Once dubbed ‘Pedophile Island,’ Jeffrey Epstein‘s private Caribbean getaway was supposed to shed its dark past. In 2023, billionaire private equity mogul Stephen Deckoff made headlines after acquiring Little St. James and Great St. James, the two islands formerly owned by the disgraced financier, for a reported $60 million, less than half their original $125 million asking price.
Deckoff announced ambitious plans, a 25-room ultra-luxury resort, designed to breathe new life into the troubled islands and “spur economic growth” in the US Virgin Islands.
His firm, SD Investments, promised a project that would respect the islands’ environment while creating jobs, boosting tourism, and transforming a site associated with sex trafficking into a world-class destination.
But two years later, those plans appear to be nothing more than an abandoned blueprint.
No progress on the project
As reported by Radar Online, despite the fanfare surrounding the announcement, no development applications have been filed, according to officials in the US Virgin Islands.
In fact, local tour operators and residents say they haven’t seen any signs of construction on either of the two islands, no cranes, no crews, not even a sign of renovation.
“Nothing has really happened on either one of those islands,” said a local boat charter operator. Another tour guide, who works the surrounding waters daily, added: “I’ve not seen anything, and I’m out and about… that’s my little area.”
Satellite images reviewed by RadarOnline.com appear to back up these claims. The terrain and infrastructure of both islands, especially the now-infamous Little St James, remain largely unchanged since Epstein’s death in 2019, despite big promises of an island transformation.
The billionaire’s press release once claimed he had begun retaining architects and engineers, aiming for a 2025 grand opening. But with no visible movement and no formal steps taken with the local government, that timeline now seems deeply unrealistic.
An Island haunted by scandal
The challenge of revamping Epstein’s former estate goes far beyond logistics and permits, the island itself is synonymous with one of the worst sex crimes in modern memory.
Epstein purchased Little St. James in 1998 and built a sprawling compound complete with a main villa, multiple guesthouses, a helipad, swimming pools, a gym, and other opulent features.
But it was also the site of heinous abuse, according to survivors and official lawsuits. The US Virgin Islands government called it a “haven” for trafficking underage girls, including Virginia Giuffre, who famously accused Prince Andrew of sexual assault at the location, allegations he denies.
Even years after Epstein’s reported suicide in a New York jail cell, the island continues to bear the weight of its horrific legacy. Attempts to relabel or redevelop the island have met with widespread scepticism, even condemnation.
Deckoff, who has built a reputation for flipping distressed assets into profitable ventures, appears to have hit a rare roadblock. His silence since the initial announcement has only deepened doubts about the future of the project.