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Arboretum

Magens Bay arboretum, a shady restful grove of native and exotic trees, was designed and planted by Arthur S. Fairchild, who, in 1927, owned several estates including Louisenhoj and Magens Bay, on the north shore of St.Thomas.  Mr. Fairchild was a great humanitarian with keen interest in nature.  He kept meticulous notes on the hundreds of trees and plants which he imported from tropical areas all over the world.   He also attempted to identify the insects that he observed on his properties. Mr. Fairchild deeded the arboretum and Magens Bay Beach to the people of the Virgin Islands in 1947.  Over the years some of the trees were destroyed by various hurricanes that passed through the area, but some survived and are still here today.  With the addition of 160  rare and unusual exotic trees planted in 1997, the arboretum is once again home to such species as Genip (Melicoccus Bijugata) , Turpentine (Bursera Simaraba), Manpoo (Pisonia Subcordata), Mahogany and much more.