Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
A
historical adventure
ON HASSEL ISLAND
You can have an offbeat adventure by
exploring Hassel Island. Taking in some
136 acres, most of this island is pro-
tected as a Virgin Islands National Park.
This island, which was connected to
the mainland of St. Thomas until 1865
(end of the Civil War) when a channel
was dug for easier passages of ships,
has a rich history. During the early 19th
century's Napoleonic Wars, the British
occupied the island, and the ruins of
two forts that the troops constructed
here, Willoughby and Shipley, can be
seen today. You can explore these ruins.
Hassel Island was once used by the
Danes to defend the port of Charlotte
Amalie. In 1840, the Danes built a
marine railway operation for boat and
sail repairs. As late as the 1960s, the
marine railway was still in operation. It
was one of the earliest steam-powered
marine railways in the Western Hemi-
sphere, as well as the oldest surviving
example of a steam-powered marine
railway in the world.
In 1978, some 95% of Hassel Island
was sold to the U. S. National Park Serv-
ice by its owners, the Paiewonski family.
For almost 30 years, the island sat
untouched and deteriorating. Today
some efforts are being made to restore
the island as a living testimony to the
historical heritage of St. Thomas.
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Excursions from St. Thomas
WATER ISLAND
Water Island,
3
⁄
4
mile off the coast from the harbor at Charlotte Amalie, is the
fourth-largest island in the U.S. Virgins, with nearly 500 acres of land. Irregular in
shape, 2
1
⁄
2
-mile-long Water Island is filled with many bays and peninsulas, and stud-
ded with several good, sandy beaches along with secluded coves and rocky headlands.
Established as the fourth U.S. Virgin Island in 1996, Water Island was once a part of
a peninsula jutting out from St. Thomas, but a channel was cut through, allowing
U.S. submarines to reach their base in a bay to the west.
At palm-shaded
Honeymoon Beach,
you can swim, snorkel, sail, water-ski, or
sunbathe. The beach has been significantly improved in the past few years, as loads
of rocks and gravel were hauled off and trees and brush removed. The sand was sifted
to get rid of debris, and a dredge removed the seaweed and deposited white sand on
the shore. Today it looks quite beautiful.
There is no commerce on the island—no taxis, gas stations, hotels, shops, or even
a main town. Residents are totally dependent on Charlotte Amalie, lying half a mile
away. It you're planning on a visit, bring water and your own food supplies and other
needs. Don't count on it, but there is often a food cart on Honeymoon Beach, serving
surprisingly good meals, including an all-steak lunch.
A ferry (
&
340/774-2255;
www.viferries.com) runs between Crown Bay Marina
and Water Island several times a day for $5 one-way, $10 round-trip (Crown Bay
Marina is part of the St. Thomas submarine base). If you prefer a guided tour, check
in with
Water Island Adventures
(
&
340/714-2186;
www.waterisland
adventures.com). For $65 (cash only) per person, including transportation and equip-
ment, a trip to Water Island includes a cycling tour. In the 3
1
⁄
2
hours of the tour, beach
time is allowed. Departures are from the dock at Havensight Mall or Crown Bay
Marina.
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