I hate to discuss politics, but a possible government shutdown is looming. Two-thirds of St. John is National Park, so we will definitely see some effects should the government shutdown occur. Here is what I know based on what occurred here during the last shutdown in 2018.
The National Park will remain accessible to visitors. This means that all roads, beaches and trails will remain open, but emergency and rescue services will be limited. Other services, such as trash collection and road maintenance will cease. The National Park Visitor Center in Cruz Bay will close.
When there is a government shutdown, restroom facilities typically close too. This includes the restrooms in Cruz Bay beside the Visitor Center and also at Trunk Bay. The showers at Trunk Bay would typically close too. However, we are fortunate here on St. John to have Friends of the Virgin Islands National Park. They helped out during the last shutdown by cleaning the restrooms and showers at Trunk Bay, helping to keep them open. I cannot recall whether the fee booth at Trunk Bay closed in 2018, but I assumed it did.
Trash pickup will cease if the government shuts down. Friends of the Virgin Islands National Park, as well as residents here on island, will step in if the shutdown happens. This is our home, so we will do what we can to keep it clean.
The concessions at Trunk Bay, Cinnamon Bay and Caneel Bay will all remain open as these are approved concessionaires within the National Park.
(The tiki bar at Maho Bay is not located in the National Park, and therefore is not affected.)
If the government shuts down, the National Park will not update its website or social media to reflect the current changes and/or happenings. So your best option is to check back here. I drive around the island almost daily, so I can tell you firsthand what is happening here on St. John. You can also look for updates on our social media pages.
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