The Buccaneer is a luxury oceanfront resort located on St. Croix in
the United States Virgin Islands. Completely self-contained, The
Buccaneer offers a challenging 18-hole golf course, 8 superb tennis courts, 3
exquisite beaches, 4 restaurants, water sports center, health spa, and fitness
center, all located on a 340 acre tropical estate.
Spacious, elegant accommodations are placed throughout the property with
expansive terraces and impressive views. The Great House main building sits atop
a hillside overlooking the Caribbean Sea and the Christiansted Harbor.
This resort is constructed around buildings which date to 1653, its
architecture and history reflect the rich heritage of St. Croix. The Buccaneer
has been offering timeless Caribbean hospitality since 1947.
HistoryFrom the Sixteenth Century to now...
The Buccaneer is a completely modern hotel with a fascinating historical
background. 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, which overlooks one of the swimming pools, 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 1948, 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 there 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. Read more about these Vintage Cocktails.
Guest rooms, which slowly and steadily grew in number to meet the demands of
increasing business, were named after the coin of the day during the
swashbuckling buccaneer era, including Lucky Farthings, Pretty Penny, Pieces of
Eight and Doubloons, a tradition that continues with the recent opening of the
new luxury Doubloons.
Under the leadership of Robert Douglas Armstrong, the son of the founders of
The Buccaneer, the resort became one of the world's top resort hotels, won
numerous awards and became an icon in the Caribbean tourism industry. Mr.
Armstrong passed away on Saturday, May 21, 2005 following a much admired 47 year
career.His children, Douglas, Robert and Elizabeth, continue the family
tradition of managing the esteemed resort in the gracious tradition he
established. Although The Buccaneer is a great deal larger than when it
first opened, it still retains the warm and intimate atmosphere of the original
estate.
The Buccaneer is located on the eastern end of St. Croix, less than a five
minute drive from the sightseeing, shopping and dining found in the historic
town of Christiansted.
Breakfast is as light as a fruit plate or substantial as banana pancakes.
Either way, the sea view is eye opening. Lunch casually at the beach or pool on
savory sandwiches, soups and salads. In the evening, island elegance prevails.
Classic and Mediterranean specialties, often with a tropical twist, may be
complemented by the fine wine collection. The lights of Christiansted twinkling
below infuse a satisfying sense of place. Later, there may be dancing to jazz
combos or steel drum bands
- The Terrace
Located in the Great House, The Terrace offers covered, open-air dining with
views of the manicured fairways, Caribbean Sea and Christiansted Harbor. A
complimentary full breakfast is served to resort guests. The dinner menu
features classical cuisine with Caribbean accents.It's a favorite gathering
place for cocktails and conversation after-hours
- The Brass Parrot
Also in the Great House,the air-conditioned Brass Parrot has
floor-to-ceiling windows with panoramic views of the sparkling lights of
Christiansted for your special event. May also be used as a meeting room
- The Mermaid
The Mermaid is located beachside, and features an extensive lunch menu
of savory seafood and specials, soups, salads and sandwiches, ranging from
all-American favorites to island specialties and vegetarian. There is also a
full bar, including frozen island favorites.
- The Grotto Grill
Offers a lunch menu of hot dogs, hamburgers and veggie burgers, served
beachside at the Grotto Beach and pool
