Question about Gibney Beach

[SusanNJ]

A couple of years ago, we went to Gibney and parked right by the old gate and walked down past the building and went down to the beach. It was a very small area of beach so we didn't stay long. Is there another way we are supposed to walk to once you walk down the path? I want to give Gibney another shot but I think we weren't at the right part of the beach. Thanks!

[Xislandgirl]

When you get to the beach walk all the way over to the left. Do not set up camp in front of the cottages but keep walking.

It is not a huge beach but the lack of parking makes it beautifully quiet

[PA Girl]

SusanNJ, were you there in the winter? When the water is up, Gibney Beach can disappear.

[SusanNJ]

Okay great! I wasn't sure if you're supposed to walk to the left or right. The last time we tried was a few years ago in October. Thanks!

[ColumbiaSCTraveler]

Gibney is one of my FAVORITES...if not my FAVORITE!! Enjoy!

[SusanNJ]

Thanks! I cannot wait. Fingers crossed the weather will be good - I am so SICK OF THIS RAIN!!

[54b]

A couple other tips for Gibney...

1) The left side (facing the water) is definitely the best spot...just walk in the shallow surf and like the earlier commenter said, just don't stop in front of the cottages...usually early in the morning, there's an older women puffing on a cig that'll shoot you a go to hell look, but pay her no attention. On the far left side, there's a place where sand goes back a ways and it's very shady, perfect for limin the day away.

2) Best snorkeling is out the right side (facing the water) and there a neat, tiny beach surrounded by those chocolate colored rock just big enough for about two or three people...about a 100 yard swim out to the right from the yellow house.

3) If you get there early with no one parked near the gate, I really like going on up to Peace Hill turning around so you can approach the gate from the other direction and back your car in (rear of car facing the gate)...it's easier to leave later in the day.

Have fun...easily and my wife and I's favorite beach on STJ.

[SusanNJ]

Wow thank you for those tips! Who's the older lady puffing on a cig??

[54b]

Wow thank you for those tips! Who's the older lady puffing on a cig??

Probably need to be careful here as I'm not completely sure, but I believe she's a distant relative of the Openhiemer family who still lives in on the property...based on some other posts on the forum I've read, apparently she has had a few run ins with tourists in the past and gotten the police involved.

Anyway, my wife and I go to Gibney once or twice every time we visit STJ and we typically get there early in the morning around 8:30 or 9). Anyway, the last 3 times we've been there (each June the last 3 years), she has been there sitting in a chair smoking. And each time, we've very respectfully walked by her in the surf (not on the beach) and quietly said, "Good morning." And just like Groundhog Day, without fail, she always said nothing, and just shot us a go to hell look.

Oh well, to each their own. I've no doubt she gets tired of battling drunk tourists who don't respect her space, but we weren't doing anything wrong. Beaches are public in the VI.

If you see her, just ignore her. As long as you don't go on her property, touch any of her chairs or whatever she leaves on the beach, you'll be fine.

[stjchica]

Take her a nice snack or cake or something

[luvinsun]

how is the walk down to Gibney? I've always wanted to go down there, but I've been afraid of the walk. I have a bad back and it is sometimes hard for me to walk a long distance. We've been to Jumbie a few times, and I can just make it there... Going to Salt Pond, I have to rest a couple of times (coming up the hill)...

[Lindy]

Tami - It's not hard at all and there is pavement most of the way. Just be careful if there is lots of sand on the pavement because it's a little steep and you don't want to slip on the smooth blacktop. It's a shorter walk or about the same as to Jumbie I think.

[lisa mcg]

Wonder if the little old lady knows how lucky she is

[coccoloba]

So-- there are two women who live on Gibney beach. One is a Gibney by birth, one by marriage, and certainly no relatives of the Oppenheimers. The are both in their 50's and neither one of them smoke (at least not tobacco). Neither of them is likely to have been sitting out on the beach in the morning, since they both have children and work,etc.
The one who's a Gibney by birth certainly knows how lucky she was, but it's been a long time since the privacy and serenity she grew up with has been unmarred by constant tourists. The other one, who fell in love with a man and a place, lost the man to early death but has tried to hang on against a lot of obstacles so her son can grow up on his father's land.
Yes, the public has the right to use the beach, but it does not belong to the Government. It is not legally a "Public Beach" although the public has the right to use it, because the Gibneys actually own to mean low water in front of the buildings. The far west end of the beach, where it gets wide, was sold by the third sibling to the National Park because he did not want to live next to the beach and also didn't want a Peter Bay type development there.
Over the decades that the family has owned this land, they had been constantly turning down development offers worth many millions of dollars. They had inherited only land, no money, when they were all in their 20s. The fact that there are not condos or a major hotel on this beach would seem to indicate that they were passionately involved with both their land and their island.

[lisa mcg]

So, should we all be respectful of their privacy and not go there? I would understand. I didn't mean to offend by asking if she knows how lucky she is...I meant it:)