The story of the Raintree
Restaurant in St. Augustine reads a little bit like a romantic
novel.
 On the thirtieth
of March, 1979, the MacDonald family, consisting of father and
mother, Tristan and Alex, and son Gaere, and daughter, Lorna, left
England in their 45-foot yacht, Intsholo III, bound for the U.S.A.,
just as their countrymen had done in the seventeenth century, and
for just about the same reason. They felt frustrated and restricted
by high taxation that limited their ambitions and sought a new
country in which to realize their dreams. Hence, they sold everything,
business, house, cars and most of their furniture and said goodbye
to Europe and their friends.
At 5 p.m.
on Nov. 7, 1979, they left the safety of the Canaries for the open
Atlantic as bells rang and horns blew on the boats that were still
outfitting for their own adventures.
Ties with
the Old World had been cut.
The crossing
took 17 days and six hours before Intsholo III anchored at Bridgetown,
Barbados. The next step was across to Florida and then north to
St. Augustine.
In November
of 1980, the MacDonalds found the old house at 102 San Marco Avenue
that was to become the Raintree Restaurant after ten months of
renovation and restoration.
As you walk up the path leading into this old house of more than twelve
decades, you’ll feel the warmth of time
and enjoy the decor that says, “welcome.” In the restaurant
is a replica of the yacht that brought the MacDonalds to America.
Since opening in 1981, The Raintree continues to be recognized
nationally and internationally as one of Florida’s top destination
restaurants. A visit to St. Augustine would not be complete without
an evening at the Raintree.
Outside of
The RaintreeThis century-old Victorian building is one of the last
survivors of a period of development that began in this part of
St. Augustine after the end of the Civil War.
In Colonial times this section of the
city was kept purposely undeveloped as a 1500-yard defense perimeter
to the north of the Castillo de San Marcos.
Later it was cultivated for orange groves. This land
was part of the Hernandez Homestead. Its owner, General Joseph
M. Hernandez was Florida’s first Congressman.
In 1879 this
property was purchased at public auction by Bernard Masters, a
37-year-old Confederate veteran with large cattle and real estate
interests. He proceeded to build this house and many others in
the area.
Changing
tastes and styles and patterns of development have resulted in
the demolition of most of the old buildings that once graced San
Marco Avenue. Sadly, the liveoak trees that once arched their
great limbs over the street and made for a popular scenic attraction
were cut down to widen the road.
As this
building approached the beginning of its second century, it stood
almost alone as a reminder of the Victorian heyday of the area.
The New York
Times once noted that “There should be special
awards for restaurants that manage to combine quality food with
historic surroundings, buildings that proudly proclaim their heritage
and encourage diners in their own remembrance of things past.”
We hope you will enjoy your visit to this
historic building, and come back to dine with us again.
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