Pleasant Ranch

Quiet days. Quiet nights. Beautiful, uncrowded, sandy beaches. It does not get much better than this!

It might be the smallest U.S. Virgin Island at only 491 acres but you cannot beat Water Island for a “Robinson Crusoe” feeling. It is the smallest main island of the U.S. Virgin Islands and sits off the coast of St. Thomas. Inhabited by about 100 full time residents you do not have to worry about rush hour traffic. Or any crowds for that matter.

The tiny roads, many in disrepair, are very narrow. You can use a car but the preferred vehicle is a golf cart. It sure helps with the price of gas these days. When you are out and about it is unusual to see 2 or more other golf carts on the road at the same time.

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.

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.

Getting to and from the island is easy. There is a reliable regularly scheduled small ferry between Crown Bay Marina on St. Thomas and Water Island. Or, like many residents do, use your own boat or dinghy. For the larger items, like vehicles and kitchen appliances you have a good barge service between the islands that can help you.

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.

The US Government transferred ownership of the island to the USVI 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.