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Magens Bay

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Bay in the Northside region on Saint Thomas, United States Virgin Islands
Magens Bay Beach
View of Magens Bay
LocationSaint Thomas
Nearest cityCharlotte Amalie
Coordinates18°21′58″N 64°55′48″W / 18.366°N 64.930°W / 18.366; -64.930
Operated byMagens Bay Authority
StatusOpen all year
DesignationPublic park

Magens Bay is a bay and beach park in the Northside region on Saint Thomas, United States Virgin Islands, in the Caribbean.

Description

Lying on the northern (Atlantic) side of the island, Magens Bay (Estate Zufriedenheit) features a well-protected white sand beach stretching for nearly three quarters of a mile. The beach sits at the head of a deep bay, the arms of which are Peterborg peninsula to the east and Tropaco Point to the west. The bay's north-west exposure means its waters are usually calm, although storms in the North Atlantic can occasionally generate large waves in the winter months. The sandy bottom means snorkeling is of limited interest, although turtles, stingrays, spotted eagle rays, conch, tarpon and other fish are commonly spotted.

It is one of the most popular tourist destinations on the island, as well as a gathering place for locals, attracting 300,000 visitors per year. Small local fishing boats anchor in the eastern part of the bay.

The beach and surrounding park are currently administered by the semi-autonomous Magens Bay Authority. The services provided by the Authority include lifeguards, parking, showers and bathrooms, beach sheds, beach wheelchairs, and a fitness trail. There is a snack counter, bar and souvenir shop. Beach chairs, floats, lounge chairs, mask and snorkels, fins, towels, paddleboards, kayaks, and paddleboats can be rented. The Authority is a self-sustaining entity which funds its operations through a per-person entrance fee (currently $7.00 for visitors and $2.00 for locals, free for kids under 12), parking fees, and payments received from the park's restaurant and other rental concessions. The beach property also includes a coconut grove, a mangrove, and an arboretum.

Environment

Nature Trail

In 2004, The Nature Conservancy and local organizations opened a trail to Magens Bay from a spot off the road in the hills above. It belongs to a 319 acre preserve overseen by The Nature Conservancy, Magens Bay Authority and VI Department of Planning & Nature Resources. 25 of its acres were exclusively donated for this trail. On the trail it is possible to see many different bird species of the preserve, passing though different ecosystems from the top of the hill down 1½ miles to Magens Bay.

Important Bird Area

A 572 ha area, encompassing the bay, beach, mangroves and associated protected forests, has been recognised as an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International because it supports populations of green-throated caribs, Antillean crested hummingbirds, Caribbean elaenias and pearly-eyed thrashers.

History

Magens Bay was settled by Amerindians, and pre-Columbian artifacts have been discovered there, including a "ritual spatula" or "swallow stick" that is believed to have been made from the rib of a manatee by the Taíno people sometime between 1200 and 1500.

Legend has it that Sir Francis Drake used Magens Bay as an anchorage while waiting for ships to plunder.

Early maps of St. Thomas refer to the site as "Great Northside Bay". The popular name, "Magens Bay", arose out of its ownership from 1817-1898 by Arve Petersen Magens and his heirs (the same family as Joachim Melchior Magens (1715–1783) and Joachim Melchior Magens (1775–1845)). In 1916 it was acquired by Wall Street financier Arthur S. Fairchild, who then donated 56 acres of the beach and surrounding areas to the Municipality of St. Thomas and St. John in 1946 for use as a public park.

Fairchild's donation was with the stated intention that "the natural beauty and benefits to be preserved for the enjoyment of the inhabitants of the Virgin Islands without discrimination of any kind by reason of race, color or creed," and his conditions for donating the land included: 1) a hotel/resort cannot be built on this property, 2) a casino can never be built on this property and 3) the beach should be named Magens Beach. The far Western portion was subsequently donated by Fairchild's nephew's widow, Christine Wheaton, in 2002.

In popular culture

Several commercials and movie scenes have been filmed at Magens Bay, including a scene in The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 and parts of Weekend at Bernie's II.


Gallery

  • View of Magens Bay from Drake's Seat overlook View of Magens Bay from Drake's Seat overlook
  • View from Magens Bay, facing Outer Brass island View from Magens Bay, facing Outer Brass island
  • View from Magens Bay, facing Tropaco Point View from Magens Bay, facing Tropaco Point
  • View from Magens Bay, facing Peterborg Point View from Magens Bay, facing Peterborg Point
  • Beachgoers at Magens Bay Beachgoers at Magens Bay
  • Beachgoers at Magens Bay Beachgoers at Magens Bay
  • Palm tree shadows at Magens Palm tree shadows at Magens
  • Rainbow at Magens Rainbow at Magens
  • Sunset at Magens Sunset at Magens
  • Sunset at Magens Sunset at Magens
  • Magens entrance sign Magens entrance sign
  • Arthur Fairchild plaque at Magens Arthur Fairchild plaque at Magens
  • Picnic table at Magens Picnic table at Magens
  • Fitness trail exercise station at Magens Fitness trail exercise station at Magens
  • Pavilion shed at Magens Pavilion shed at Magens
  • Baobab tree at Magens Baobab tree at Magens
  • Green sea turtle at Magens Green sea turtle at Magens
  • Green iguana at Magens Green iguana at Magens
  • Brown pelican at Magens Brown pelican at Magens
  • Yellow-crowned night heron at Magens Yellow-crowned night heron at Magens
  • Bottlenose dolphin at Magens Bottlenose dolphin at Magens

References

  1. "Collaborative Effort Paves Path to Replace Magens Bay Bathhouse". fema.gov. Retrieved 2024-12-13.
  2. "Magens Bay". VInow.com. Retrieved December 31, 2013.
  3. "Visit Magens". www.friendsmagens.org. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
  4. Williamson-Bryan, Vivian. "Philanthropist in Paradise". USVI.net. Retrieved December 31, 2013.
  5. "MagensBay". www.magensbayauthority.com. Retrieved 2024-12-13.
  6. "Magens Bay". BirdLife Data Zone. BirdLife International. 2021. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  7. "History". www.friendsmagens.org. Retrieved 2024-12-13.
  8. Downing, Bob (July 3, 2014). "St. Thomas' Magens Bay is widely known for its white-sand beach and its turquoise waters". Akron Beacon Journal. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
  9. "Magens family". www.friendsmagens.org. Retrieved 2024-12-13.
  10. Williamson-Bryan, Vivian. "Philanthropist in Paradise". USVI.net. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  11. "Arthur S. Fairchild Marker". The Historical Marker Database. Retrieved December 31, 2013.
  12. Aldeth Lewin. "'Twilight: Breaking Dawn - Part 1' filmed at Magens Bay over the weekend". Virgin Islands Daily News. Archived from the original on January 1, 2014. Retrieved December 31, 2013.
  13. "Famous movies filmed in the USVI". Sonic Charters. Retrieved 2024-12-13.

External links

Territory of United States Virgin Islands
Charlotte Amalie (capital)
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