Castle Nugent
 Eco-Farm

The guest house on the farm is an historical "overseers" house built early in the 18th century.  It is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  It's white stuccoed walls, tin roof and sturdy green wooden shutters with wrought iron hinges are all signatures of 18th and 19th century Colonial architecture, when fortunes were made on this island from sugar.  Castle Nugent today is a cattle farm, but the old buildings have remained virtually the same.

Other buildings on the site include the remains of a cotton storage house, a small chapel and slave quarters for the 15 - 20 slaves who lived there in the 18th and early 19th century.

The estate was first farmed as early as 1738.  Over the centuries the farm had many owners, one of them being Christopher Nugent, who bought the farm in 1774 and gave the estate its name.  Caroline Gasperi, who is the present owner of the Eco-Farm, likes to say proudly that many historians believe her farm is one of the oldest cattle farms in the entire West Indies.

Mario Gasperi, Caroline's husband, managed the farm for many years until his death.  Today, besides raising animals, the farm is also used as a bed and breakfast.

Caroline is an historian in her own right.  The ranch - farm has been in the family for four generations.  She has uncovered historical letters and papers from the original owners of the property.  They indicate the slaves he had and the problems he was having with his cotton crop due to a long drought in the early 1800's.

Castle Nugent Eco-Farm affords one the opportunity to experience some of St. Croix's Colonial legacy firsthand. For more information, visit their website at www.cnsenepol.com.

Paraphrased from Olasee Davis of the St. Croix Hiking Association.  Email Olasee Davis for information about the Hiking Association's future adventures.  Visitors and non-members welcome!

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