Overview
- At least nine new YouTube videos posted in 2026 featuring trips to Little Saint James have drawn roughly 52 million views, with searches peaking in February, according to Google Trends data reported by the Daily Mail.
- Creators typically fly to nearby St. Thomas, gather local tips, and reach the island by jet ski, swimming, or drones, with some avoiding setting foot on the private property.
- Many videos fixate on the blue‑and‑white striped structure nicknamed the temple, which permit records reviewed by NBC News describe as a proposed music pavilion with a grand piano, living room, and bathroom.
- Recent Department of Justice files include photos of a “trap door” and a mention of a “tunnel,” though the documents do not confirm the existence of any tunnels under the island.
- Billionaire Stephen Deckoff bought Little and Great Saint James in 2023 with plans for a luxury resort, but Virgin Islands planning officials say no development proposals have been filed as of March 2026, and it remains unclear whether visiting influencers will face prosecution.