News of St. John

By far, one of my favorite spots on island is Peace Hill. There is something about this spot – a beautiful grassy knoll located between Hawksnest and Denis bays – that just makes me feel at ease, or at peace like the name implies. It’s a place I like to visit early in the morning, when I can enjoy a quiet cup of coffee. It’s also a place I love to bring my island tour guests.

Peace Hill is located on St. John’s North Shore and is roughly a 10 minute ride from Cruz Bay. There is a small parking lot on your left hand side (if coming from Cruz Bay), which is located past the Oppenheimer gate. If you’ve reached Jumbie, you’ve gone too far.

The hike to Peace Hill isn’t actually much of a hike. The trail is just one-tenth of a mile, but it does have a moderate grade. It’s definitely doable in flip flops, but I suggest wearing sneakers due to the loose rock along the trail (particulalry if you feel uneasy on your feet). From the parking lot to the top, it is just a short, five-minute walk.

When you reach the top of Peace Hill, you will see one of the island’s remaining sugar mill ruins. The sugar mill was actually a windmill which was used during sugar production for the nearby Denis Bay Plantation. Denis Bay beach is to the east of Peace Hill (right if you are looking toward the ocean). There is a small trail that leads down to the beach off of the trail taken up to Peace Hill.

Tip: You can take a beautiful photo of Trunk Bay through the window of the sugar mill.

You will notice a tree toward the center of Peace Hill. If you give it a closer look, you can see the remnants of the Christ of the Caribbean statue that once stood there.

Julius and Cleome Wadsworth purchased Denis Bay in 1939 and used it as a vacation getaway. They subsequently donated a large parcel to the National Park Service with the deed of gift stating, “The grantors have for some year’s maintained the Wadsworth’s Peace Hill as a place where the public is invited to enjoy great beauty and quiet. It is their wish that Wadsworth’s Peace Hill be perpetually dedicated as a place where people might meditate and find inner peace, in the hope that someday this might contribute to world peace.”

Colonel Wadsworth raised the Christ of the Caribbean statue in 1953. The statue stood tall and helped aid passing ships until 1995 when it fell during Hurricane Marilyn. It was never rebuilt.

Now check out the view!

So as you can see, it’s a beautiful spot. Be sure to check it out on your next trip to the island. Or better yet, let us take you there! Learn more about our island tours at www.ExploreSTJ.com

In the meantime, have a wonderful weekend everyone! And please don’t forget to enter our raffle! It ends tomorrow night at 11:59 p.m. EST. Learn more and enter at www.newsofstjohn.com/raffle

I love looking at real estate, and I know many of you do too. Many of us may not be in the position to buy a home on St. John, but it’s still super fun to look! And to those of you who are able to buy, kudos to you! Today, I’d like to tell you about a home that listed for sale earlier this year – Six Palms.

Six Palms is an extensively updated and fully air conditioned, masonry villa. It has five bedrooms and four-and-a-half bathrooms, which is split between a three-bedroom main house and a two-bedroom guest house. Six Palms’ private and secluded location off of Pocket Money Lane, high above Cruz Bay, offers panoramic water and sunset views from Vieques (on a clear day) to Lovango (every day).

The main house and guest house each have separate parking areas and separate entryways. This allows them to be rented together or separately. Six Palms also features a dipping pool and sundeck. It features windstorm-resistant windows and sliding glass doors. The home also features tropical hardwood floors and vaulted teak ceilings.

This property is located within walking distance to Cruz Bay, although there is a decent sized hill leading down to town. This is a great opportunity to rent one home and live in the other. Or you could live in both or rent both! Check out a few more pics…

Six Palms is being offered for $1.195 million. For more information, please contact John McCann of 340 Real Estate Co. at [email protected]. Owner financing may be available to a qualified buyer with a minimum of 50 percent down.

Want to see all of 340 Real Estate Co.’s offerings? Please click this link to see all of their land, condo and home listings.

Hello everyone, and happy Wednesday! I know that many of you enjoy exploring the island, and unfortunately you are not able to physically be on St. John right now. So we’re going to continue bringing some of our favorite spots to you virtually. Today’s virtual trip will take you over to a site on St. John’s North Shore that’s rich in history – the Cinnamon Bay Sugar Factory.

