Gibney Beach, St. John USVI
After you’ve had your fill of Mongoose Junction, gotten all the shopping in that you could possibly do in one day, you simply must take some time to stretch your legs out on a white, sandy beach and just relax. If you’re looking for the perfect spot (not too far from the hustle and bustle of Cruz Bay, yet far enough to give you a sense of real peace and tranquility), then you simply must take a trip to Gibney Beach.
The beach is easily accessible by vehicle; however, parking spaces are limited. If you’re willing to drop your car off on the side of the road, then you’ve nothing to worry about. Gibney Beach is an historical gold mine, with a rich past that has cultivated its characteristic charm. Initially known as Högsnest by the first batch of Europeans who came to the beach this island used to have a wealth of hawksbill turtles that rested on the shore. Among the relics that are still around the beach, an old well (still functioning) and several colonial period structures are still easily found inshore from the beach. The well is still in use --used to provide irrigation for a provision ground, fruit orchard, and nursery on the beach.
In the late 40s, the Gibneys (a married couple from New York), visited Högsnest Beach on their honeymoon. They rented a cottage on Cruz Bay and eventually leased a home on Denis Bay. In 1949, the couple moved out to Henley Cay and lived in a small building. They bought 40 acres of land on Hawksnest Bay in 1950 and constructed a house inland from the centre of the beach. Their children also adapted to the island quite well and, as is indicative of that era, they mingled with many of the “flower children” around the area. As it is, the tradition of Hawksnest Beach has always drawn many people from a more left of centre walk of life.
The beaches rich history and rich collection of people have made it one of the more laid back, less tourist laden areas in St. John. For those who want to have a bit of privacy yet still feel a part of the collective feel of St. John, Gibney Beach is your place. Visitors also have the chance to do a good bit of snorkeling. The Gibneys sold part of the land to J. Robert Oppenheimer in 1957. This part of the beach is the perfect area to get in some snorkeling --especially for beginners (the water rest atop soft sand and the waves are light). The reef is alive with the elkhorn and boulder coral that surround it. You’ll also be able to see schools of varying fish (goatfish, grunt, and tang, for example). For the more experienced, you should make your way out to Perkins Cay or Denis Bay --stopping along the way on the small island between there and Gibney (even chancing upon the remains of a sunken sailboat).