|
Down island, about 120 miles southeast of Nassau at the south
end of the Exuma chain, Great Exuma has long been a cruising stop, but mostly
for its rustic solitude and 8,000-foot runway—a convenient point for embarking
and disembarking passengers. Today, 470 acres of the island’s northeast corner
are the Emerald Bay resort. The property includes a Four Seasons Resort and Spa
with a European-style casino, a Greg Norman–designed golf course and The Club at
Emerald Bay. It also offers residential developments, such as Grand Isle Villas,
a 72-villa resort of condos selling for $735,000 to $5.1 million. Prime Minister Christie believes these units will appeal to
upscale visitors, and the project has a dedicated company behind it—the
combination of elements the Bahamas hopes to attract. Developer James Clabaugh,
president of EGI, says: "We’re committed to the Bahamas. We hope to stay here
for many years and do additional projects in Emerald Bay and Eleuthera."
 Chub Cay is an upscale update
of the Berry Islands’ storied 1940s fish camp. Photograph by Forest Johnson. (Click image to enlarge)
The Marina at Emerald Bay makes the resort a waypoint on every
captain’s GPS. Its 120-foot-wide entrance with a controlling depth of 14 feet is
easily accessed from Exuma Sound. Doug Black, vice president of marina
operations, says the 47-slip marina—open since November 2005—has enjoyed more
traffic than anticipated. Accommodating yachts from 35 to 175 feet at the
floating concrete docks and up to 225-footers at the fuel dock, the marina will
offer 88 additional slips when it’s completed in early 2007. More than 50 years ago, Chub Cay was a rustic outpost in the
then-unknown Berry Islands. It drew the patriarchs from moneyed families such as
the DuPonts and Bushes, who eschewed luxury vacations for the chance to fight
world-class game fish. Today, developers Kaye Pearson, Walt McCrory and Bob Moss
are matching the bountiful oceans with plentiful amenities that are anything but
1940s fish camp. Thirty-five miles northwest of Nassau, Chub Cay Resort is being
built around a 210-slip full-service marina accommodating vessels larger than
200 feet. Already open, Phase One established the 12-foot depth for the
channel and the first 100 slips; the remainder will be completed by the end of
2007. Amenities include a dive shop, pool, fishing charters, several
eateries, three beaches and the marina clubhouse. Its second-floor dining room,
bar and trophy room are for members only.
Many new island properties, including Emerald Bay
offer resort accommodations and activities along with
ownership opportunities. (Click images to enlarge)
Architect Gordon Mock designed the five floor plans—each with
two to five bedrooms—for the 69 villas in the initial residential build. Conch
Point will feature custom waterfront homes on half- and full-acre lots.
Townhomes will be built along portions of the marina frontage. Bimini, the quiet sportfishing haven on the Gulf Stream that inspired Ernest
Hemingway, is also in on the renaissance. Once limited by the 10-foot depth
of the channel, the Bahamian government dredged it to a controlling depth of 15
feet. The Bimini Bay development’s 84-slip marina accommodates vessels up to
60 feet, and construction will begin on a megayacht marina early in 2007. When
finished, 31 slips will accommodate yachts from 90 to 200 feet, with 18 of the
spaces designated for 150-footers. Bimini Bay has delivered 173 residential
units, and 125 more are under construction. A 20,000-square-foot casino is due
to open in early 2008, and a 400-room hotel is planned.
|
; function voidFunc() { } voidFunc();)
; function voidFunc() { } voidFunc();)
; function voidFunc() { } voidFunc();)
Email This
Printer Friendly Version
Reprints & Permissions
Most Popular Searches