The Buccaneer

A family-owned operation that dates back to the 17th century, the luxurious Buccaneer is the U.S. Virgin Island’s longest-running resort. In 1653, Charles Martel, a Knight of Malta, erected the first building on the island, well out of sight of coastal marauders. Known as the French Greathouse, it later served as a sugar house on the plantation of Danish Governor von Prock, and Alexander Hamilton lived here as a child. The area was sold to the area’s namesake, Michael Shoy, who planted cotton on its expansive acreage. Later, the estate functioned as a cattle ranch until 1947 when the Armstrong family converted it into a full-service resort.