Virgin Islands Park unearths ‘new’ old ruins

Near the end of the 18th Century, the sugar industry was in full swing on St. John.  One of the island’s largest plantations was L’Esperance, with 152 acres of sugar, according to the St. John Beach Guide

The National Park Service has recently given some attention to those ruins.  They include an estate house, a rum still, and a sugar factory. 

Lynn Giovanna, of Islandia Real Estate, calls them ‘fabulous’ and included this photo on the firm’s blog.

“It’s a must see!!,” Giovanna enthused. “You can find the entrance with a small clearing for parking shortly after you pass the entrance into Catherineberg when traveling east on Centerline (about three-tenths of a mile). Look for it on your right after a few bends in the road.”

The trail runs from Centerline Road to Reef Bay. It's maybe a 30-minute hike. Here’s a link to a National Park Service map.