Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge, the scenic natural area on the southwestern point of St. Croix, has resumed regular hours after having been closed by damage to the access road caused by Hurricanes Maria and Irma.
The refuge announced it will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. It will also be open on days that visiting cruise ship are in port.
The sandy beaches are important turtle nesting areas. The wildlife refuge, which is also St. Croix’s sandiest beach, normally closes from late March to early September for peak turtle mating season. But last fall’s hurricanes threw a wrench into the usual schedule.
In February, Sandy Point NWR said it would remain closed to the public until road repairs are made that will allow vehicles (including emergency response vehicles) to safely access the refuge. Monday’s opening announcement reported that temporary repairs have been completed.
Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1984, when 340 acres of land were purchased from the West Indies Investment Company. The land was purchased specifically to protect nesting habitat of endangered leatherback sea turtles. An additional 43 acres were acquired to protect an archeological site and a stand of the endangered Vahl’s Boxwood tree.
