Ruins, Remnants and Reminders of Time Past

Post provided by guest contributing blogger, Kim Lucas with United States Virgin Islands Sotheby’s International Realty in St. Croix, Virgin Islands.

It is true my life as a Sotheby’s International Realty® agent involves listing, showing and selling beautiful pieces of property, but I feel particularly fortunate doing so on the historic island of St. Croix where Christopher Columbus visited on his second voyage in 1493 and since then seven different flags have flown.

Many properties on the island contain remnants of the past – architectural ruins of old plantations, sugar mills, rum factories and even fire houses. Here are three unmatched historical properties all that help to tell the story of the island’s rich past.

The Mt. Washington Great House and Plantation is considered by many to be the most beautiful historic restoration homes in the Virgin Islands – and perhaps the entire Caribbean. On more than one occasion, Mt. Washington has been the centerpiece on the St. Croix Landmarks Society House Tours and has beenfeatured in celebrated shelter magazines including Traditional Home, Architectural Digest, Coastal Living, and British Vogue. Most recently the estate was featured in an episode of the popular American TV show, The Bachelor.

$3,900,000 USD / St. Croix, USVI / United States Virgin Islands Sotheby’s International Realty

Once considered one of the most prolific sugar producers in the Caribbean, Clifton Hill is a significant historical example of the technological evolution of St Croix’s agricultural industry. The estate, which is on the National Registry of Historic Places, has a history that stretches back to the mid-1700’s when the property was owned by King Cristian VI, a Danish monarch. In 1915, the sugar factory was converted into a rum distillery and in the 1930’s the rum operation was shipping 75 barrels of rum to New York every two weeks until it closed in the 1940’s.

$495,000 USD / St. Croix, USVI / United States Virgin Islands Sotheby’s International Realty

The ruins of “Picnics in Paradise” sits on 4+ acres of beachfront on St Croix’s North Shore. The current owners have had extensive drawings done by an architect to convert the ruins to a fabulous two bedroom home with a guest house.

$499,000 / St. Croix, USVI / United States Virgin Islands Sotheby’s International Realty

Its natural beauty combined with its rich history makes the island of St. Croix intoxicating. These are but a sampling of the historic properties available here, and you too, can own your own piece of history in paradise!

Many thanks to our guest blogger, Kim Lucas from United States Virgin Islands Sotheby’s International Realty, the premier real estate firm dedicated to serving the islands of St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix.