Location. John’s Folly Ocean Villa is named after the area where it is located - John’s Folly -which is a neighborhood in Coral Bay. It takes a bit longer to get here (it’s about 10 miles from the ferry dock in Cruz Bay) but for the extra effort you are rewarded with one of the most private, quiet, peaceful and natural waterfront villa locations on St. John. This is a location where your senses are constantly caressed by the sights, sounds, colors and fragrances of the ocean. The stunning east facing ocean views look out at Norman Island (home of the Bight) and Peter Island (not to be confused with Peter Bay) in the British Virgin Islands. The south facing water views look towards the Caribbean Sea and Rams Head (the 300 foot cliff that is St. John’s southernmost point.). Looking to the north and east, there’s neither house nor human to be seen anywhere, but the sound of breaking surf follows you everywhere.

John’s Folly is exceptionally private (clothing optional), but it’s not remote, for there are 6 restaurants, 2 small grocery stores, a gas station and many small shops within a 3 mile drive. It’s also a short drive (5- 10 minutes) to the two picturesque National Park beaches at Salt Pond Bay and Lameshur Bay and to the trail head for the hike out to Rams Head. For trips into Cruz Bay, it’s a 35 - 45 minute drive depending on whether you take the scenic Centerline Drive or the ultra scenic North Shore Road.

Design. John’s Folly is really two villas; a Main House and a Guest House. The Main House has a 1-level great room (living, dining and kitchen areas) and two, 2-level bedroom towers, while the Guest House also has a 1-level great room plus one more 2-level bedroom tower. Altogether, that’s five separate buildings that are intelligently designed to blend together into a unique and fascinating luxury estate.

As you drive through the gated entrance to John’s Folly, the first buildings that you see are the bedroom tower and the great room of the Guest House. Even though it’s behind the Main House, the Guest House’s sight lines were carefully drawn to insure that every room has charming water views. You park inside the gated entrance and walk around the Guest House to the Main House. In the area between the Main House and the bedroom towers there is a cozy, sheltered plaza that leads into the great room of the Main House. Stairs off the plaza also lead down to the coral beach for beachcombing. On the left side (looking at the water) of the Main House is a large exterior dining gazebo, and to the left of the gazebo is a sundeck and a trellised cocktail deck that feels like it is built above the ocean. The large infinity edged pool is located in front of the gazebo and wide gentle stairs lead from the gazebo into the pool.

The Main House. The 740 sq/ft main house includes this estates primary living, dining and kitchen facilities. This traditionally designed building has tiled floors, central a/c, a cathedral ceiling, windows all around, and gorgeous ocean views. The heart of the living room is a home theater system with a 46 inch flat screen TV, DVD and stereo, all of which play through five ceiling mounted Kliesch speakers. On the left side of the living room, a 12 foot mahogany and glass doors open to a 400 sq/ft dining gazebo (covered deck) with a cast iron table that seats 10-12 persons. The gazebo also has a stainless gas grill and rotisserie, a mini refrigerator, a bar sink, an icemaker and outside speakers.

There is also dining for 8 in the interior dining alcove off the kitchen. The dining nook is so close to the water that it creates the sensation of dining over the water. The kitchen is on the right side of the great room, and it is similar in size and equipment to the guest house kitchen with granite countertops and cherry cabinets, a stainless steel refrigerator/freezer, a cook top stove and double oven, dishwasher, water purifier and icemaker, microwave, toaster, 2 coffeemakers and a blender. A half bath is off the kitchen.

The right tower upper bedroom

The Main House – Bedrooms. The Main House’s two bedroom towers are located on both sides of the house. Each of the four bedrooms is 255 sq/ft, plus a private balcony/deck with lovely water views. Each bedroom has a/c, a king bed (3 kings, 2 twins convert to a king), a flat screen TV/DVD, a desk and chair, cushioned armchairs, a closet, screened opening windows and a granite and cherry bath with a stone exterior shower.

The Guest House. The guest house is a lovely and complete 2-bedroom villa that includes its own pool with a sundeck and gas grill, a great room with living, dining, entertainment and kitchen areas, and two 255 sq/ft bedrooms in an attached bedroom tower.

The Guest House – Living areas. The guest house is bright and cheerful with windows on all four sides and water views on 3 sides. The a/c living room has a 42 inch flat screen TV/DVD and a Sony stereo. For dining, a granite and cherry bar seats four and there is also a table for four on your pool deck. The kitchen is handsome and complete with granite countertops and cherry cabinets, plus a stainless steel refrigerator/freezer, stove and oven, dishwasher, water purifier and icemaker, microwave, toaster, coffeemaker, blender and telephone. A half bath is off the kitchen.

The Guest House – Bedrooms. These two bedrooms are quite similar to the main house bedrooms. Each bedroom has a deck or balcony, a/c, a king bed, water views, flat screen TV/DVD, a desk and chair, cushioned armchairs, a closet, screened opening windows and a granite and cherry bath with a stone exterior shower.

Caribbean Villas’ Comments. In February of 2008 we added two villas that we consider unique – at least within the St. John universe. The contemporary luxury home called Kalorama certainly qualifies as unique, and although John’s Folly is a more traditional design, it too is a one of a kind villa.

There are two features that make John’s Folly’s a distinctive villa - the design concept, and its location. Unlike most “main house–guest house” arrangements, the John’s Folly guest house is a well furnished luxury villa in its own right - with its own pool and sundeck, plus living dining, and kitchen facilities. Quality wise, the Guest House is comparable with the Main House, it’s just smaller.

The paramount feature that makes John’s Folly a unique estate is its location. We regard this as one of the most peaceful and quiet, unspoiled waterfront villa locations on St. John. The back walls of the buildings act as a privacy screen, so once you’re inside the compound you have a wonderful sense of undisturbed and unspoiled privacy. You have no neighbors within 200 degrees of view, so after a few hours at John’s Folly it’s quite easy to get that delightful feeling of being alone on a private island. At night, except for a few lights from sailboats anchored off Norman Island, most of the lights you see are stars in the heavens. During the day, you’re always looking at and listening to the colors and sounds of the ocean. This is an environment that refreshes the spirit and revives the soul in only the way that warm waters, sun and trade winds can do. This is a back to nature luxury vacation.

Features worth noting include:

• We gave the sound system the full Aerosmith sound test. With 5-speaker surround sound in the main house, plus 5 speakers on the dining gazebo and sundeck, you’re covered in quality sound. Like your Pavarotti loud, or louder? Turn it up; there are no neighbors to be disturbed.
• Bedrooms in towers enjoy some distinct advantages. First, you have light, fresh air and great views, coming at you from three (sometimes 4) directions. Second, there are no common walls, so the privacy is excellent.
• If you’ve had enough sun and environmental rejuvenation, then step inside, - every room is air-conditioned.
• This is a great design for multiple families, small business groups or couples. Everyone has their own space and lots of privacy.
• You’re a 5 minute drive from 2 National Park beaches at Salt Pond and Lameshur Bays

Overall, this is a fascinating new vacation estate in a beautiful naturalist setting.