ST. JOHN — The Virgin Islands National Park on Monday announced that the Cinnamon Bay Campground and the food and beverage concessions at Trunk Bay will now be managed by CinnOpCo, LLC, fully backed by philanthropist and Bloomberg, LP co-founder, Thomas F. Secunda. The previous concessionaire, Redwoods Park Company, LLC and CinnOpCo have been working on an agreement for the past several months, according to the release.
On Friday, the National Park Service accepted the concessions change in ownership, ushering in a new plan for redevelopment and restoring public access to camping in Virgin Islands National Park, the release said.
CinnOpCo LLC aims to begin debris removal on Tuesday, May 7.
Park Superintendent Nigel Fields expressed excitement on what this news means not only for Park visitors, but for the island of St. John. “With the level of damage Cinnamon Bay sustained in the 2017 hurricanes, the Park Service is fortunate to have an operator that is in tune with the people of St. John, has a history of conservation advocacy and is willing to make the investment needed to restore Cinnamon as a revered treasure of the national park system,” Mr. Fields said.
Although much cleanup, debris removal and rebuilding of the infrastructure remains ahead, Mr. Fields is optimistic in partnering with CinnOpCo and their shared vision to restore camping, cottages, food and retail service and watersports rentals back to Cinnamon Bay, according to the release.
Mr. Fields is urging the public to exercise caution when visiting Cinnamon Bay. Although the camping areas, restaurant, showers, and beach rental shop will remain closed, Park visitors will have continued access to Cinnamon Bay Beach and the onsite porta johns during the debris removal process. Visitors should adhere to posted safety signs and should not enter into restricted areas at Cinnamon Bay where workers, equipment and large trucks will enter and exit the site, the release said.
The Park and CinnOpCo, will continue to provide regular updates as the cleanup, restoration and rebuilding will likely occur in phases over the next couple of years.
For additional information contact Chief of Commercial Services, Elba Richardson at 340-776-6201.
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