“All roads lead to Bishop’s”.

Robert Davis

For more than forty years, Ruben Roberts—known to everyone simply as Bishop—has welcomed residents and visitors to his beachfront bar and restaurant in High Rock.

Then, in 2019, Hurricane Dorian destroyed almost everything he had built—but not his determination to begin again. It was an experience, he says, that he would not wish on anyone.

A High Rock Tradition

Bishop’s began around 1981 and grew into a much-loved High Rock landmark—a beachfront restaurant and bar with a small hotel catering to visitors, residents and bonefishing enthusiasts. The 2016 photograph below shows the property as it appeared before Hurricane Dorian.

Bishop’s Beach Club, restaurant and small hotel in 2016, three years before Hurricane Dorian.

Then came Hurricane Dorian. In September 2019, the catastrophic storm levelled Bishop’s renowned beach club, restaurant and hotel and caused extensive damage to his nearby home. Bishop and his wife had to be rescued by the United States Coast Guard.

“Like an atomic bomb”

That was how Bishop described the devastation. “I don’t even like to talk about it,” he said. “The entire ceiling was gone, then the door busted open and water and stuff came. Then the bedroom was gone. My wife had to sleep in the water in the kitchen for two nights, and I lost everything—my club, my beach bar and my hotel.”

Bishop’s Beach Club, Restaurant and Bar in the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian, September 2019.

Beginning again

Dorian destroyed the hotel, restaurant and beach bar that Bishop had spent decades building. The hotel has not yet returned, although rebuilding it remains one of his hopes. But Bishop persevered, and today his beautifully rebuilt beach bar once again welcomes residents and visitors to the High Rock shoreline.

Bishop’s has long been more than a place to eat and drink; it has become part of the character of High Rock, even inspiring this painting by Freeport artist Leo Brown.

Bishop’s beach, as captured by Freeport artist Leo Brown in 2019.