The Cinnamon Bay Plantation was one of the most prosperous sugar cane operations on the island, according to the National Park Service. Established by the Danes in 1717, it was one of the earliest sugar plantation settlements on St. John. Its owner, Daniel Jensen, played a pivotal role in the slave rebellion which swept the island in 1733. The uprising shook the Caribbean, and the final stages saw the participation of French and English forces to suppress it. (Source: NPS.gov) Its ruins, located along North Shore Road are expansive and are easily accessible.

The Cinnamon Bay Trail Loop is a half-mile long and take less than 30 minutes to walk. Some of the areas are uneven, and can be slippery when wet, so please watch your footing. Parking is available onsite beside the factory ruins (space for 1-2 vehicles) or across the street at the Cinnamon Bay parking lot (ample parking).

The Cinnamon Bay Factory ruins feature a horse mill where the cane juice was squeezed out using iron rollers. That juice then flowed into a nearby boiling room. The spent cane would be stacked in the “bagasse shed” where it would dry and then be used to fuel fires under a series of boiling kettles. There are some remains of the cauldrons inside the boiling room for you to view. (Source: NPS.gov)

The Cinnamon Bay Estate Home serves as the home of the plantation’s owners and managers. There were few great houses around the island, as incomes were marginal at best which precluded lavish dwellings. You may recall a recent hike we posted about to the Murphy Great House. That Great House is located above the Annaberg plantation.  (Click here to read all about it.)

The Cinnamon Bay Factory ruins also include slave quarters, two cemeteries and a warehouse.

The sounds of nature are so powerful in this area. We recorded a short clip to share with all of you. Press the play button below to listen.

Want to Explore STJ and see the Cinnamon Bay Factory Ruins yourself? We would love to take you there and to other interesting places! Please visit www.ExploreSTJ.com to learn about our full and half-day island tour offerings.

We’ve received numerous emails recently asking us which St. John-based stores offer online shopping. Truthfully, the majority do. All you have to do is perform a quick Google search, and you will likely find your favorite St. John store online. But we’re going to save you that Google search today and tell you about one of our favorites… Jolly Dog.

Jolly Dog has been a Coral Bay staple since 1997. It offers a variety of items including clothings, jewelry, souvenirs and more. The Jolly Dog was born in the aftermath of volcanic eruptions on the island of Montserrat. Jeff Donnelly, the owner of Jolly Dog, moved to Montserrat in 1989 and ran a family garment manufacturing, screen printing and retail operation there. In 1995, the long dormant Soufriere Hills volcano rumbled to life and changed everything.

With just four hours notice to evacuate, Jeff grabbed his dog Apollo, a 110-pound Rottweiler/Shepard mix, and all the necessities needed for an ocean voyage. (No airplane would accept Apollo as a passenger.) So Jeff and Apollo set sail and eventually landed in Coral Bay, a place familiar to Jeff as he vacationed on St. John since the 1970s. Jeff arrived on St. John in 1995, just after Hurricane Marilyn devastated the island.

Jeff chose to celebrate Apollo’s ocean journey by creating a t-shirt in his honor. It featured a dog, skull and crossbones -the Jolly Dog. Jeff took that t-shirt design and ran with it. In 1997, he launched his first Jolly Dog store in a space beside the former Shipwreck Landing restaurant. And you guessed it… That t-shirt design made for Apollo became its logo which is still used today.

Nearly 23 years and many Jolly Dogs later, Jeff opened his newest store at Isola Shoppes in Coral Bay. Initially the new spot was meant to be an expansion of his space over at Skinny Legs, but hurricanes Irma and Maria had different plans. So now the Isola Shoppes location is his flagship store. Following its opening, he launched Zemi Island Designs in the space just across the hall.

Jeff has taken the last six weeks of forced closure to revamp his websites, boosting his online store for both Jolly Dog and Zemi Island Designs. You can now purchase nearly everything offered in both stores. And as a thank you to all of his loyal customers, Jeff is offering 20 percent off of everything through the end of the month. For those of you who are on island, Jeff is also offering in-store discounts.

Are you ready to check out the online stores and do some shopping? For Jolly Dog, please visit jollydog.shopsettings.com.
Use code STAYJOLLY20 for 20% off of your subtotal on Jolly Dog online orders over $100. For Zemi Island Designs, please visit zemi.shopsettings.com. Use code MAYDAY20 for 20% your subtotal on Zemi online orders over $100.

If you are able to, please support Jeff and all of your favorite St. John retailers during this unprecedented time.

