The possibility a waterfront resort hotel will be developed at Maho Bay is dead.
That's the takeaway from word that the National Park Service has received $2.25 million from the federal government to purchase the beachfront and 58 acres of land uphill. The purchase was completed with funds from the Land and Water Conservation Fund – fees paid to the government as a result of offshore oil and gas leasing.
The linchpin in the deal was the Trust for Public Land, which was able tp purchase the land thanks to donations and then held it until the federal government came up with money for the National Park.
"The beach at Maho Bay is now protected in perpetuity," said TPL's Will Rogers. "It will never be developed. A resort hotel and hundreds of condominiums could have been built there."
The Trust is holding one more, large parcel of Maho Bay land. It is hoped federal funds will be available for the Park to acquire it 2013. You can show your support here by signing an online petition sponsored by the Friends of the Virgin Islands National Park.