Peaceful days. Starry romantic nights. Palm tree lined sandy beaches. This has to be paradise!
The fourth and smallest main island of the U.S. Virgin Islands is Water Island or, what has been called "the last virgin". Water Island is small, only 491 acres. It has the look and feel of a very private island. In the summer full time residents number about 100. In the winter the number swells to 200!
Because the roads are very often only 10 or 12 wide and in disrepair, the most common mode of transportation is a golf cart. A traffic jam here is defined as when two or three cars pass each other. No joke.
The main attraction for both the handful of full time residents and visitors is Honeymoon Beach. This man-made 1/4 mile white stretch of white sandy beach is perfect for laying in the sun, snorkeling or just floating in the crystal clear blue water. Don't be surprised if you arrive at the beach and find you have it all to yourself. You can sit on the beach and watch fish jump and Pelicans dive and you will feel like you do not have a care in the world
Some of the homeowners rent their homes out when they are off island to accommodate visitors. The visitors usually fall instantly in love with the island. The beautiful flowers, cactus, and trees along with friendly Iguanas and colorful Bananaquit birds, help to cement that tropical paradise feeling. Many visitors return year after year after their first visit. It is not uncommon for a visitor to become a resident after some time.
Although the only commercial establishments on Water Island are a lunch wagon that serves lunch at Honeymoon Beach every day and dinner on Saturday nights, a small beach bar with tropical concoctions and a small restaurant that is open occasionally, no one seems to mind. All supplies must be brought over from nearby St. Thomas.
Transportation to and from the island is by either private boat or the regularly scheduled small ferry. If larger items, such as cars and appliances have to be brought over, barge service is available.
Real estate does come on the market occasionally but does not last very long as there are only about 100 houses and the demand to own a home on Water Island is at a premium. There has been a small amount of new construction over the past 5 years.
The Water Island Civic association, founded in the 1960's takes care of most of the island with intermittent assistance from the Virgin Islands' government. There is also a Water Island Search and rescue organization that takes care of medical emergencies and fires. They have an ambulance and a fire truck. Both organizations are made up by Water Island resident volunteers.
Initially used by the U.S. Government in the 1940s, they partially constructed an underground fort, Fort Segarra, as part of the U.S. defenses during WWII. Fort Segarra sits abandoned today but a lot of reidents and visitors visit it to enjoy the panoramic view of the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean.
Control of Water Island was transferred from the federal government to the territorial government on December 12, 1996, making Water Island the "Last Virgin". In the late 1990's the Department of the Interior began transferring Water Island land to the long-time residential leaseholders.
The fourth and smallest main island of the U.S. Virgin Islands is Water Island or, what has been called "the last virgin". Water Island is small, only 491 acres. It has the look and feel of a very private island. In the summer full time residents number about 100. In the winter the number swells to 200!
Because the roads are very often only 10 or 12 wide and in disrepair, the most common mode of transportation is a golf cart. A traffic jam here is defined as when two or three cars pass each other. No joke.
The main attraction for both the handful of full time residents and visitors is Honeymoon Beach. This man-made 1/4 mile white stretch of white sandy beach is perfect for laying in the sun, snorkeling or just floating in the crystal clear blue water. Don't be surprised if you arrive at the beach and find you have it all to yourself. You can sit on the beach and watch fish jump and Pelicans dive and you will feel like you do not have a care in the world
Some of the homeowners rent their homes out when they are off island to accommodate visitors. The visitors usually fall instantly in love with the island. The beautiful flowers, cactus, and trees along with friendly Iguanas and colorful Bananaquit birds, help to cement that tropical paradise feeling. Many visitors return year after year after their first visit. It is not uncommon for a visitor to become a resident after some time.
Although the only commercial establishments on Water Island are a lunch wagon that serves lunch at Honeymoon Beach every day and dinner on Saturday nights, a small beach bar with tropical concoctions and a small restaurant that is open occasionally, no one seems to mind. All supplies must be brought over from nearby St. Thomas.
Transportation to and from the island is by either private boat or the regularly scheduled small ferry. If larger items, such as cars and appliances have to be brought over, barge service is available.
Real estate does come on the market occasionally but does not last very long as there are only about 100 houses and the demand to own a home on Water Island is at a premium. There has been a small amount of new construction over the past 5 years.
The Water Island Civic association, founded in the 1960's takes care of most of the island with intermittent assistance from the Virgin Islands' government. There is also a Water Island Search and rescue organization that takes care of medical emergencies and fires. They have an ambulance and a fire truck. Both organizations are made up by Water Island resident volunteers.
Initially used by the U.S. Government in the 1940s, they partially constructed an underground fort, Fort Segarra, as part of the U.S. defenses during WWII. Fort Segarra sits abandoned today but a lot of reidents and visitors visit it to enjoy the panoramic view of the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean.
Control of Water Island was transferred from the federal government to the territorial government on December 12, 1996, making Water Island the "Last Virgin". In the late 1990's the Department of the Interior began transferring Water Island land to the long-time residential leaseholders.
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For more information about this tropical paradise visit the Water Island Civic Association website. To learn about available Real Estate visit Water Island Properties.
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