UNITED STATES VIRGIN ISLANDS — OPERATING AND BUILDING PERMITS Little St. James Island — Jeffrey Epstein Properties 1998-2019
Records from the USVI Department of Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR) document over two decades of construction and development activity on Little St. James Island, the 70-acre private island purchased by Jeffrey Epstein in 1998. These records trace the transformation of the island from a largely undeveloped property into a heavily built compound with structures that became the subject of intense public scrutiny.
INITIAL PURCHASE AND EARLY DEVELOPMENT (1998-2002): Epstein purchased Little St. James Island in 1998 for a reported $7.95 million. Initial permits were filed for the construction of a main residence, guest houses, and supporting infrastructure including a dock, roads, and utility installations. The permit applications identified the property owner as entities controlled by Epstein rather than Epstein personally — a pattern of using shell companies that continued throughout the development period.
Early construction included a main residential compound with multiple buildings, a pool, and landscaped grounds. Permits for a private dock and boat house were approved to provide water access to the island.
HELIPAD AND AVIATION INFRASTRUCTURE: Permits were filed and approved for the construction of a helipad on the island, providing helicopter access in addition to boat access. The helipad was regularly used to transport visitors to and from St. Thomas, where Epstein's private jets would land at Cyril E. King Airport. Flight logs and witness testimony established that the helipad was a primary point of arrival for many visitors to the island.
THE TEMPLE STRUCTURE: The most widely discussed structure on Little St. James was a blue-and-white striped building located on one of the island's highest points, commonly referred to as the "temple." Permit records for this structure described it as a music pavilion or study. The building featured a gold dome, blue-and-white horizontal striping, and ornate doors. Drone footage captured by journalists and researchers made the structure one of the most recognizable images associated with the Epstein case.
Building inspectors who visited the island noted the structure's unusual design but did not flag concerns beyond standard code compliance. The actual purpose and use of the building has been the subject of extensive public speculation, with former employees providing varying accounts.
GREAT ST. JAMES ACQUISITION AND DEVELOPMENT (2016-2019): In 2016, Epstein purchased neighboring Great St. James Island for approximately $18 million. Permits filed for Great St. James indicated plans for significant development including clearing of vegetation, road construction, and building foundations. Local environmental officials raised concerns about unauthorized clearing of vegetation and potential damage to protected areas. In 2018, the USVI government fined Epstein-controlled entities for unauthorized land clearing on Great St. James.
INFRASTRUCTURE AND UTILITIES: Permit records document the installation of extensive infrastructure on Little St. James, including:
1. Power generation — Diesel generators and later solar panels were installed to provide electricity to the island, which was not connected to the territorial power grid.
2. Water systems — Desalination equipment and water storage facilities were constructed to provide fresh water.
3. Communications — Satellite communications equipment and private fiber-optic connections were installed.
4. Security systems — While not fully detailed in public permit records, the construction of guard stations, camera installations, and perimeter monitoring equipment was documented in some filings and in testimony from former employees.
REGULATORY OVERSIGHT: The permit records raise questions about the level of regulatory oversight applied to Epstein's island development. While standard permits were filed and reviewed for most construction, the unusual nature and scale of the development — including structures whose stated purpose did not match their apparent design — prompted later scrutiny of whether USVI regulatory agencies exercised adequate oversight.
CURRENT STATUS: Following Epstein's death in 2019 and the subsequent civil enforcement action by the USVI Attorney General, both Little St. James and Great St. James were included in the assets forfeited by the Epstein estate. The islands were subsequently listed for sale as part of the estate resolution process.