“We are not alone in this,” Jeff recently wrote to us. “Like so many other St John businesses, we were just about to enjoy a ‘good season’, the first since the devastation wrought by Irma and Maria. We are thankful St. John is such a strong destination with such a loyal following, whom we know will return to St. John’s shores again… once it is deemed safe to do so.”

 

Well folks, it was a free lot. And then it was a paid lot. Then it was back to a free lot. And now it’s going to be a paid lot again. Gosh, it’s hard to keep up with the happenings over at the gravel lot in Cruz Bay!

Chalk this up to a “there’s not too much happening on island” kinda story today. 🙂

The government announced Monday that the gravel parking lot at the Theovald E. Moorehead Dock and Terminal at Enighed Pond will begin operating as a paid parking lot beginning on July 1. The gravel lot was the largest free parking lot in Cruz Bay. It is located beside the car barge entrance and exit area, and across the street from the tennis courts in Cruz Bay.

The gravel lot closed for repairs last summer. At that time, new gravel was spread throughout, and fencing and lighting was installed around the lot. It reopened briefly in December as a paid lot, but was quickly closed after public outcry. And now, as we just mentioned, it will become a paid lot once again.

When the gravel lot becomes a paid lot, the first 30 minutes will be free. The second half hour will be $4. One to two hours will be $6. Two to three hours will be $8. Three to 10 hours will be $12. Ten to 24 hours will be $15. Monthly parking will be available for $175.

There are numerous paid parking lots in Cruz Bay and a handful of free parking options. We will go out and take some new pics later this week and will share the most up-to-date info with you soon. In the meantime, have a wonderful day everyone!!

Hello everyone, and happy Monday! I hope you all had a wonderful weekend!

Like many of you, we’ve had a lot of free time on our hands lately. So we took that time and decided to use it productively. We’re excited to announce that we just finished rebranding our News of St. John island tours. We’ve rebranded to something short, simple and to the point: Explore STJ.

Explore STJ is solely owned and operated by me, Jenn Manes. It’s the same great island tour experience, just with a nice new name and super cute new logo! Check it out!

Explore STJ will continue to offer both full and half day island tours. We’re excited to announce that we will begin to offer hiking tours this fall! We can accommodate up to four people during our Explore STJ island tours, and we never combine groups. And because we are living in a new world these days, I would like to reiterate that our Jeep is always cleaned and disinfected before and after each tour, and hand sanitizer is always available in the Jeep.

Have a group of five or larger? No problem! We’ve partnered with a wonderful taxi driver and can now offer tours to larger groups. And just like our regular full and half day tours, we will never combine groups.

You can check out our new website for Explore STJ at www.explorestj.com. You can also give us a like over on our brand new Facebook page at www.facebook.com/explorestj

Check out a few pics from our new website – ExploreSTJ.com…

Given the current state of the island and the world as a whole, I do not plan on resuming island tours until October 1st. If you are visiting the island prior to October 1st and would like a tour, please contact me at [email protected] and I can recommend several great taxi drivers who may be available to show you this beautiful island.

Again, our new island tour website is called Explore STJ. You can find it online at www.ExploreSTJ.com. You can also find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ExploreSTJ. Please take a minute and give us a “Like” on Facebook. You can do so by visiting www.facebook.com/ExploreSTJ

Thanks all! Have a wonderful day!

Hello everyone, and happy Friday! Let’s end this week on a positive note! We’re holding a raffle, there is one great prize and the money raised will support the island’s cats and dogs … does it get any better than that??!!

As you know, tourism is currently on hold here in the US Virgin Islands. But despite that, the folks at the Animal Care Center continue to love, support and house numerous cats and dogs, and they really can use some monetary support.

For just $20, you can enter to win a five-night stay for up to six people at Aquamare at Grande Bay, a luxurious two bedroom condo located directly across from the beach in Cruz Bay. And even better? Our friends over at 340 Real Estate Co. are donating $1,000 which can be used for airfare or, truthfully, however you please! Because Aquamare is located right in the heart of Cruz Bay, just steps from some of the island’s great shops and restaurants, you won’t need to rent a vehicle should you win. You can easily walk, hike or take a taxi nearly everywhere.

