'A huge deal for our community': Point South Marina at Port St. Joe may open in the fall
PORT ST. JOE — It’s the last mile of the marathon for Point South Marina at Port St. Joe as the project nears completion after rebuilding from Hurricane Michael.
Formerly known as the Port St. Joe Marina, a reconfigured marina that falls under a new St. Joe Company brand — Point South Marina — will soon reopen in the community.
In early spring, the St. Joe Company rebranded the Bay Point Marina and Port St. Joe Marina to Point South Marina as they had to be extensively rebuilt from scratch following the destruction of Hurricane Michael in 2018. While Point South Marina at Bay Point opened in early summer, Point South Marina at Port. St. Joe is expected to open its first phase this fall.
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Preston Sutter, general manager of the marina, said he’s elated to bring back what is now a stronger and bigger marina than before to Port St. Joe.
“The brand, service, and expectations are going to be something our clients and guests can look forward to at any Point South Marina,” Sutter said, adding that the boat barn space will ensure protection for vessels. “It took some time, but it has been incredible to see the process of what goes into these marinas.”
Point South Marina at Port St. Joe will feature a reconfigured layout of approximately 63,000 square feet, tripling the marina's capacity with 252 dry storage slips and 48 wet slips in St. Joseph Bay. The marina will open in phases, with the first phase including the dry boat storage facility and ship’s store that will feature coastal and southern lifestyle gear. The wet slips are expected to be completed as a part of the second phase.
Overnight guests will be able to take advantage of on-site amenities, including shore power and pump-out service, as well as WiFi, showers and laundry facilities. Future plans call for on-site services to include marine sales and service. In addition, the marina will offer barn storage, charter fishing, boat rentals, party boat fishing trips and retail space.
With Port St. Joe gaining its hub of activities back after four long years, city officials hope it brings more visitation to the area.
“The marina will give so many more options for people to get out on the water,” said Adrian Glass, marketing director of Gulf County Tourism. “We’re working with St. Joe Company to make the opening a special event in town because bringing the marina back is a huge deal for our community.”
Sutter said he looks forward to a bright future for the marina and plans to expand the marina over the course of successful years in operation.
“Our goal is that through this next off-season, we’ll be firing on all cylinders and have our procedures in place by the spring break of next year,” he said. “The rebuild of the marina will be a tremendous value added to the town, and there are tons of ideas I have about things we could do down the road.”
Those interested in keeping their boat as Point South Marina Port St. Joe can submit information to reserve a spot now in the brand-new boat barn. Rates start at $17.50 per foot a month for barn storage, with a 25-foot minimum. For more information or to reserve space at the marina, visit www.PointSouthMarina.com or call (850) 797-3489.
This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Point South Marina at Port St. Joe expected to open fall 2022
