I just looked at the weather, and it looks like a good chunk of the country is going to experience cold temps, and potentially a blizzard or a bomb cyclone, over the new couple of days. (What the heck is a bomb cyclone anyway??!! All I know is that I want zero part of it!) So I figured everyone could use a little warm up right about now.
I was having lunch with friends at High Tide about a month or so back, and took this video for all of you. Crank the heat. Throw on some of your favorite island music, and enjoy a minute on Cruz Bay beach.
Want see more beach videos? They’re now all in one place. Please visit www.islandtidbits.com/beaches to see them all.
In keeping with the theme of let’s pass some time at work during the holiday week, who has dreamt of owning a business on St. John? I know I used to, and I’m fairly certain many of you have too! But before I get into the particulars of what’s currently for sale on St. John, please know that all of the businesses mentioned below are open for business as usual. The fact that they’re listed for sale has no impact on daily operations. So go ahead and continue enjoying them all. 🙂
The most affordable business that’s currently listed is Cafe Roma. Cafe Roma has been dishing up Italian fare in Cruz Bay since 1981. The current owner purchased the business after reading about it on my former blog, so maybe the new owner will purchase it after reading about it here on my new blog! This sale is for the business only, as the restaurant space is leased. Cafe Roma is listed for $150,000 by Sea Glass Properties.
If you’ve ever visited St. John, chances are you’ve picked up one of our popular cartoon maps or guidebooks. Well that business is up for sale too! Island Treasure Maps launched in 1984 when a local cartoon artist wanted to use her talents to connect visitors with merchants on the island. The sale includes three maps, one guidebook, original artwork and reproductions. The maps print twice a year. Island Treasure Maps is listed for $225,000 by 340 Real Estate Co.
Two boat charter companies are currently listed for sale as well. Cimmaron Yacht Charters is a successful charter business that includes two sailboats – Cimmaron, a 43-foot classic wooden yawl built in 1969 and Grace, a 41-foot center cockpit Bristol high performance cruiser with a distinctive classical styling built by some of New England’s finest craftsmen. The sale includes two moorings in Great Cruz Bay. Cimmaron Yacht Charters is listed for $295,000 by Cruz Bay Realty.
Just Fish, a well-established and renowned fishing charter company based out of Cruz Bay, is also listed for sale. Just Fish offers half days, three-quarter days, full days, and marlin trips. There are two boats in the fleet, which are both moored in Cruz Bay. Just Fish is a 42-foot Liberty Express sport fishing boat, and Go Fish is a 32-foot center console boat. The charter experience includes fishing offshore on the north or south drop, or inshore around the inner cays. Just Fish is listed for $895,000 by Cruz Bay Realty.
How does a beautiful waterfront hotel sound? Pretty amazing, I know! The priciest piece of real estate that’s for sale on St. John is Sea Shore Allure. This is truly a stunning property that’s impeccably maintained. The sale of this business includes two parcels and the lease of a third waterfront parcel, and all are located in the Coastal Zone Management’s regulations free zone. This beautifully-built hotel has eight units – four one-bedrooms, two two-bedrooms and two three-bedrooms. It has a pool and an ample-sized outdoor bar and lounge area, as well as private access to a pebbly beach. There is potential to add a restaurant or small marina onsite. Sea Shore Allure is listed for $29 million by Cruz Bay Realty.
Surf Club Cantina, formerly known as Wok on the Beach, is also listed for sale, although it’s not on the official MLS. This business is listed for $850,000 on Biz Buy Sell. It recently had a $250,000 price reduction, according to the listing.
Interested in learning more about what’s for sale on St. John? Then please check out Island Tidbits’ two real estate advertisers – 340 Real Estate Co. and Holiday Homes. Click here to learn more about 340 Real Estate Co. Click here to learn more about Holiday Homes.
A seaplane lands in Cruz Bay. Image credit: Tom Anusewicz of antillesairboats.com
Ok folks, so I love a good story about St. John’s history. And I know a lot of you do too. Did you know that you used to be able to fly right into Cruz Bay? Seriously, it’s true!
Getting to St. John isn’t easy, as we all know. (Click here to read our previous post: How to Get Here.) We have to fly into the airport on St. Thomas, and then we have to take a taxi and a ferry in order to arrive on St. John. Well for about 25 years or so, you could actually fly directly into St. John. Can you imagine watching planes land in Cruz Bay? That must have been a sight to see!
Antilles Air Boats launched in 1963, and provided air service between the US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and Tortola over the years. The first flights began out of St. John in 1967. From St. John, you could fly directly to both St. Thomas and St. Croix. Antilles Air Boats was founded by Charles F. Blair, Jr., the first person to fly solo over the North Pole.
Virgin Islands Shuttle Service launched in 1982.A seaplane lands in Cruz Bay. Image credit: antillesairboats.com
The seaplane ramp was located in Cruz Bay on the land to the far right if you’re looking at the water from the beach. It was located at the end of the road that takes you to the Lind Point trailhead. In the early days, you actually had to take a small boat out to the seaplane in order to board it. Check out the picture below:
In the early days, you had to board the seaplane by boat. Image credit: antillesairboats.comThe seaplane ramp was located at the end of the road that takes you to the Lind Point trailhead in Cruz Bay.
Antilles Air Boats soon became the world’s largest seaplane airline. It’s estimated that Antilles Air Boats completed about 40,000 flights a year.
