The Customs parking lot in Cruz Bay is temporarily closed.
Hello everyone, and happy Friday! I have a little parking update to share with all of you today.
The Customs parking lot in Cruz Bay will be closed for several weeks. The lot closed yesterday in order to prepare for The Village. The Village is an area where food and drink vendors set up for the festival’s final week. It is also where the music stage is located. The 2023 Festival officially kicked off last weekend. It continues through July 4th.
Parking is currently limited in Cruz Bay. The small area in front of the public restrooms is currently closed. The larger lot across from the Post Office is currently closed. And don’t forget that several of the 30-minute parking spaces along the waterfront are presently reserved for taxis. This is because several taxi spaces are currently roped off due to ongoing construction at the ferry dock. And lastly, a large portion of the gravel lot near the car barge area is closed off for the Kid’s Carnival, which continues through July 5th. Needless to say, parking is tough in Cruz Bay right now.
If you’d like to know where all of the free and paid parking lots are located in Cruz Bay, please check out Explore STJ’s Logistics Map. This searchable map shows free and paid parking lots, plus other helpful information like gas stations, grocery stores, and more. You can view at it www.ExploreSTJ.com/LogisticsMap.
This Weekend’s Carnival Events:
Saturday, June 17th: The 2023 Royalty Pageant is taking place at 6 p.m. in the gravel lot beside the car barge area.
Sunday, June 18th: The Children’s Village opens and will feature real carnival rides. This has not happened here on St. John in more than a decade, so needless to say, this mama is super excited about that. The Children’s Village is expected to open mid-afternoon.
Want to see St. John? Consider taking an island tour with Explore STJ. We are rated “Excellent” on TripAdvisor. Full & half days are available. Check out www.ExploreSTJ.com/tour to learn more.
Everyone dreams of owning a home in St. John, right? I know I do! There is a great house in Coral Bay that recently had a sizeable price reduction. I checked it out earlier this week, and it had some of the best breezes on the island. That’s huge, especially when we’re amid a heatwave, which is happening right now. It was a very cute house with nice views, and the best part is that it is within walking distance of several shops and restaurants. My friend Tammy Donnelly asked me to share it with all of you, and I am happy to oblige. Want to know more? Then please, read on!
Sea Biscuit is located just up the hill from the shops and restaurants in Coral Bay.
Sea Biscuit is a three-bedroom, three-and-a-half-bath home located in the heart of Coral Bay. It’s located just up the hill from the former Aqua Bistro restaurant, which means that you can easily walk to Dolphin Market, Salty Mongoose, Surf Club Cantina, Johnny Lime, and Jolly Dog for some local shopping. (It’s not a super steep hill, so it’s a very doable walk for most.)
Sea Biscuit has a large wraparound deck with views of Coral Bay harbor, Fortsberg, the East End, and even Norman Island in the British Virgin Islands. It’s a great spot to watch the sunrise in the morning, the boats come and go during the day, and the stars twinkle at night.
Enjoy the tropical breeze and expansive views from a large, wraparound deck.
A large pool is surrounded by beautiful gardens making it very private. The pool is located off of the main living area and kitchen. There is an internal staircase that leads to two en-suite bedrooms. The third bedroom is located on the ground floor. It, too, has an en suite bath. And rounding out this great buy is a beautifully-crafted, outdoor shower.
Picture yourself floating is this private pool.My four-year-old thought this shower was very cool & I’m sure you will too!
The owner is very motivated, and this property is priced to sell at $1,095,000. It is currently one of the least expensive three bedrooms currently available to purchase on St. John. Interested? Want to learn more? Please contact Tammy Donnelly, owner of 340 Real Estate Co. at 340realestateco@gmail.com. You can see more of Tammy’s listing by visiting www.340RealEstateCo.com.
Off-season is right around the corner, and restaurants are starting to make plans to take some time off. Not all restaurants in St. John close for the off-season, as you will see in the list below, but several do. The dates below are tentative and can change at any time. I will do my best to keep this list updated.
If you are a restaurant owner or manager, and you would like to update your listing, please email jenn@explorestj.com.
1864: Currently open for raw bar happy hour & dinner only
420 to Center: Staying Open
Amore Arowako Vegan Club: Staying Open
Aqua Bistro: Permanently Closed
Bajo el Sol Gallery & The Art Bar: Will close the last two weeks of September
Banana Deck: Tentatively closing September 1st through October 16th
Beach Bar: Staying Open
Caneel Bay Beach Club: Likely Staying Open
Caps Place: Staying Open
Colombo’s Smoothies: No info yet.
Cafe Roma: Last night is September 1st; First night is October 8th
Caribbean Food Delights: Staying Open
Cinnamon Bay Raintree Cafe & Food Truck: Campground & Restaurant will be closed in September and October. Details on the food truck near the beach are TBD.
