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Anyone know about the status of this once bed and breakfast on STX? Stayed there a few years back .... Lovely
I am not on STX so you might want to call the listed number online...
Villa Greenleaf
+1 340-719-1958
Their website addy above redirects to the owner's B&B in Maine stateside and does not list a STX location. I'm guessing they no longer have the VI location or they are building a new website for Villa Greenleaf and do not want to lose that website address.
We used to be the owners, with a partner. VG was open through 2011. It is no longer operational and the website belongs to the old partner - no idea why he hasn't taken down the information. VG was up for sale for several years as with WAPA prices there was no way to operate the property profitably. After a series of events the property went back to the bank.
The sad thing is that the day after the bank took possession of the property, literally hours after the caretaker left, the property was gutted by looters - during the daytime, no less. They took furniture, artwork, sinks, toilets, doors, appliances, cabinets - anything that wasn't nailed down.
it's our understanding the property is still up for sale but the bank is asking an astronomical price (we've heard), and the property is a real mess. It seems the bank cares more about getting money out of the property vs. selling it for a song. We've talked with a few people who thought about buying it in the past but nothing has come through that we've seen.
The giant kapoc tree is still there, of course, as well as the mango trees. The house is occupied by homeless (at least a year ago) so anyone wanting to go walk around should be cautious.
A side story is that a friend of mine, that used to be her childhood home. Her father built the house and she grew up there. The property went through a few owners and was even a school at one point before becoming VG.
I've always felt that that property is extremely haunted. Lots of people and animals are buried under that kapoc tree. There have been a number of crazy events happened there - the old caretaker had quite a list of stories!
it was a lovely property and sad to see it go. But it was a victim of the economy, like many other businesses and properties on the island.
There were quite often at night sounds of music playing outside under the tree, and shadows moving as if people at a party and dancing. Going outside revealed nothing there.
Doors would randomly be wide open, even if they had been deadbolted (and double checked).
Sounds of horses outside in the driveway, hoofbeats and whinnys (nothing there, day or night).
Children singing. Voices from behind locked doors in unoccupied guest rooms. The caretaker hated to be there alone (with no guests), he said the voices scared the crud out of him.
I'll have to think to remember others...
Of course there were the human events of theft, but those were explainable. 😉
I have heard rumors of the original family buying back the property and restoring it. But that is all speculation on my part, who knows. I think that it would take the bank being willing to sell it for a reasonable price - and I have no knowledge of what is going on with them.
Until then my main worry is that that kapoc tree survives as it has for hundreds of years and carries forward its spirit into the future of St. Croix. That tree is an amazing spiritual life that has seen a heck of a lot of st croix history - it deserves a space of its own.
This is an image of it in better days - which doesn't do it justice, that bottom large branch is about 8 feet above the ground. I would put this tree at least 30 feet in circumference.
In Florida there is a program to dedicate "heritage trees" in the state, primarily in parks and nature preserves. This program preserves and honors these trees as legacy trees in old growth protected areas, many of which are 500+ years old. It would be great to see such a program in the Vi, I can think of several trees which could qualify.
