The $250 million Rockwell Island development on Bimini has broken ground on its first residential properties.
RAV Bahamas, the same developer assisting in the upcoming 10,000-square-foot casino at Bimini Bay Resort, is spearheading a combination of 105 beachfront estate homes and 28 resort keys. Homes are expected to sell for between $2 million and $4 million.
According to Leslie Bethel, chief operating officer at RAV Bahamas, the project has already made considerable progress since groundbreaking in April.
"The development is coming along nicely. We have five homes under construction and we are almost to the second story level on some of those homes. There are going to be additional employment opportunities there. We are excited about the opportunity to become a world-class resort destination. So, the first phase of construction on that project is moving along fairly nicely," he explained.
He estimates that approximately $10 million has been invested into the project so far. The hefty price tag mostly includes the infrastructure necessary to prepare the site for construction.
Tennis courts and a restaurant are just some of the amenities that are being offered at Rockwell Island.
Top hoteliers on that island have shared with Guardian Business the need to create more traffic into the island in order for their businesses to succeed.
Michael Weber, the general manager at the Bimini Big Game Club, emphasized the importance of having a direct ferry service into Bimini from South Florida.
Weber pointed out that it has been more than two decades since Bimini had a direct service come to the island.
"The role of the ferry is huge. We can do what we can with tour operators and such, and going after the corporate and wedding market, but those just coming just for a couple of days, that's not available. But for Bimini, it's so close, and they can really spend the day here," he added.
In addition to the ferry service, tourism minister Obie Wilchcombe also confirmed to Guardian Business that his team has been in talks with a number of airline carrier, in an effort to increase more traffic into the island.
Bimini, located just off the U.S. coast, reportedly sees an average of 50,000 visitors annually. However, Bethel is hoping the new ferry service from Florida can attract up to 1,000 visitors daily.

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