Here are a few of the Animal Care Center’s current needs that we’re hoping to support:

• The ACC would like to repair the front railing of its building. The cost of this project is $100 or just five raffle tickets!
• The ACC would like to create, print and distribute pet hurricane preparedness educational materials. The cost of this is $200 or 20 raffle tickets.
• The ACC would like to purchase new cat traps for its feral cat program. The cost of this is $300.
• The ACC would like to install a new, redesigned outdoor play area for the dogs to improve their quality of life including a raised platform, turf for comfort, kiddie pool, digging area and shade tarp. The cost of this project is $600.
• The ACC would like to give its building a mini makeover, including a new coat of paint, deck sealant, new plants, and building awnings for the comfort of dogs and visitors. The cost of this project is $700.
• The ACC would like to install 14 new dog houses with wheels and machine washable comfort pads. The cost of this project is $1,800
• The ACC would like to implement a free spay and neuter scholarship program for the community, including door-to-door transportation of pets. The cost of this project is $5,000.

Such a great cause. So many great projects to support.

The timeframe for use is very generous on this raffle, as we understand that many of you have no intention of traveling anytime soon. The five-night stay can be used for any available dates this year through October 31, 2020; It can also be used between June 1, 2021 and October 31, 2021.

Again, tickets are just $20. There will not be a limit on entries, because we are trying to raise as much money as possible for the Animal Care Center.

To purchase a ticket, please choose the number of tickets below. You can buy up to 10 at a time. Then click the Buy Now button. This will bring you to a secure PayPal page where you can check out. Please make certain the your correct email is used, as we plan to notify the winner by email. (All entries will be treated as donations to the Animal Care Center. Your transaction will appear on your bank/credit card statement as STJDONATION.)

Number of Tickets

1 Ticket $20.00 USD2 Tickets $40.00 USD3 Tickets $60.00 USD4 Tickets $80.00 USD5 Tickets $100.00 USD6 Tickets $120.00 USD7 Tickets $140.00 USD8 Tickets $160.00 USD9 Tickets $180.00 USD10 Tickets $200.00 USD

All entrants should receive a confirmation email from PayPal after purchasing your ticket/s provided you are a registered PayPal user. Because of the expected high volume of entries, we cannot personally email each entrant. Your email from PayPal will serve as your confirmation of entry into the drawing.

How the drawing works: Once the entry period is over, we will pull a file of all the entrants and number of entries directly from PayPal. The raffle committee will personally write/type the names of each entrant on a raffle ticket. If you bought one ticket, we will write/type your name on one ticket. If you bought two tickets, we will write/type your name on two tickets. And so forth. All of the names will be placed into a secure bucket/basket/box. Once all of the names are written on tickets, we will draw the winner live on video. The drawing will be announced on newsofstjohn.com. A video of the drawing will also be posted on newsofstjohn.com. The raffle period will end on Sunday, May 24, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. AST (which is currently the same as EST). The winner will be announced on newsofstjohn.com on or about May 26, 2020. Now go ahead and enter! Good luck!! And thank you for helping us support the Animal Care Center!

The Fine Print: 

• The winner must adhere to the individual property/business rules and restrictions.
• The five-night stay at Aquamare at Grande Bay is good for any available dates between June 1, 2020 and October 31, 2020, or between June 1, 2021 and October 31, 2021. The property has a six person maximum. 
• In the event that the property/business becomes uninhabitable due to a storm, fire, or Act of God, the winner agrees to forfeit the prize.
• We strongly encourage the winner to purchase travel insurance.
• The prize is not  transferrable without the business owner’s consent.

Well folks, we have sad news to share with you all today. ZoZo’s H20 has decided not to reopen on Lovango and is no longer affiliated with the Lovango Beach Club and Resort.

ZoZo’s H2o opened on Lovango Cay back in February. (Lovango Cay is roughly a 10-minute boat ride from Cruz Bay.) It was the first time that ZoZo’s had reopened following the 2017 hurricanes. ZoZo’s was located at Caneel Bay from 2013 to 2017 and at Gallows Point prior to that. It originally opened in the current Extra Virgin Bistro spot back in 1999.

ZoZo’s H20 was scheduled to be opened from February through June, and then planned to close until December. At that time, it would reopen when the Beach Club at Lovango first opened. The Beach Club is currently under construction.

After chatting with John Ferrigno, the owner of ZoZo’s H20, and Mark Snider, the owner of Lovango Resort & Beach Club, it appears that there was an issue regarding lease terms.

Unfortunately there are not any plans to reopen ZoZo’s elsewhere, according to John. He added, “if it’s not on St. John, it’s not ZoZo’s.”

