Explore STJ

The Fourth of July is a day of nonstop celebration on St. John. It typically begins with j’ouvert – a street party that begins at daybreak – although j’ouvert was held a few days early this year. So this year, the festivities will begin with the celebration parade, which will start around 11 a.m. in Cruz Bay. Fireworks go off just beyond Cruz Bay harbor at 9 p.m. and music will continue in the Village well past midnight.

The Fourth of July is a big deal on St. John, but the reason it is celebrated in such grand fashion is so much different than why it’s celebrated in the United States.

The enslaved people, who were brought to the island by the Danes who controlled St. John from 1718 through 1917, were finally freed on July 3, 1848, and word of emancipation first reached St. John on July 4, 1848.

J’ouvert celebrates the first sunrise of freedom, which is why it is typically held at daybreak on July 4th. However, this year was celebrated a few days earlier on July 1st.

Captain Ingjald Mourier was the owner of the Lameshur plantation in 1848. He arrived in Cruz Bay from St. Thomas to alert everyone about the pronouncement of Emancipation. He quickly informed Police Master Carl Hanshell of the news, and the pair set off on horseback to inform people across the island. The enslaved population on Estate Adrian – which is about three miles up Centerline Road – were the first to learn of their newfound freedom.

So please join us all in celebrating this momentous event. If you are unable to be on island, you can check out some of the island’s webcams to see the celebration. View them at www.ExploreSTJ.com/webcams. You may be able to catch some of the fireworks on St. John Spice’s Spice Cam.

Tonight’s & Tomorrow’s Music Schedule

Parade Details

The parade is scheduled to start at 11 a.m. Think island time, my friends. It will start behind the ballfield in Cruz Bay. It continues in front of Mongoose Junction and toward Cap’s Place and the Post Office. It takes a right at the Post Office and goes toward the ferry dock. It then takes a left up the one-way past Connections. It will then continue up the hill past Woody’s, Quiet Mon and Extra Virgin until it reaches the roundabout.

Fireworks Information

The fireworks are usually set up from one of the barges in front of Cruz Bay harbor. Cruz Bay beach is a great spot to watch them. The Cruz Bay overlook is too. Cruz Bay Watersports is having a sunset fireworks sail, and The Terrace is having a streetside party in addition to a special four course prix fixe menu. I’m sure there are other fun things going on too!

Enjoy everyone! Happy Festival! And Happy Fourth of July! Stay safe!

A pool with a view? Yes, please! Oceana is listed for sale by American Paradise Real Estate.

One of the most commonly asked questions during my Explore STJ island tours is about the cost of housing on St. John. Let’s be honest, many of you, like me, dream of owning a home on St. John. Buying a home on any island can be costly, but it’s not impossible. Here are the details on what your money can get you on St. John.

There are currently 58 homes and six condos available for purchase on St. John. The least expensive home is listed for $399,000 and the most expensive is $12 million. The least expensive condo is $620,000 and the most expensive is $1.95 million. There are only nine homes and two condos listed under one million dollars on St. John.

So what exactly will your money get you? Let’s start with a couple of the least expensive homes.

There is a small eco cottage located on Bordeaux Mountain listed for $399,000. This is an off-grid, non-conforming, wood-frame building that’s approximately 420 square feet, including interior and exterior space. It does not have a toilet, so you must purchase a composting one if you plan to glamp here. You cannot get windstorm insurance for wood frame homes at the moment, so this would have to be a cash deal. The house is located on just over a half-acre, has excellent views, and is a very buildable lot. This home is listed by 340 Real Estate Co.

Bordeaux eco-cottage: $399k

For an additional $100,000, you can get a one-bedroom masonry home with 1,300 square feet of indoor and outdoor living space. This home is located just minutes from Coral Bay’s shops and restaurants. Because the house is masonry, you should be able to get a mortgage on it and windstorm insurance. This home is listed for $499,000 by Cruz Bay Realty.

One-bedroom Coral Bay home: $499k

Now let’s look at the most expensive homes, shall we?

