Does anyone know the condition of Happy Bay? Do they rent chairs if it is in business? We would like to visit when we are there next week.

Also, what is the best access? We have walked from Friars area but have come across discussions mentioning a different parking area.

We were at Happy Bay last July and most of the shade is/was now non existent. Danny rents old plastic loungers for $5.

Below is a map where you can park. The small lot is roughly where Cool Heure Café is shown on the map. Look for the white gate and follow the road behind it to Happy Bay. It’s roughly the same distance as the walk from Friars Bay.

I have read on here that there has been some excavating close to abandoned resort for the SXM Festival.

A video from Happy Bay can be viewed HERE

Here some pics of Happy Bay from pre and post Irma. It was very brown last July due to drought conditions last year but I’m sure it’s greened up since then.

I posted a link to the SXM Festival in a separate thread. Dates are March 13-17.

murphy--as others have said, they are preparing for that festival. They had the festival there at least last year and possibly the year before? Afterwards they have apparently cleaned the area up very nicely, but c/o use until after the festival may not be comfortable. Possibly a backup plan for Orient or Cupecoy should be in place.

We went there many times over the last two weeks and the last couple of times they were using heavy equipment to clean beach debris...uprooted palm trees and other big growth. They usually stopped around noon and went back to working around the destroyed condos/homes. I mentioned that the over the hill route is still an option but at the intersection of the two paths (near the buildings) going straight probably isn't a good choice for now with a huge pile of debris blocking it...no biggie...just go left or use the other mentioned approach but then you will miss all the huge iguanas with our highest one way count being 83....

Most people were using their own chairs/umbrellas and drinks are available as usual...grill was smoking when I walked by....

OK, thanks for the on the scene reporting.