Flight schedules from 1978
Sadly Charles F. Blair, Jr. died in a plane accident near St. Thomas in 1978 along with three other passengers. At that time, his wife, movie star Maureen O’Hara, took over operations. She sold Antilles Air Boats to Resorts International the following year. Resorts International closed Antilles Air Boats in 1981. (Random fact: Donald Trump then acquired Resorts International in 1987. He sold it to Merv Griffin Enterprises the following year.)
Virgin Islands Seaplane Shuttle began service in 1982 and continued until Hurricane Hugo destroyed most of its fleet in 1989. The Virgin Islands Port Authority permanently closed the seaplane ramps in St. Thomas and St. Croix following Hurricane Marilyn in 1995. The Virgin Islands National Park closed the seaplane ramp on St. John soon thereafter. (The ramp was leased through the VINP.)
image credit: antillesairboats.com
A businessman tried to launch a new seaplane service called St. John Air Taxi in 2004. The Federal Aviation Administration approved two routes at the time – one run between Frank Bay and Stevens Cay, and the other from Moorhead Point (beside Frank Bay) on an angle out toward Great Cruz Bay. This new service never came to fruition.
A seaplane landed in St. John several times in early 2021 – in Frank Bay and also in Round Bay on the East End. It caused quite the stir on social media and has not visited since to my knowledge.
A seaplane landed in Frank Bay in February 2021. The plane was bringing guests over from the Dorado Beach Ritz Carlton in Puerto Rico.
So what do you think… Should seaplanes return to St. John? Please vote in the poll below.
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Island Tidbits would like to welcome our newest advertiser Villa Circe. Villa Circe is a recently remodeled home perched atop a ridge in Upper Carolina, a neighborhood in Coral Bay. The villa, which boasts six bedrooms, has panoramic views of the British Virgin Islands, Coral Bay and beyond. This beautiful home has a pool, a hot tub and numerous games to keep the kids busy, including a Nintendo Switch. Â Please click here to learn more and to see additional pics.
A question I get asked quite often during my island tours revolves around beach eats. Guests are interested in knowing which beaches have food and drinks available for purchase. The quick answer is Trunk Bay, Cinnamon Bay and Maho Bay. I plan to highlight all three here on Island Tidbits, but today we’re going to start with Trunk Bay.
The food at Trunk Bay is not only tasty, but it’s affordable too. I don’t know about you, but having a great lunch and drinks at one of the most beautiful beaches in the world sounds pretty darn good to me! But first let’s start with some logistics…
Where Exactly is Trunk Bay
Trunk Bay is located on St. John’s north shore (Route 20), and it’s located about 15 minutes from Cruz Bay and about 25 minutes or so from Coral Bay. It has a relatively small parking area, so it’s best to go early in the morning or later in the day. Taxiing from Cruz Bay is always a good option too. The taxis go there regularly, and several are usually there to bring you back to your villa, condo or back to the ferry dock. Trunk Bay does have a small entrance fee of $5 per person, which supports National Park operations. They offer discounted rates for seniors and active military, and they also accept most National Park passes. (Click here for the latest taxi rates on St. John.)
The Beach Bar & Snack Shack
The concessions area at Trunk Bay is located off to your right when you walk in, behind the shower building. There is a full bar onsite that opens at 9 a.m. It even has four barstools that you can relax on throughout the day. They offer regular and cold brew coffee starting at 9 a.m., as well as lighter breakfast options like muffins and fruit. The main kitchen opens at 10 a.m. and serves a full lunch. Looking for some happy hour specials? Well it starts early at Trunk Bay! Happy Hour specials are offered at the bar daily from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
The bar opens at 9 a.m.Trunk is all about putting the earth first. In doing so, it serves all drinks in a reusable cup that you can return at the end of the day.Barstools near a beautiful beach? Yes, please!Happy hour starts in the morning at Trunk Bay.
The Trunk Bay Snack Shack has a variety of reasonably priced items ranging from hot items like a BBQ bacon cheeseburger, a pulled pork sandwich and a mahi sandwich with pineapple chutney. They just added a new shrimp burger (whole pieces of shrimp) and comes with homemade bang bang sauce. They also offer cold items like a chicken caesar wrap, a turkey BLT and a shrimp roll among other items. There are more than 20 rotating selections on the menu. And because they slice their own deli meats, you can even get a good ‘ole fashioned deli sandwich. Oh and one of the best parts- all orders are served very, very quickly.
Lunch is served daily at Trunk Bay from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.There are more than 20 rotating items on the menu at Trunk Bay.From left to right: shrimp burger, mahi sandwich, BBQ bacon cheeseburger
There’s even a little retail area beside the bar in case you’re looking to purchase a reusable cup, hat, t-shirt other souvenirs. They have ice cream too.
Beautiful beach: Check!
Delicious & affordable food: Check!
Cute little bar: Check!
A place that cares about the earth: Check!
Early morning happy hour: Yes, please!
The next time you’re on St. John, be sure to check out Trunk Bay’s bar and snack shack. It just may be one of the best lunches you have on island!
I was at the Windmill Bar earlier this month when I had the opportunity to listen to Ikema Dyer playing steel pan. He started to play one of my favorite Christmas songs, so I took a little video to share with all of you. Enjoy!
Ikema is playing tomorrow, December 16th, from 12 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. at the Windmill Bar. The Windmill Bar is located about two miles from Cruz Bay on Centerline Road, which is Route 10 on the map. Be sure to check him out if you’re on island. He’s pretty amazing.
That’s it for today everyone. If you need more of a St. John fix today, check out our webcams by clicking this link. You can also see more of our videos, including beach videos, GoPro videos and more by clicking this link.
Thank you so much for reading!
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