simms?

Some are swimmable in calm conditions, but approach with caution. The depth is unknown in many of them, and the limestone edges can be sharp. Ask a local which ones are safe to enter — they’ll know which holes have sandy bottoms and which are better left to the eye.

Never dive into a blue hole headfirst. Enter slowly and check for submerged rocks or debris.

Are there beaches in Simms?

Yes, but they’re not the long sandy stretches you find on the east side of Long Island. Simms has small coves and pocket beaches tucked between limestone outcrops. They’re quiet, clean, and completely undeveloped — no lounge chairs, no umbrellas, no crowds.

The best beach access is a short walk south from the settlement along the shoreline.

Is Simms safe for families?

Very safe. Crime is extremely low in Simms, and the community is welcoming to visitors who treat the settlement with respect. The main risks are environmental: sun exposure, sharp limestone, and the occasional rough road. Keep an eye on kids near the blue holes and the rocky coastline.

The quiet pace also means there’s very little traffic — kids can walk the dirt lanes without the worry you’d have on a busier island.

A Village That Runs on Its Own Time

Simms doesn’t advertise itself. It doesn’t have a welcome sign, a visitor center, or a featured spot on any tour company’s route. That’s exactly the point. In a part of the world where so many places have been polished for postcards, Simms is still raw, still real, still running on the unhurried rhythm that has defined it for generations. You don’t visit Simms to check a box. You visit to feel what it’s like when a place is left alone to be itself.

For a broader look at what Long Island offers beyond Simms — including Dean’s Blue Hole, Cape Santa Maria, and the island’s quieter beaches — read our full Long Island guide.

References

Sail Abacos. “Simms.” Sail Abacos, 2024. ↗

Google Maps. “Simms, Long Island, Bahamas.” ↗

If Simms sparked your curiosity about the quieter side of the Bahamas, our guide to sustainable travel in the Bahamas covers more places where tourism hasn’t rewritten the landscape. For families planning a trip, the family adventure in Eleuthera offers a similar unhurried pace with more infrastructure. And if you’re building a food-focused Bahamas itinerary, our deep dive into conch, cocktails, and Bahamian food culture will help you plan the meals between the adventures.