How Did Scrub Island Get Its Name? A Look At the Island’s History & Development

Tracing the Legacy of Scrub Island 

Situated just 1.5 miles northeast of Tortola in the heart of the British Virgin Islands (BVI), Scrub Island is a 230-acre private paradise that embodies the balance of natural beauty, refined luxury, and lasting legacy.

Its story is one of transformation; once an untouched hideaway known only to sailors and explorers, it has become one of the Caribbean’s most exclusive private islands, featuring luxury villas and BVI real estate opportunities unlike anywhere else in the region.

A Storied Beginning

From ancient civilizations to modern luxury, Scrub Island’s evolution tells a story of beauty, ingenuity, and connection. Long before it became a haven for travelers and homeowners, Scrub Island was home to early Arawak and Ciboney tribes who left traces of their presence in pottery and artifacts. Centuries later, Christopher Columbus recorded the island during his second voyage through the Lesser Antilles in 1493.

By the 1600s, the sheltered coves of the Sir Francis Drake Channel became a refuge for pirates and privateers. Legend has it that sailors would anchor along its shores to scrub the barnacles from their ships, a ritual that gave the island its enduring name.

Modern Vision in a Timeless Setting

For generations, Scrub Island remained one of the Caribbean’s best-kept secrets until American architect Gene McManus envisioned its potential as a place where natural beauty and design could coexist. He built a private home and a small restaurant known as Donovan’s Reef, planting the first seeds of what the island would later become.

That vision evolved into what stands today as Scrub Island Resort, Spa & Marina, which opened in 2010 as the first newly built luxury resort in the BVI in over fifteen years. From its inception, the development emphasized preservation over expansion, ensuring the landscape remained as unspoiled as the day it was discovered.

Today, Scrub Island remains largely vehicle-free, with resort shuttles providing quiet, scenic transport across the island’s winding roads. The result is a rare blend of modern luxury and environmental harmony, making the island a sanctuary where guests and homeowners alike can live in rhythm with the sea and the land.

The Island’s Present and Future

Now privately owned and home to an exclusive collection of luxury villas, resort residences, and estate lots, Scrub Island’s Real Estate represents the pinnacle of sustainable island ownership. 

Its thoughtful design, world-class marina, and easy access to the treasures of the BVI make it a destination for those who seek more than a view, but a unique way of life rooted in connection and tranquility.

To own property here is to share in a story that continues to unfold. It is to walk the same paths carved by explorers, to wake to the same sea breezes that guided sailors centuries ago, and to build a home that becomes part of the island’s next chapter.

Live the Legacy

Scrub Island Real Estate offers a rare opportunity to own part of this extraordinary island—one that has evolved through centuries of discovery yet remains as intimate and inspiring as ever. 

With each home here reflecting the island’s spirit of craftsmanship, comfort, and connection to nature, owning on Scrub Island means living the legacy and making a timeless piece of the British Virgin Islands your own.

Explore available listings and ownership opportunities at www.scrubislandrealestate.com.