Coco Jim’s: Staying open
Colombo’s: Closing September 9th through September 23rd
Cool Desires: Undecided
Coral Bay Catering: Open; Contact 340-423-6611 for possible closures in September/October.
Coral Bay Fresh Market: Permanently Closed
Cruz Bay Landing: Staying Open
Dave & Jerry’s Steakhouse: Last night is September 1st; First night is October 8th
Dazey Drive In: Closed for off-season; Reopening October-ish. Exact reopening date TBD. (Salt Deck will close August 18th – October 8th.)
Delyvonne Breakfast Bistro: Staying Open
Dolphin Grab & Go: Staying Open
Downtown Sips: Staying Open
Estela’s Sosa’s Food Truck: Staying Open
Ekaete Pink Corner: Waiting on info.
Every-ting Kurry: No info.
Extra Virgin Bistro: Closed for off-season; Reopening date TBD
Flavour’s Night Club: Staying open
Greengo’s Caribbean Cantina: Staying open
Gwen’s Place: Staying open
Heading East: Staying open
High Tide: Closing September 18-24
Hillside Terrace: Staying open
Irie Pops: Closing for September; Reopening October 9th
Island Breeze: Permanently Closed.
Joe’s Rum Hut: Closed August & September
Johnny Lime: Last day is August 18th; Reopening October 8th (Tentative)
La Tapa: Most likely closing September 18th through October 15-ish
Lime Inn: Last day is August 18th; Reopening end of November (Closed Saturdays until then for summer hours)
Lime Out: Last day is August 18th; Reopening October 8th
Little Olive Food Truck: Undecided
Lovango Resort & Beach Club: Last day is July 20th; Reopening mid-December.
Lovango Rum Bar: Closing September 9th through September 23rd
Love City Barbeque: Waiting on info.
Live City Bites: Waiting on info.
Love City Cafe: Closing dates TBD
Love City Wing Spot: Staying open
Love Supply by Reef2Peak at Maho: Staying open
Maho Crossroads: Staying open
Margarita Phil’s: Closing Dates TBD
Miss Lucy’s: Closed September & October; Reopening end of November
Morgan’s Mango: Closed starting September 6th; Reopening October 6th
Natures Nook: Staying open
North Shore Deli: Undecided
Ocean 362: Closing end of August; Reopening mid-October
Our Market Smoothies: Both Locations are staying open
The Parrot Club: Staying Open
P&P’s By the Sea: Waiting on info.
Pizzabar in Paradise: Closing mid-September through mid-October
Quiet Mon Pub: Most likely closing for September
Rhumb Lines: Most likely closing in September; Check back for exact dates
Ronnie’s Pizza: Closed for off-season; Reopening in September
Salty Mongoose: Closed in September
Sam & Jack’s: Most likely closing mid-September; Exact dates TBD
Shaibu’s Grab & Go: Closing August 26th through October 1st
Shambles: Closing August 14-21
Skinny Legs: Last day is now August 10th; Reopening on Halloween
St. John Catering & Mathayom Private Chefs: Staying open
St. John Scoops: Staying open
St. John Provisions: Closed for September
Sun Dog Cafe: Staying open
Surf Club Cantina: Staying open
Tamarind Court: Closing two weeks in September; Exact dates TBD
The Tap & Still: Staying open
The Longboard: Staying Open
The Tap Room: Staying Open
The Refinery: Staying open
The Roti King: Staying open
The Terrace: Closed August 10-October 10
Tony’s Kitchen Food Truck: Staying Open
Trunk Bay Concessions: Staying Open
Uncle Joe’s BBQ: Staying open
Upstairs Bar & Grill: Staying open
Surf Club Cantina: Staying Open
Woody’s: Closing the end of September through the beginning of October; Exact Dates TBD
Windmill Bar: Staying Open
Wine Shop VI: Closed for off-season; Reopening date TBD
ZoZo’s: Closed for off-season; Reopening mid-December
Want to learn more about St. John? Take an island tour with us!
Learn more here –> www.explorestj.com/tourFull & half days available. Rated “Excellent” on TripAdvisor.
The former Caneel Bay resort remains in shambles nearly six years after Hurricane Irma. It has not reopened.
If you told me on Sept. 7, 2017 – the day I learned Hurricane Irma destroyed Caneel Bay – that its future would remain in limbo nearly six years later, I wouldn’t have believed you. But that’s precisely where we stand today. And if nothing changes this summer, the future of Caneel Bay will be determined at a federal trial this fall.
I’m sure you all know the story by now. Hurricane Irma barrelled through St. John on Sept. 6, 2017, with sustained winds of 185 miles per hour. The island was decimated, Caneel Bay included. Two weeks later, Hurricane Maria, another Category 5 storm, hit us.
Caneel Bay was a jewel of the Caribbean. The 166-room resort boasted seven pristine beaches enhanced by the island’s dazzling turquoise waters. The resort was luxurious, yet understated. Donkeys and deer roamed freely among its perfectly manicured lawns.
