Hurricane Sally wreaked havoc on the marinas across the area. Sportsman Marina was heavily impacted. The docks were destroyed, the Tiki Bar damaged and operational capacity was limited.

In late July, Safe Harbor Sportsman announced the expansion and rebuild.

"We are thrilled to introduce the newest state-of-the-art floating concrete and timber dock system, complete with upgraded amenities," said Bryan Walden, general manager. "It has been a long journey back from the devastation caused in September 2020, but we have done it and are excited to offer a world-class facility and boating experience to our incredible and resilient members, partners and the Gulf Coast community."

A portion of the new facilities opened in May and the remaining will be introduced in a phased approach throughout the summer as construction is completed. In the end, the new facilities will include 120 additional wet slips.

Another notable addition is the 500-foot-long by 15-foot-wide concrete wave attenuator dock by Bellingham Marine, designed to protect the marina basin from substantial wave action similar to what was observed during Hurricane Sally. This type of floating dock has deep concrete panels along each edge that provides the ability to reflect incoming waves, providing calm conditions on the inboard side. It will also enhance the dockage for large yachts and sport fishing boats alike.

"We at Safe Harbor Marinas take great pride in our ability to rebound from a completely devastating event like Hurricane Sally," said Chief Development Officer at Safe Harbor Marinas Peter Clark. "The end result is a marina facility that is designed to be more resilient to future storm events but equally important, provide an elevated experience for our members."

For more information on Safe Harbor Sportsman or Safe Harbor Marinas, visit shmarinas.com.