Caneel Bay Resort, a luxury resort located on the island of St. John in the US Virgin Islands, has been closed since Hurricane Irma devastated the island in September 2017. The resort, which was a popular destination for celebrities and affluent travelers, suffered significant damage during the hurricane and has been closed ever since.
There has been much speculation about whether or not Caneel Bay Resort will be rebuilt. The resort is owned by the Trust for Public Land, a nonprofit organization that purchased the land from Laurance Rockefeller in 1983 with the intention of preserving it as a natural resource.
In December 2019, the Trust for Public Land announced that it had reached an agreement with CBI Acquisitions, a subsidiary of CBI-EcoResorts, to lease and redevelop Caneel Bay Resort. Under the terms of the agreement, CBI Acquisitions will operate the resort for 60 years and invest $100 million in its redevelopment.
The redevelopment plan includes repairing and rebuilding existing buildings and infrastructure damaged during Hurricane Irma, as well as adding new amenities and accommodations. The plan also calls for a commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship.
The announcement of the agreement was met with mixed reactions from locals and environmentalists. Some expressed concern about the impact that a rebuilt resort would have on the island’s fragile ecosystem, while others welcomed the economic benefits that would come with reopening one of St. John’s most iconic resorts.
As of now, there is no set timeline for when Caneel Bay Resort will reopen. However, both CBI Acquisitions and the Trust for Public Land have expressed their commitment to moving forward with the redevelopment plan.
In conclusion, while there is still much uncertainty surrounding Caneel Bay Resort’s future, it appears that plans are underway to rebuild and reopen this iconic property. Only time will tell if these plans come to fruition and what impact they will have on St. John’s environment and economy.