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Folks,
Just got back from a visit to NJ and found that everything, except Dive IN at Sapphire Resort is Closed. I walked over and it is all boarded up. This includes the store also. The Sunday Beach party is cancelled also. Our house looks right down on Sapphire Resort and there is NOTHING going on. From what I have been able to determine is that the month to month leases that the resturant, bar, food store, and pool bar were ordred closed by the Judge that is working the suit between the resort owners and the resort management company. But that is just hear say.
I guess the real tradegy is that here is a class A propery that can resolve its problems. So if you are to stay there you had should call and get the story from the resort itself. The reservations are being handeled by Antilities. They may not know anything also.
Good LUCK!!!
What a shame!!!!!!!
billd.
You're right Bill, it is a shame, but still a beautiful, great place to stay at a reasonable price if you rent directy from the owners.
billd,
You'll have to let us know if you find out any inside information. I was at the beach party in March and it looked like a huge success. The place was packed, the music great, lot's of food and drinks were being served. It seems odd that an event with such a great turnout would shut down. My dad just got back and mentioned that it was closed, I thought that it might have something to do with Carnivale and was only temporary, sad to lose out on such a wonderful event. I'll be on island tommorrow afternoon, if I hear anything I will pass it on.
Are you planning on going to the STT get together at the Toad and Tart on the 20th? It would be nice to put a face with your name.
Molly
There's a previous long thread on this page (Sapphire resort reviews, etc.) where the beach bar closings have been discussed and conjectured over at some length, Cheers!
The resort and management company has been having huge problems with renting the units, some owners have not received commissions in a long time and I heard that they just could not get it together.
I agree that the resort is in an awesome location, but it does need alot of work to bring it back to the way it was!
Just an opinion!
RJC: I understand what you're saying but Sapphire never was touted as a 5 star resort and, over the years, there have been very few
complaints from the thousands of visitors who have stayed there, whether they rented from private or management owners Those few complaints have been primarily directed towards just a couple of private condo owners who haven't properly maintained the interior of their units and have been tardy in responding to those complaints.
I've no financial stake whatsoever in Sapphire. The exterior has gone through substantial basic maintenance renovations in the last two years or so and the restaurant/bar openings and closings in recent years - while MOST basically unfortunate - have been an ongoing saga which will no doubt continue. Island time and internal problems...
It is, and will continue to be, a property located on one of the most beautiful beaches on STT which is easily accessible and offers both first-time and returning visitors a taste of the American paradise which is such a joy to so many. I've lived here for close to a quarter century now and am one of the first to give a thumbs-down opinion when necessary but I've never felt compelled to offer a negative opinion on Sapphire in general.
Hearsay is just that. Cheers!
Rjc, if this rumor is true it does not apply to any units listed on VRBO or Cyberrentals. We have hired our own managers and would not put up with not getting our rental income from our individual managers. I received a large commission check just Saturday, thank you very much.
Just as a follow up I took a walk again around the resort and the plywood is up and when I asked a few of the workers, or should I say non-working workers, they knew nothing. So I stopped by Antillies and played tourest. I asked what was going on and that I wanted to stay there but there was nothing. They said they were working things out. I remember a few years ago they told me the same thing. This reosrt has had differnnt com panies like Doubletree to manage it. Doubletree after about six months siad they were out og it. They could not get a hold on the problems. So it has gone on and on. They were selling timeshares for about 15 years at preconstruction prices. I have several friends to actullay bought some weeks. They are paying for maintenance on buildings that don't exist. So it goes on and on.
It was never ment to be a 5 star hotel. But if you go to trip advisor you will numerous complaints about the buildings, staff and how they were treated. I would love to see someone come in and take it over. Antilles, the rental agent for the management company, is doing a fair to good job. I talk to many of the renters as I walk the beach and they tell me the good as well as the bad.
It is truly a shame. Sapphire Beach is the second best beach on STT. Even though I live on Sapphire, the best beach is Lindquest.
I see no end to this.
billd
I don't have any idea about who is arguing with each other but:
I personally read the FAX that the foreman had who boarded up the buildings a week ago or so - it was from a law firm in the states - instructed them to Remove the plumbing and cap at the interior wall - Remove the electric circuit boxes from the walls -- there was also directions to a fence contractor about chain link fencing that had been delivered but I saw no evidence of that - store the chairs and tables that would fit Inside and securely board up any openings -
It didn't sound like any negotiation was ongoing but it was terse and succinct. It wouldn't be quick and easy to reopen if the directions were followed.
the reson given is that the judge felt that the money that was being added by the rentals was just making a final settlement very hard. So uot they went!!!
The issue here is between the management company and the owners. At Sapphire Resort you only own from the inside paint in. The management company owns the buildings as well as the land. This includes the office, pool, bar, etc.
Also they were selling time shares for the last 15 years or so. They were to be built on the hill in the back. Some folks I know bought them and they are paying a mainttance fee, on buildins that were never built!!!
The feds are looking into this.
This is truly a mess!!!!
billd
bill...we are running, not walking away! We finally spoke to the owner of the unit and it turns out he sold the darn thing and the new owner isn't accepting renters after June 1.......WTF!!!
So now we are in search of plan b......
phooooooey!
Katie,did you make the rental directly through the owner?
I saw on homeaway.com that they will refund you 5000.00 if something like that happens. I was really amazed at that and may use that website just because of that fact.
Katie, keep in touch!
Sent you email.
Connie...got your PM......sooooo hard!!!!!!!!!! I love the link to the guy you used at Sapphire...bt so so so so hard to "trust"that, ....you know? Maybe paying 1000 + more at stt, would make everyone happy???????? It's sooooo hard!
I really would like sapphire....we are people that camped at cinnamon bay this December with a then 3 year old and 4 year od....who had a sotmach virus while we were there! No lie! So we can "ruff" it....but there seems to be more problems there than I can deal with!
thanks for you support.......
Holly
Boston
Guess it's a good thing we decided not to stay at Sapphire, opted for a cruise instead. Sorry to hear this though, we thoroughly enjoyed it last year.
Sorry to hear about the trouble Sapphire Beach Resort is having, my daughter and I stayed there last July and it was great. We met you Bill, your wife and your granddaughter. I was on the island two weeks ago and spent several days at Sapphire beach, was really wonderful on Friday when the cruise ships weren't in, you're right when you describe it as one of the best beaches.
I am a timeshare owner at Bluebeard's Castle and we just settled a lawsuit that tied up the St Thomas courts for several years, same story, developers mis-spending, or out right stealing, owner's money and allowing the resort to fall into a state of disrepair. Fortunately we have a very dedicated board who really fought for the owner's rights and several months ago the court ruled in the owner's favor, a cash award to start fixing up the place but more importantly, the rights to the property and buildings that make up Bluebeard's Castle. That means the rental money generated from restaurants, snack bars, gift shop and office space can go back into the fund established to improve and maintain the resort. It's a pretty exciting thing! I've since found out that there are many resorts that will not allow the developer to EVER manage the resort property as it's common to have these kinds of problems. Blue Beards has hired a management company to manage the whole place, they work for the owners and answer to the board. So far it's really working well. Unfortunately we have over $750,000 in unpaid maintenance fees for 2007 from owners who have just walked away, thus increasing the fees for those of us who pay. Things will get better though, I've noticed an improvement from my short walk through visit last summer.
I would hate to see Sapphire Beach Resort close, it' has so much potential. Good luck to you owners, BBC is living proof that the little guy CAN win and I hope the same hold true for you.
