Caribbean Cottages and Campsites.
A Rustic Hide-A-Way for the Adventurous.
The Guest Cottage
This Caribbean studio cottage offers spectacular panoramic mountain views of the surrounding National Park. The carefully appointed interior of this cottage offers comfortable accommodations with a queen size bed that sleeps two and a fully equipped kitchen and bath. The large covered porch provides spacious outdoor living and dining areas as well as the barbeque grill. We have also added a full size outdoor daybed on the covered porch that’s perfect for taking a nap or sleeping an additional guest. Its Caribbean design and decor along with its incomparable National Park setting make it the perfect vacation choice for those seeking peace and tranquility of a true island getaway.
The Campsites
Lameshur campsites is an inexpensive way to explore St. John! Located on the south shore, we are surrounded by National Park mountains and beaches. Far from the hustle and bustle of Cruz Bay, we are a half an hour from the ferry ports. More than just camping, you will have an air conditioned container room that can sleep up to 3 people or a canvas yurt tent that can sleep 5. Pull up and park your car on the flat lot and enjoy a spacious room with a queen mattress, fitted sheets, pillows and towels all waiting for your arrival. A covered outdoor kitchen is available to all campers, along with a dry storage area. An outdoor bamboo shower and bathroom are also situated close to the campsite.
A Brief History
A Brief History of Our Cottages
The Cottages were built in 2002 by an island builder, David Grey, a transplant from the mainland, who had supported himself by building cottages, houses, etc. Although now retired, David is still considered to be the best builder on this island. The Cottages were built to the new standard hurricane code. Before 2017, they had weathered some pretty big storms and always felt very secure. It also helps that they are nestled in the hillside, in a valley. It protects us from severe wind. But the true test came in September 2017. Our cottages are wooden structures, and only a handful of wooden structures survived hurricanes Irma and Maria. Yes, we were lucky, but it’s worth noting that the strict building codes used in the construction are what saved us.
The area all around us is the National Park. When Lawrence Rockefeller donated his property (3/4 of the island) to the National Park Service, there were small pockets of privately owned land here and there. That is how this site came to be within the boundaries of the National Park. The wonderful news is that there will never be any new development near us. It will always look like this.
The first owner was Judy from New York City, who hired David to build the separate cottages. Judy busied herself with renting the Studio to vacationers and was also very involved with animal rescue. She used the adjacent lot (which was and still is part of the property) to do donkey rescue. She built a corral and kept sick or injured donkeys brought to her by the park rangers. She decided to move back to the mainland in 2009.
The second owners Russ and Liz have been coming to the USVI since 1986. They always spent a few days each vacation on St. John. They happened upon the Cottages as they were driving around in February 2009. Owning a small piece of paradise is something they always wanted to do. They upgraded the window in the Main House and replaced it with French doors. It gives much easier access to the deck. They also enclosed a large portion of the deck with screen, giving a lot more comfortable living space. In the Studio, they excavated underneath and installed another cistern, giving even more water on site. It is a big help during the dry months. Russ and Liz moved off island in 2021.
My wife Emily and I purchased the property from Russ and Liz in December of 2021. We are so grateful to have this opportunity to continue the tradition of renting the cottages to vacationers seeking some much needed R&R. We look forward to meeting new and old renters and hope to provide the best experience for everyone.