MahoganyTreeVilla.com
Title
St John Villa Rental Pool - Mahogany Tree Villa - St John Cruz Bay.
Description
If the characteristic personality of each United States Virgin Island could be captured in a word, the flurry of activity, premier resorts and world-class shopping districts of St. Thomas would likely bring "energetic" to mind. Considering its rolling green hills dotted with centuries-old sugar mill ruins and the Danish-inspired architecture of its two towns, "historic" aptly describes a more quiet St. Croix. But what word best describes the 11,560 acres of largely undeveloped sparkling beaches, private lagoons, nature trails and lush foliage that both complement these two larger sister islands and complete this beautiful Caribbean trio? It is "serene," and that is the hallmark of the island of St. John.
Just a 45-minute boat ride from St. Thomas' Charlotte Amalie, this smallest of the three U.S. Virgin Islands was once a thriving agricultural society established in the early 1700s by Danish settlers attracted by the island's lucrative prospects of cultivating sugar cane. More than 100 cotton and sugar plantations flourished throughout all three U.S. Virgin Islands during the 18th and 19th centuries, but the emancipation of slaves in 1848 led to the plantations' eventual decline. What remain are the ruins of St. John's now-famous Annaberg Sugar Mill and other smaller plantations.
Once known for its sugar cane and farming industries, St. John today is recognized for its pristine beaches and conservation-minded residents who dedicate themselves to preserving the island's natural and cultural resources. Diminutive in size but not in natural splendor, this 19-square-mile island offers a glimpse of what life is like unfettered by commercial development and the trappings of a more modern lifestyle. Since philanthropist Laurence Rockefeller deeded two-thirds of the island - plus 5,000 offshore acres - to the federal government as national park land more than 40 years ago, St. John has retained a tranquil, unspoiled beauty that leaves visitors vowing to return for a longer stay.