Villa Indo is a newly-built, waterfront home on Great Cruz Bay. It has four bedrooms, four-and-a-half baths, and more than 4,000 square feet of living space. It is a beautifully designed home with floor-to-ceiling windows and an infinity-edge pool. Villa Indo is listed for $12 million by Islandia Real Estate.

Newly built, waterfront home: $12 million

The second most expensive home currently listed for sale is one of my favorite vacation rentals – Mare Blu. Mare Blu is an expansive, seven-bedroom home with panoramic views of Rendezvous Bay. It has a giant pool overlooking the Caribbean Sea, and ample indoor and outdoor living space. This is a fabulous vacation rental that’s located less than 10 minutes from Cruz Bay. Mare Blu is listed for $10 million by Holiday Homes.

A seven-bedroom home with stunning views: $10 million

Please note: Being listed for sale does not affect future vacation rentals. Typically when a home sells on St. John, the buyer has to honor all rental reservations.

As of Tuesday night, there were 17 homes listed for sale between one and two million dollars, and there were 11 homes listed between two and three million dollars. The median list price for a home on St. John is just under $3 million. The total asking price for the 58 homes currently for sale on St. John is more than $172 million. Wow.

The median list price on St. John is currently $2.97 million. Villa Panache (pictured here) is listed for $2.99 million.

Now let’s talk condos. As I mentioned, there are only six currently listed for sale. The least expensive is a great unit over at Serendip. It’s a very cute and updated condo with a nice deck that has views of Cruz Bay. Serendip is a great vacation spot complete with a pool, and it’s located about five minutes from Cruz Bay. This unit is listed for $699,000 by Cruz Bay Realty, and the monthly HOA dues are $1,519.

(Serendip is currently offering discounted summer rates. Click here to learn more.)

Alpha is a cute unit at Seredip that’s currently listed for $620,000.

There are four condos for sale between one and two million dollars. The second least expensive condo is listed for $975,000.

Looking for more information on any of the properties listed above or just want some general information about what’s currently for sale on St. John? Here are a few real estate companies located on St. John:

• 340 Real Estate: 340 Real Estate Co. has been rock solid & island wise since 1978. Click here to learn more.
• American Paradise: American Paradise has been making dreams come true, one view at a time, since 1987. Click here to learn more. 
• Holiday Homes of St. John: Holiday Homes has been specializing in St. John real estate since 1960. They have a storefront on the first floor of The Marketplace if you’d like to stop in. Click here to learn more. 

(Disclaimer: The three companies listed above are advertisers on ExploreSTJ.com.)

Want to purchase land on St. John? Stay tuned for information about building on St. John.

Looking to take a St. John island tour?

Get to know St. John. Visit beautiful beaches & centuries-old plantations. Perhaps stop at a tiki bar or two. Full & half days available. Rated “Excellent” on TripAdvisor. 2023 & 2022 TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Winner. Learn more here –> www.explorestj.com/tour  

Follow Explore STJ on Social Media

–> www.facebook.com/explorestj

–> www.instagram.com/explorestj

A new ATM is now located on the second floor of the Lime Lofts building in Coral Bay.

It’s the little things in life, folks. 🙂

The owners of the Lime Lofts building, which is located across the street from Skinny Legs, recently installed an ATM on the second floor, just outside of Coral Bay Gallery & Gifts. It is located above Pirate’s Cove, a great new retail shop and rental spot that opened earlier this year. (Click here to learn more about Pirate’s Cove.)

The ATM is located outside, so it is available 24/7.

Looking for an ATM in Cruz Bay? They are plentiful. There is one at Mongoose Junction behind Just Beach. There is one beside Connections and another beside The Little Things, which is across from High Tide. There is one outside the bank at The Marketplace, and there is one at Dolphin Market across from the Westin too. Several other restaurants and stores have ATMs too.

That’s all I have for you today. Short and sweet, but useful information! Have a great one!

Looking to take a St. John island tour?

Get to know St. John. Visit beautiful beaches & centuries-old plantations. Perhaps stop at a tiki bar or two. Full & half days available. Rated “Excellent” on TripAdvisor. 2023 & 2022 TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Winner. Learn more here –> www.explorestj.com/tour  

Follow Explore STJ on Social Media

–> www.facebook.com/explorestj

–> www.instagram.com/explorestj