Laurance Rockefeller opened the Caneel Bay Resort on Dec. 1, 1956. The Virgin Islands National Park opened the same day, thanks to Rockefeller’s generous donation of land.
The land that Caneel Bay sits on today is not National Park land. That, however, is supposed to change in September when the property’s current Retained Use Estate (RUE) agreement expires. The RUE allows a private business, currently CBI/EHI Acquisitions, to operate a hotel on the property. Rockefeller, himself, oversaw the establishment of the RUE, which expires on September 30th. At that time, the land is supposed to become part of the Virgin Islands National Park, and CBI/EHI’s affiliation with the property is supposed to end. This is where the current federal lawsuit comes into play.
The green-shaded areas are part of the Virgin Islands National Park. The white-shaded areas are outside of the Park.
EHI Acquisitions filed a federal lawsuit against the United States of America in June 2022. In the lawsuit, EHI requested that the court issue a “quiet title in the Property and issue an order declaring the United States has no legal interest in the Property and that Plaintiff EHI Acquisitions, LLC owns all right, title, and interest to the Property.” The United States said absolutely not, and wrote in its opposition that this request “defies logic and common sense.”
(A quiet title action is a special legal proceeding to determine ownership of real property.)
There is a document called the 1983 Indenture that lays out the terms of the RUE, including what is expected to happen upon its expiration on September 30th. The United States thinks, according to its federal filings, that the issue is pretty cut and dry. It believes that Rockefeller’s wishes were clear in that he intended to donate not only the land but the buildings as well, to the National Park. EHI, however, believes the buildings, docks, facilities, and improvements belong to them. Keep in mind, the majority of these buildings remain damaged from the hurricanes.
Making matters more complicated is something called a reverter clause. There is a section of the 1983 Indenture that allows the RUE holder to terminate the RUE provided they give the United States one year’s notice, and the property is mortgage and lien-free, among other parameters. This is the crux of the federal case.
EHI presented an offer to terminate the RUE in 2019. They notified the United States and said they would walk away for $70 million, and the release and indemnification of EHI “from all environmental liabilities related to the RUE and related to the Caneel Bay land and Improvements.” (Hazardous waste has been found on the property.) EHI believes, according to court filings, that if the United States said no to their $70 million offer that Caneel Bay, the land and the buildings, would automatically be given to EHI, a private, commercial entity, and the Virgin Islands National Park would no longer have any involvement, ever. They believed this is outlined in the 1983 Indenture. The attorneys representing the United States disagree.
Here is EHI’s argument per the court documents:
Plaintiff EHI Acquisitions, LLC and its affiliate CBI Acquisitions, LLC (collectively “Caneel Bay”) made an offer to the United States in 2019 to transfer its title to the buildings and other improvements in the Caneel Bay Resort (“Resort”) to the United States. The United States declined to accept that offer. As a result, title to the land automatically reverted to EHI Acquisitions, LLC (“EHI Acquisitions”). The United States, however, has refused to recognize that EHI Acquisitions has title to the property, and the United States continues to dispute that ownership. Plaintiff EHI Acquisitions brings this action to quiet title to the property.
The United States does not see it this way. They believe that the only way the RUE could be terminated is by way of gift (donation), not a $70 million payout. And this, my friends, is where we stand today.
EHI is arguing that Caneel Bay is theirs and that the government should “quiet title” the property to them. The United States says absolutely not and is demanding that the court dismiss the case and rule in their favor. In the meantime, Caneel Bay sits in shambles.
The two sides entered into mediation in April and asked for a continuance. In the event that the two sides do not come to a mutual agreement, a trial is scheduled for October 16th, per court documents.
And if the United States does prevail and the land and its buildings are awarded to the Virgin Islands National Park, we still do not know what the Park intends to do with the property. Earlier this year, it offered two proposals, basically an all-or-nothing scenario. Option A calls for no development, while Option B calls to redevelop the property. And while the Park has stated it is leaning toward rebuilding a hotel, it has not released any definitive plans.
If you love our sea turtles as much as I do, this opportunity may be for you!
Friends of Virgin Islands National Park are looking for volunteers to join this year’s turtle patrol. You will have to be on island from July through August, so this opportunity is best for residents or long-term visitors. The volunteers will adopt a beach that they will patrol weekly, looking for any signs of turtle nesting activity.
Not on island for that long? You can still help protect our turtles! If you see a turtle, please do not touch them and stay at least six feet away from them when snorkeling. Please report any signs of nesting activity to the Virgin Islands National Park. Always use reef-safe sunscreen. And please throw away all trash, particularly single-use plastics like bags and straws.
Nearly 2,000 hatchlings made it into the ocean in 2022. Let’s hope we can surpass that number this year!
If you’d like to join the turtle patrol, please email Friends of Virgin Islands National Park at vinpturtles@friendsvinp.org.
