Water Island – Tropical Paradise
October 10, 2009 by Jim Wilkinson
Filed under Destinations
Peaceful days. Starry romantic nights. Palm tree lined sandy beaches. This has to be paradise!
Water Island is the fourth and smallest main island of the U.S. Virgin Islands, or, the last virgin. At a mere 491 acres Water Island has the look and feel of a private island. With a summertime population of about 100 people and a wintertime population of approximately 200 people, you never get the feeling of being crowded.
A traffic jam consists of two or three golf carts being on the road at the same time. The roads are not in great shape and are only about 12 feet wide. That is why golf carts are the main mode of transportation.
Many visitors to Water Island say that the main attraction, Honeymoon Beach, is the best beach they have visited in the Caribbean. No wave action, great for snorkeling and crystal clear waters. The beach is lined with a row of Palm trees that complete the tropical setting. It is common to have the beach all to yourself. It is very rare when there are more than a handful of people on the beach.
If you are looking for a place to stay on Water Island some of the homeowners rent their homes out when they are off island. Colorful Bananaquit birds, or also known locally as “Sugar Birds”, Iguamas and gorgeous Hibiscus and Bouganvilla complete the tropical setting.You can quickly see why first time visitors fall in love with the island and return every year.
If you are looking for a lot of tourist shops and fancy restaurants you will not find them on Water Island. There is a little bit of commerce, a lunch wagon on the beach every day and on Saturday nights, a quaint little beach bar serving up libations and a small restaurant that is sometimes open. If you want supplies you have to transport them from 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.
If you are looking for Real Estate on Water Island the pickings are slim but there are always several houses and lots of land for sale. When a property goes on the market it is usually snatched up fairly quickly.
The island remains largely uncommercialized and is maintained by members of the Water Island Civic Association (WICA) and residents along with intermittent assistance from the Virgin Islands’ government.
Water Island was used by the U.S. Government in the 1940s when they partially constructed an underground fort, Fort Segarra, as part of the U.S. defenses during WWII. The site sits abandoned today but many visitors climb the steps of the lookout post to enjoy the panoramic view of the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean.
Administrative control of Water Island was turned over from the federal government to the territorial government on December 12, 1996, making Water Island the “Last Virgin”. In following years the Department of Interior started transferring land, for a price of course, to the long-time residential leaseholders.