New Resort and Yacht Club in Destin, Florida

A longtime Destin, Florida, resident has opened the largest marina in Destin Harbor. Bob Guidry is part owner of the new Sunset Isle Resort and Yacht Club. The new marina and resort include a 12-foot wide, 1,400-foot-long fixed timber pier able to accommodate vessels more than 300 feet in length.

The marina contains 142 slips, two high-speed fueling docks, and soon a restaurant and pool. A planned administration building will house the dockmaster’s office, conference room and restrooms. At-slip amenities include oversized power hook-ups, water and black-water pump-out. The timber docks are wide enough to permit golf cart access, while slip lengths extend the entire length of the vessel, allowing for easy stern access. The marina is equipped with six 30-ton and 25 20-ton Neptune boat lifts that are ready to accommodate vessels up to 55 feet in length. An 18-acre federal park next door ensures the marina is secured as a natural oasis for years ahead.

Guidry plans to offer about 175 condominiums of various sizes, which are now in the advanced stages of pre-sale. Coastal Marina Management holds the management contract for Sunset Isle.

Beyond the amenities and craftsmanship of the pier and marina, the facility’s singularity also comes through its ownership. “So many of these marinas are owned by large REITs and corporations,” said Scott Burt, owner of Coastal Marina Management. “What makes this one different is Guidry’s personal involvement. It’s very rare for one individual to design, fund and build a marina.”

As a Destin resident since 1974 and the proud owner of a 1973 Roscioli Donzi Sports Fisherman for 13 years, Guidry is familiar with the community’s boating needs. “I fell in love with the snow-white beaches and the emerald water,”

Guidry said. “This resulted in my desire to invest in the community as being a 50% owner of the largest marina in the Destin Harbor.”
The marina is also located near a public beach pavilion, federal park access and sport fishing opportunities.