Gerie i own a home in stt and it sits above a beach but... NO i dont allow public access through my property. Im not being mean i just dont want people walking around my home and there is also an insurace liability if someone were to trip... there is plenty of public access to this beach as well.

Hello Gerie,

There was a discussion about this on our other message board - I think you'll find your answers and more questions there. Here is a link to the thread http://www.vimovingcenter.com/talk/read.php?4,22437,22453#msg-22453

--Islander

I always thought the beaches were only public to the high water line.....and private therafter.

I suppose it makes sense that those with easments might be compensated. Thogh,m I wonder if this is in all cases? What about the beachfront resort making money off of the daytrippers? Would they also be compensated? Do you think a resort would rather keep the beach private to it's guests or make money on the sale of chairs, drinks, food, etc? I vote for the latter.

Are they taking double compensation?

Thanks for the link, Islander. I must have missed that discussion or completely blocked it from my mind. It pretty much answers my question,

So, apparently one can legally access any beach in the USVIs from the water but only up to the high tide line. Therefore, the best time to go would be low tide, when there might be some dry sand upon which to put one's beach blanket. 😉

I assume there is a lot of tolerance by resorts to casual day trippers. I am allowed to pass through Secret Harbour resort property to get to Blue Moon Cafe. And after a tasty lunch, I walk over the sand to go take a dip in the water.

And, at some resorts cabsful of cruise ship tourists are brought in to spend an afternoon at the beach.

I suppose there are the laws and then there is common practice. However, anyone refusing passage through his or her property, whether commercial or residential, has every right to do so.

Gerie

Hello Gerie,

This has been a hot topic in recent years, beach access and protecting undeveloped beaches; namely with beaches like Lindquist, Sunsi, Vessup, Botany.

There are several dozen articles about it but here are a couple:

http://www.virginislandsdailynews.com/index.pl/article_home?id=531139

and another: http://www.virginislandsdailynews.com/index.pl/article_home?id=297468

--Islander

I own a home in Maui and ive learned it doesnt pay to be a hard a$$ about beach access. Tourist and locals alike will walk through no matter how many signs you post. You cant be there 24 hours a day. I have found that coming to a understand with tour guides and locals helps ease any tension that might arise with beach access problems. My home is 75 yards from the beach. I did have trouble a few time since I have a garden,Ive come home to find trampled and things of that nature. My solution was to open a trail along my fence in which tourist and locals can walk long side my property, with a sign posted keep on the trail to the beach.I feel this makes the locals happy and makes me feel better about everything.
I would hate for someone to get upset with home owners due to beach access and find their homes vandalised which happen to a few neighbors of mine who insisted on playing hard guy or gal home owner not allowing access in any circumstance.