Montego Bay, Jamaica—probably the last place you would expect to find a connection to the timeless movie classic, The Sound of Music. But you would be wrong. The Highland House, perched on 17 lush acres overlooking Montego Bay, was not only once owned by Oscar Hammerstein, but it was where the Broadway legend penned many of the lyrics for The Sound of Music.

The 7,000 square-foot British Colonial villa was originally built in the 1940s for English actress Gladys Cooper. Hammerstein became the second owner when he and his wife, Dorothy, bought the estate as a personal retreat from the hectic New York scene pace. Many of Dorothy Hammerstein’s touches and period furniture remain, as the estate was purchased, fully furnished down to the dishes and silverware, in 2000 by Atlanta resident Brenda Isaac. Incredibly, she is only the fourth owner of this 70+ year-old slice of paradise.

While Isaac and her family immensely enjoy their visits to the property, there became a point when it was time to share it with others. The villa, with its six bedroom suites, rooftop sundeck, separate yoga pavilion and fresh water pool, is spacious enough for up to 12 people and is available as a luxury vacation rental, complete with a full staff of butler, cook, housekeeper, laundress and gardeners. The pool area has been deemed by USA Today as one of the top pools in the Caribbean.

Not only can Highland House be called unconventional, but should be placed in the one-of-a-kind category. Brenda Isaac wanted to own a vacation home in Jamaica because she loved the country’s authentic culture and how easily visitors can get submerged in that culture. A real estate agent led Isaac to the property and it was love at first sight.

After purchasing the property, Isaac implemented extensive renovations to preserve the property’s history and update the estate with latest amenities. During her many visits to Jamaica, she also began to see very real needs in the community.

As a result, she created the One Love Learning Foundation and some of its first projects included putting a kitchen in a nearby elementary school as well as beginning a garden and gathering donations for 500 stuffed backpacks. The program assisted the school children in learning how to maintain and harvest a garden so they could take this knowledge home and begin one with their families. The organic garden provides the children with a nutritious diet of fresh fruits and vegetables, while doubling as an outdoor classroom for an environmental education program.

One Love later started a similar garden program in Cape Town, South Africa and another in Atlanta. The foundation’s goal is to open up a whole new world to these children, feeding them in body, mind and soul through gardening, cultural exchange and arts programs. Many other programs are in the works for the nonprofit so visit One Love Learning Foundation to learn more.

Which brings Doorways International to a new feature about the Hammerstein Highland House. Very few places in the world will allow you to combine luxurious and historic accommodations with volunteerism. And yet that is exactly what the Highland House has recently rolled out.

This voluntourism vacation option will give visitors a truly authentic Jamaican experience while making a difference in the local community. With an epidemic of poor nutrition and a population with a 14 percent Type 2 diabetes rate and climbing, a trip there could make a meaningful difference. Guests will learn and help teach organic farming and healthy nutrition to the children. Or perhaps a volunteer project will involve creating a rain-harvesting water filtration system. The needs are extensive and each voluntourism vacation package will be coordinated by a professional event planner, who will help combine a luxury vacation with a project.

We suggest you visit the Highland House site to learn more about this unique property and view more amazing photos of its interior. When else will you have the opportunity to soak in Hammerstein’s muse or walk in the footsteps of such famous vacationing guests as Meryll Streep and Tracey Ullman? Be sure to send Doorways International a postcard!