Margaritaville

It must be nice to have new hotels opening! Here on St. Croix, we get nothing.

It must be nice to have new hotels opening! Here on St. Croix, we get nothing.

It's really not a "new hotel". The property has been the site of a hotel for decades until it fell prey to hard times and poor management under the last owner/operator, then sat vacant for the past several years. It's the long-awaited "return" of a resort. I don't know of any new hotel which has been built on STT in many a long year.

Yes and it is often listed as a bay/beach that is not healthy to swim as per the beach advisories issued by DPNR.

As recently as last week:
http://stthomassource.com/content/community/environment/2015/08/07/beach-advisory-august-3-7

It'll be interesting to see if the lobby, restaurant and parking areas still flood during heavy rains since it was built originally over a mangrove area and filled in so the area behind beach is actually below sea level which it why the townhouses are built above the ground level on those humps and always, in past, has traditionally flooded. I've seen water up to the tops of tires of cars in if not moved from parking lot prior to a rain event. Need a kayak to get to your car.

One of the reasons for the renovation/construction delays was the complete overhauling of the drainage system to resolve this issue which has been only "patched up" over the years.

As far as the DPNR water reports, that bay is only of many which are regularly tested and for which public advisories are posted per EPA mandates. This has been discussed many times before and I can recall only a very few times in three decades that any beach was actually closed for swimming because of contamination - usually for a couple of days after a heavy storm.

If you look at the advisories, regularly, that bay is often cited, more often than not.

If you look at the advisories, regularly, that bay is often cited, more often than not.

I regularly read the advisories, have done for years, and see no indication that a public advisory has included Water Bay any more regularly than all the other regularly cited swimming beaches - including Coki, Sapphire, Magens, Lindbergh, etc.

If you're looking at advisories just for the last year when renovation and construction has been taking place then of course you're going to see a skew in the statistics. But in al the years a resort has been on that site, I don't believe a public advisory has been issued for Water Bay any more frequently than for any other beach.

Water Bay, Coki, Secret Harbor and Frenchman Bay are often in the advisories. Sapphire, Lindbergh and Magens, rarely make the list as unsafe for swimming.

She said, she said. The testing results should be posted on government website so people can access results. They should also be broadcast on radio or TV, but nobody pays attention and most visitors aren't notified, so why bother?

I find it useless that they post the advisories the week after the testing. What good does that do?

Anyway, it'll be interesting to see how they've fixed up the old resort.

Well that devolved quickly... Canuck, maybe you are LUCKY you don't have any new hotels. 😉

Anyway, it has gone from hotel to time share. I am not sure how I feel about time shares, but the people do seem to be there year in and out. They buy food and other items while they are on island. On the other hand, I suspect we will have to suffer through a period of slick time share salespeople in town and all around.

One comment: I thought they were tearing everything down, but basically the buildings are the same. The restaurant is different, although I could not remember what it looked like during Renaissance times. The pool is updated, but the same. Brought back memories of my confined water training with Homer Calloway (All hail, Homer!!) of Chris Sawyer Dive Center... *-)

I find it useless that they post the advisories the week after the testing. What good does that do?

Agree 100%. I wish they would include the test date with the results.

Well that devolved quickly...

I'll devolve it further by adding to it my wish that before people stir up a germophobic storm on the subject, they better understand the EPA mandated water testing policies. The bar is set VERY high. If the level of contamination is one tiny miniscule dot above the bar the EPA (under the Clean Water Act) mandates that public notice be given via radio, newspapers, etc. These are public advisories only. A few local articles have mistakenly indicated that the beaches are closed for swimming and fishing period when a public advisory is posted. Beaches are NOT closed unless there is gross contamination and in such a case the swimming beaches are essentially cordoned off and warning signs posted on the beach itself. The only time I personally recall that happening was immediately post hurricane Marilyn.

Now I must go and scrub my hands with an antibacterial to ward off all those nasties hiding in my keyboard ...

One comment: I thought they were tearing everything down, but basically the buildings are the same. The restaurant is different, although I could not remember what it looked like during Renaissance times. The pool is updated, but the same. Brought back memories of my confined water training with Homer Calloway (All hail, Homer!!) of Chris Sawyer Dive Center... *-)

There's a thought. I think it was Homer that gave us our first intro to scuba in the Sugar Bay pool. Flooded mask practice and a few laps with the tank. That was a long time ago.

Yes and it is often listed as a bay/beach that is not healthy to swim as per the beach advisories issued by DPNR.

As recently as last week:
http://stthomassource.com/content/community/environment/2015/08/07/beach-advisory-august-3-7

It'll be interesting to see if the lobby, restaurant and parking areas still flood during heavy rains since it was built originally over a mangrove area and filled in so the area behind beach is actually below sea level which it why the townhouses are built above the ground level on those humps and always, in past, has traditionally flooded. I've seen water up to the tops of tires of cars in if not moved from parking lot prior to a rain event. Need a kayak to get to your car.

AMEN. Im sorry but that water is BAD. Ive dove there twice and snorkel a handful of times - mostly taking photos of the life (not a whole lot - more rusty equipment than fish 🙁 ) to prevent the dolphinarium. Its regularly on the no swim like Alana said. Gross. Hey Alana when are you coming over to see me!?

HOMER SCUBA!!! HAHA. Love it. I worked for Web who took over that business. MISS him and that little dive operation SO MUCH. I'll be going over for thanksgiving to work for him some more as he's always slammed that time of year and well..... I love that job lol. So fun!

http://virginislandsdailynews.newspaperdirect.com/epaper/iphone/homepage.aspx?#_article4c6a93b6-8d6e-4953-bce9-9cb093b85495/waarticle4c6a93b6-8d6e-4953-bce9-9cb093b85495/4c6a93b6-8d6e-4953-bce9-9cb093b85495/0/true

Anybody go over the weekend?

Tried to go to restaurant on Saturday for lunch, but security guard said it was for members only. Thanks for the phone number - couldn't find it online. Will try to make a reservation and see what happens.

Have a reservation for lunch!

That lets me out as lunch is usually spur of the moment activity for me when running around. Plus like to check menu, prices, etc., as not paying $15 for a burger and fries.

You can park up on the Coki Bay road and walk in if need be which you'll have to do to access the beach.

Taking the family to dinner tonight. Personally not a fan of chain restaurant places but wife wants to try. My honest review will follow

Well, Sparty, since you and I had similar faces from Slider Showdown, am looking forward to your review because we have some similar tastes.

What did you think ms411? I had suggested Rancho Latino because today is sancocho day. If my heart was set on sancocho will I be disappointed?

I love Rancho Latino. Stewed pork dish for me! The best.

I love Rancho Latino. Stewed pork dish for me! The best.

Never had a bad meal there. Heck never not had a great meal there.