As the smallest and youngest of the U.S. Virgin Islands, Water Island gets very little publicity and is rarely in the limelight.
That could soon change.
St. Thomas, St. Croix and St. John were purchased by the U.S. from Denmark in 1917, but Water Island was not bought until June 19, 1944, when it was acquired for $10,000 to protect the U.S. submarine base on St. Thomas during World War II.
The 490-acre island, which sits half a mile across the harbor from Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, was turned over to the Department of the Interior in 1950 and leased out, primarily to residential tenants.
It officially became the fourth U.S. Virgin Island on Dec. 12, 1996, when control was passed to the territorial government for $25,000, the same amount the federal government had paid for the three larger islands in 1917.
In 2005, there was talk of residential development on Water Island to deal with a housing shortage on St. Thomas.
Tourism didn't figure into the picture at the time, but it does now. U.S. Virgin Islands Gov. John de Jongh announced in July that the Water Island Development Co. had been selected to come up with plans for an upscale boutique resort of 100 rooms or less.
"A key project has been to have a superior resort on Water Island that would realize some economic activity on the island," de Jongh said at the time, although no timeline or hotel brands have been revealed.
"This must be achieved in a manner that maintains what is charming, environmentally appealing and respectful of what the island and the community reflect," he said.
There was a hotel on the island in the '70s called the Water Isle Hotel & Beach Club, but Hurricane Hugo destroyed it in 1989, according to longtime Water Islander Chuck Gidley, one of the island's 182 permanent residents. It's remained vacant and abandoned since then.
Another smaller property fell victim to Hurricane Marilyn in 1995.
However, with a number of private homes and some rental villas as well as the seven-tent Virgin Islands Campground offering accommodations, tourists are beginning to discover the island.
Self-guided tours and day trips are available to cruise passengers pulling into St. Thomas and to visitors who venture over on the ferry that departs frequently from the Crown Bay terminal on the waterfront in Charlotte Amalie.
After a 10-minute, $10 roundtrip crossing, the 25-passenger ferry pulls up to Phillips Landing, a small dock near the island's welcome center that also doubles as the post office/souvenir shop/library.
Golf carts can be rented for $48 a day to tour the hilly terrain.
"Some people kayak over from St. Thomas or rent kayaks once they're here to explore the bays and beaches," my guide told me.
He actually was based on St. Thomas with the tourist office, but he came over to take me around. There are no guides as such on the island, and residents keep a close watch on the comings and goings of all visitors.
On my visit, we headed to Honeymoon Beach in Druif Bay on the west end, Water Island's top attraction.
It's got public restrooms, kayaks, floats and Heidi's Beach Bar, which is actually a large food truck that dispenses burgers and beer.
Down the beach is Dinghy's Beach Bar & Grill.
"Water Island represents one more opportunity to rebrand the Virgin Islands in a beautiful natural environment, with nearby water and airport transport. It is a valuable economic asset which will now be strengthened for the economic benefit of our territory," said Beverly Nicholson-Doty, commissioner of tourism.
It's idyllic, beautiful and unspoiled. For now.