also home to a sizable hotel called the "Water Island Colony Club" which offered villas for rent as well as hotel rooms. The name was changed to "Sugar Bird" and later to "The Sea Cliff Hotel" and met its demise when Hurricane Hugo hit. The barracks for Fort Segarra were used as housing for the employees of the hotel. Fort Segarra Fort Segarra was built as part of the United States' defense strategies during World War II on Water Island in the U.S. Virgin Islands in the Caribbean. World War II seacoast batteries here were Battery 314 at Flamingo Point (1944, never completed) and an Anti Motor Torpedo Boat Batteries. In addition, some barracks, watch towers, ammunition bunkers were also created near Carolina Point as well as an infrastructure of docks, roads, water, sewage and power systems. It was to be an underground fort and its purpose was to protect the submarine base on Saint Thomas. The war ended before its completion and the project was subsequently abandoned. The uncompleted post was transferred to the Army's Chemical Warfare Division in 1948 for testing poison gas and chemical agents on goats and pigeons for several years. Following the conclusion of these tests, the Army transferred control of this area to the Interior Department in 1952. Gun emplacements, tunnels and underground rooms which were created during the World War II building efforts are still visible. The site is now open for viewing, and tunnels and underground chambers are open for tours. The area is monitored by the United States Army Corps of Engineers and soil samples are monitored from the former chemical test sites to ensure "that no residual contamination remains from previous Department of Defense activities." Visiting Water Island The island can be reached by a people ferry from Crown Bay Marina or by other vessels. The ferry takes passengers to Phillips Landing where golf carts are available to rent for exploring the island. There are currently no hotels, although several homes are available to rent for visitors. Virgin Islands Campground also provides accommodations. References See also Islands of the United States Virgin Islands Landforms of Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands Forts in the United States Virgin Islands Closed installations of the United States Army Sub-districts of Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands