Maho Bay sold December 27th

Pia · Post by **Pia** » Tue Jan 01, 2013 11:09 am

Well it's official - Maho Bay Campground has been sold and the purchase was completed on December 27th 2012

No idea who the purchaser was but it sold for $13,950,000.00

Pia

Coconuts · Post by **Coconuts** » Tue Jan 01, 2013 11:19 am

Wow...I can only hope that the new owners have much lower impact intentions than the think tank that wanted to go nuts there a few years ago...

All the best,

Kevin

mnfun2bme · Post by **mnfun2bme** » Tue Jan 01, 2013 1:27 pm

Exit Zero · Post by **Exit Zero** » Tue Jan 01, 2013 4:52 pm

Seems like a bargain price for STJ with the acreage and beach - over 40% reduced from the original asking price - leaving plenty of room for different development options or larger parcels in subdivision instead of smaller buidable homesites like Ditleff or Peter Bay - but still a prime resort location on a US owned island with only 2 other choices. Condo development has also become popular with many visitors to STJ in recent years - witness the popularity of Grande Bay on this site alone - and having beach access could well be the tipping point for selling more folks their own piece of STJ.

scoob · Post by **scoob** » Tue Jan 01, 2013 6:59 pm

We have alot of good memories of Maho Bay Camps.
It was an affordable vacation for us camping families.
Such a shame that it will be history...

A little different than our annual camping trip to the Adirondacks ..
Just a note here...
Our kids never needed video games for entertainment..
they had the water ,snorkeling gear,canoes,kayaks and imagination to have fun..
They still camp with us .! 28 and 26

Scoob

Teresa_Rae · Post by **Teresa_Rae** » Tue Jan 01, 2013 7:20 pm

So devastating

Do you know if the camps will still be open through May?

lprof · Post by **lprof** » Tue Jan 01, 2013 7:27 pm

Teresa_Rae wrote:
Do you know if the camps will still be open through May?

(This is the email I received this evening.)

Dear Campers, Staff and All Interested,

We have just discovered that the property which Maho Bay Camps sits upon has officially been sold. The only information that has been released, is that a direct sale to an unknown buyer took place on 12/27/2012 for $13,950,000. No one is releasing any more details. We do not know who they are or their intentions. All we know is that we are only taking reservations until we close on May 15, 2013. We will continue to update you as we find out more.

We hope you have a blessed New Year and get to come visit us one last time.

For reservations please call 1-800-392-9004

http://www.concordiaeco-resort.com/
https://www.facebook.com/ConcordiaEcoResortVI

equineannie · Post by **equineannie** » Wed Jan 02, 2013 9:35 am

Sad, but inevitable, I suspect. Such a prime site was never going to escape the developer eye of someone/company with the bucks to spend. Another example of the quiet, off the beaten path persona of St John that is slowly wearing away. I am so grateful that I experienced the island in the late 80s & early 90s.

poidog · Post by **poidog** » Wed Jan 02, 2013 10:24 am

Wow. An amazing plot of land. Only wish I had millions...

I hope it's not a resort. I love the fact that many rent in private villas on the island and a resort would congest that lovely quiet area of the island.

Pia · Post by **Pia** » Wed Jan 02, 2013 10:49 am

Personally I don't think it will be a resort - at least not a Ritz etc as (IMO) the beach and the lot being only 13 acres are both too small. It could however be a "boutique" hotel, a single residence, or best case scenario another Eco facility but again only time will tell.

Pia

PA Girl · Post by **PA Girl** » Wed Jan 02, 2013 11:23 am

I agree with Pia, the land size and topography almost make any large scale development impossible. I am putting on a hat worn at a former job but the infrastructure required to service, for example, a 100 rooms, would take a tremendous amount of land area AND money, I just don't think it would be physcially or financially feasible to construct an on-site water and sewer plant as well as buildings for support services and still have room to put in lots of rooms/condos.

What is the zoning? Not that it matters, anyone with enough money could likely get the zoning changed.

Coconuts · Post by **Coconuts** » Wed Jan 02, 2013 12:14 pm

This may be little more than wishful thinking, but over on the Trip Advisor St. John forum, "Melia4", who lives in the VI, writes: "Rumor has the purchaser a wealthy individual with a strong interest in preservation". http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g1 ... lands.html

That would be very nice if true......

A buddy that I went to college with stayed at Maho with his girlfriend during their second week of operation back in 1976. He will be visiting us in April, shortly before they close for good, and wants to return for a trip down memory lane.

All the best,

Kevin

lprof · Post by **lprof** » Wed Jan 02, 2013 3:42 pm

The new owner is "Maho Bay USVI LLC".
Does this answer any question... no, but I will remember the name when I see it again. Perhaps someone who owns or has owned other property on St John has come on board; I can think of a few I would like to see owning these acres.

Exit Zero · Post by **Exit Zero** » Wed Jan 02, 2013 4:53 pm

If it is registered as a VI Corporation the LT. Gov. Office will have the documents listing the principals --- But sadly not their principles. --- LLC//// Limited Liability Corporation

mnfun2bme · Post by **mnfun2bme** » Wed Jan 02, 2013 11:02 pm

The more layers you are peeling back, the more interesting it gets.
So far, the news doesn't sound half bad.
You're right about the parcel. It's not a huge chunk of land.

usvi-on-line