One of the most legendary points of interest in the Virgin Islands, The Buccaneer is a completely modern hotel with a history as fascinating as that of St. Croix itself. It was in 1653 that Charles Martel, a Knight of Malta, constructed the first building on Estate Shoys, where The Buccaneer is located.
History
Learn more about the Buccaneer Beach & Golf Resort
One of the most legendary points of interest in the Virgin Islands, The Buccaneer is a completely modern hotel with a history as fascinating as that of St. Croix itself. It was in 1653 that Charles Martel, a Knight of Malta, constructed the first building on Estate Shoys, where The Buccaneer is located.
This French Greathouse was placed out of sight of the sea to protect from roving foes. Later, after the Danes bought the island in 1733, Governor von Prock built his home on the estate, turning the French Greathouse into a sugar factory and erecting the sugar mill, which is as it was in the days when sugar was king.
Michael Shoy, from whom the area known as Estate Shoys received its name, bought the estate from von Prock and began growing cotton. Later, the Heyliger Company raised cattle here.
Finally in 1947, the Armstrong family, who had owned and operated the cattle estate since 1922, opened The Buccaneer for business with eleven guest rooms. It was the first hotel in St. Croix to be built and operated by an island family.
Guests, known as "continentals," made a two-day trip from the mainland to stay at The Buccaneer and often mixed their own drinks, helped rake the beach, paint furniture and plan meals. In the early days before modern tourism attractions, guests gathered nightly for cocktails. Today, The Buccaneer offers live music and fine dining for nightlife diversions but maintains the repertoire of cocktails popular among early guests, including Cruzan Confusion, Raising Cane, Caribbean Sunset and Jump-Up-and-Kiss-Me.
"Fighting Ships" mural by the famous artist, Stanley Stubenberg, is showcased in The Buccaneer's Lounge. Learn more about Stubenberg's time on St. Croix online.
View Our Prominent Guests Who Stayed at The Buccaneer
- Armando Perez, aka "PITBULL," CubanAmerican Rap Singer / Entertainer, with hit songs "Don’t Stop the Party", "Time of Our Lives" and "Timber"
- Joan Bennett, actress
- Lauren Bacall, actress
- Leslie Uggams, actress / singer
- Johnny Carson, TV late-night show host, who had a metal fleck fly into his eye while boarding in New York and required medical care. When he returned to his show, he mentioned on air the great care he received at The Buccaneer.
- Kirk Douglas, actor
- James Franciscus, actor
- Ben Gazarra, actor
- Helen Hayes
- Michael Jackson
- Faith Dane Johnson, sang "Bump it with a Trumpet' in "Gypsy"
- Sam Robards, actor
- Fritz Reiner, conductor
- RL Stein, author of the "Goosebumps" series
- Max Steiner, Hollywood composer, Gone with the Wind and A Summer Place
- Kathleen Turner, actress, Romancing the Stone
- Fred Friendly, broadcaster
- Kathryn Graham and Ben Bradlee of The Washington Post
- Bill O'Reilly, news commentator
- Lance Armstrong, professional road racing cyclist
- Arthur Ashe, tennis great
- Amanda Beard, multiple Olympic medalist
- Donald Dell, tennis star
- Rowdy Gaines, multiple world-record holder in the '80's and sports broadcaster
- Artis Gilmore, basketball great
- Ken Griffey Sr., baseball Hall of Fame
- Misty Hyman, Olympic Gold medalist
- Floyd Patterson, heavyweight champion
- Luis Tiant, baseball Hall of Fame
- Vice-President Joe Biden
- General Omar Bradley, World War II hero
- McGeorge Bundy, White House advisor
- President Carter
- James B Conant, President of Harvard and Chairman of National Defense
- Research, including The Manhattan Project
- Allen Dulles, "Father of the modern CIA"
- Doris Kearns Goodwin, Presidential Historian
- Jacob Javits, NY Senator
- Charles Rangle, NY Congressman