Mark Snider said they are continuing to build out the next phase of the Lovango Resort and Beach Club. They do plan to have another restaurant in place upon the reopening.

The view from Aquamare

Earlier this week, we launched our latest raffle which will benefit the Animal Care Center here on St. John. One hundred percent of the proceeds (after PayPal takes its fee) will be donated to the Animal Care Center, an amazing nonprofit organization that continues to support the island’s dogs and cats throughout this pandemic. The winner of this raffle will win a five-night stay at Aquamare at Grande Bay. It’s a pretty amazing spot…

Aquamare is a beautifully appointed two-bedroom suite with some of the best unobstructed views of Cruz Bay harbor, as well as convenient access to Grande Bay Resort’s fine amenities, including outdoor pool and spa, fitness center, and morning coffee.

Aquamare offers spectacular views of St. John’s cays from the suite’s private balcony as well as upscale amenities including a Keurig beverage maker, Kohler shower tower and washroom accessories, and flat screen TVs in all rooms. You won’t find finer furnishings or décor than offered at Aquamare, including beautiful artwork, travertine flooring throughout, specialty bathroom features, and luxurious bedding. The winner of this prize will enjoy every second of their vacation in St. John while staying in this indulgent condo.

Aquamare can accommodate up to six guests. The master bedroom houses a luxurious king size bed and full bath. The second bedroom contains another king size bed and access to an additional full bath. In the living area, there is a comfortable queen sized sleeper sofa.

Grande Bay Resort is situated hillside overlooking Cruz Bay on St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Set near Wharfside Village and a leisurely three minute stroll from the ferry dock, this St. John resort overlooks the emerald and blue waters of Cruz Bay with St. Thomas to the west. For added convenience, this unit comes with a reserved parking space if you choose to rent a vehicle for your stay. Although a rental vehicle is not necessary due to Aquamare’s in-town location.

Grande Bay Resort offers a large pool deck overlooking the ocean along with swimming pool and hot tub. The resort also boasts a spacious exercise room with new equipment that offers ocean views. Due to its location right in Cruz Bay, you can easily walk to shops, restaurants, bars and even some beaches at your leisure.

The winner of this raffle will also receive $1,000 courtesy of 340 Real Estate Co. Tickets are just $20.

The timeframe for use is very generous on this raffle, as we understand that many of you have no intention of traveling anytime soon. The five-night stay can be used for any available dates this year through October 31, 2020; It can also be used between June 1, 2021 and October 31, 2021.

To purchase a ticket, please choose the number of tickets below. You can buy up to 10 at a time. Then click the Buy Now button. This will bring you to a secure PayPal page where you can check out. Please make certain the your correct email is used, as we plan to notify the winner by email. (All entries will be treated as donations to the Animal Care Center. Your transaction will appear on your bank/credit card statement as STJDONATION.

The raffle has ended.

All entrants should receive a confirmation email from PayPal after purchasing your ticket/s provided you are a registered PayPal user. Because of the expected high volume of entries, we cannot personally email each entrant. Your email from PayPal will serve as your confirmation of entry into the drawing.

How the drawing works: Once the entry period is over, we will pull a file of all the entrants and number of entries directly from PayPal. The raffle committee will personally write/type the names of each entrant on a raffle ticket. If you bought one ticket, we will write/type your name on one ticket. If you bought two tickets, we will write/type your name on two tickets. And so forth. All of the names will be placed into a secure bucket/basket/box. Once all of the names are written on tickets, we will draw the winner live on video. The drawing will be announced on newsofstjohn.com. A video of the drawing will also be posted on newsofstjohn.com. The raffle period will end on Sunday, May 24, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. AST (which is currently the same as EST). The winner will be announced on newsofstjohn.com on or about May 26, 2020. Now go ahead and enter! Good luck!! And thank you for helping us support the Animal Care Center!

The Fine Print: 

• The winner must adhere to the individual property/business rules and restrictions.
• The five-night stay at Aquamare at Grande Bay is good for any available dates between June 1, 2020 and October 31, 2020, or between June 1, 2021 and October 31, 2021. The property has a six person maximum. 
• In the event that the property/business becomes uninhabitable due to a storm, fire, or Act of God, the winner agrees to forfeit the prize.
• We strongly encourage the winner to purchase travel insurance.
• The prize is not  transferrable without the business owner’s consent.
• The Animal Care Center will receive 100 percent of the proceeds from this raffle after PayPal takes its percentage which happens automatically with each transaction.