Reef Bay Sugar Factory Historic District, Sugar factory ruins in Reef Bay, Saint John, US Virgin Islands.
Reef Bay Sugar Factory Historic District is a complex of ruins on the southern coast of Saint John island where sugar and other products were made. The remains show stone walls, processing equipment, and various structures scattered across the site.
Danish colonists founded this production facility in 1725 and operated it for more than 150 years under different owners. The factory closed in 1908 after the sugar industry declined in the region.
The factory played a key role in Caribbean industry and shows how production methods shifted over time as technology advanced. Visitors walking through the ruins can observe where different stages of work took place and how the facility evolved.
You reach the ruins best by hiking the Reef Bay Trail, a walking path maintained by the National Park Service. It is wise to go with a guide to take the best route and learn more about the site.
The factory still has steam engines and copper stills that were used not only for sugar processing but also for making bay rum products. This dual use shows how the facility adapted economically to produce different goods.
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