Abplanalp Family to Sell Walker's Cay
Author:
PRNewswire WALKER'S CAY, The Bahamas, March 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Cay Clubs Resorts & Marinas, with headquarters in Clearwater, Fla., has contracted with the Abplanalp family of New York for the purchase of Walker's Cay, the northernmost island of the Bahamas archipelago. A boating, fishing and diving paradise, Walker's Cay is an island of 69 acres at the north end of the Abacos in the northeastern Bahamas, about 100 miles east of West Palm Beach. The purchase price and the closing date were not disclosed.
Primarily a waterfront real estate developer and property manager, Cay Clubs owns and operates resort properties throughout the Florida Keys, as well as in Clearwater, Sarasota and Las Vegas. "As the first international property in the Cay Clubs portfolio, Walker's Cay will become a first-class resort destination," said Cay Clubs CEO Dave Clark. Clark continued, "Cay Clubs is committed to environmentally sensitive development and eco-tourism, and we consider Walker's Cay one of the true ecological gems of the world.
We cherish our opportunity to preserve it for future generations to enjoy."
Encircling Walker's Cay is a barrier reef teeming with fish and remarkable coral formations such as the Flower Garden, Spiral Cavern Reef, White Hole, and Shark Canyon Arena.
First settled in 1911, Walker's Cay presently includes the 71-room Walker's Cay Hotel & Marina, with 62 hotel guest rooms, three villas, the 3-bedroom Harbour House, the Conch Pearl and Lobster Trap restaurants, two bars, the Treasure Chest gift shop, the Sea Below dive shop, freshwater and saltwater swimming pools, tennis courts, 75 boat slips for vessels ranging from 20 to 80 feet in length, as well as a private airstrip and power plant. The existing hotel stands on land 50 feet above sea level, illustrating the unique topography of the island.
The Walker's Cay Hotel & Marina closed in September 2004 as a result of damage sustained during hurricanes Frances and Jeanne. Cay Clubs would like to make improvements to the island, including the renovation and/or addition of several hundred hotel rooms, condominiums, cottages and townhomes. Cay Clubs also intends to focus on physical upgrades to food and beverage facilities and to the Walker's Cay Marina as well as adding a spa and fitness center and concierge services. It is hoped that Cay Clubs members will have the ability to purchase individual condominium apartments or hotel rooms, possibly with the opportunity to lease back the units, or place them in a voluntary rental arrangement.
In addition to an expansion and upgrade of the physical facilities at Walker's Cay, Cay Clubs plans to significantly improve the total guest experience with new programs and events. Cay Clubs intends to partner with IMG Academies, the world's leading sports management company and operator of sports training facilities, to add programs at Walker's Cay focusing further on boating, fishing and SCUBA diving. Cay Clubs also intends to expand its Billfishing Xtreme Release League on ESPN2 with events at Walker's Cay. Immediate access to deep water surrounding the island makes it one of the most outstanding sport fishing sites in the world.
Before work begins to expand the facilities on Walker's Cay, however, plans must be submitted to and approved by the Bahamian Government. At present, Cay Clubs is involved in preparing its initial application to the government. Pending government approval, Cay Clubs hopes to have its grand reopening of Walker's Cay in 2007.
For more information, including membership opportunities, Contact Cay Clubs at 888/722-9173 or visit the Cay Clubs Web site at http://www.cayclubs.com .
[ Comment, Edit or Article Submission ]
