Skipper Marine to begin $20-million marina project
WINTHROP HARBOR, Ill. – Skipper Marine Development Inc. will begin construction on the $20 million, 200-acre Scorpion Bay Marina and Yacht Club project in July, stated Mark Ellerbrock of Skipper Marine Development in a recent press release.
The Scorpion Bay Marina will be located within the boundaries of Lake Pleasant Regional Park and sits on the lake’s west shoreline just north of the Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Department’s operations center.
The project was approved by the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors in December, granting Lake Pleasant Marina Partners LLC, consisting of local marine dealer Dennis Gorney, Skipper Marine Development principal Mike Pretasky Sr. and marine industry veteran Dave Pretasky, a 35-year concession to build and operate the marina, which is expected to open in January of 2007.
Both Pretaskys are from Wisconsin. Gorney has owned the Sun Country Marine boat dealership in Phoenix for 25 years.
According to Ellerbrock, he and other principals of Skipper Marine Development, will man an information booth at the Arizona National Boat Show to let the public know the new marina is in the works.
The 35th Annual Arizona National Boat Show and Fishing Expo is scheduled for Feb. 1-5 at the Phoenix Civic Plaza, 111 N. Third Street in downtown Phoenix.
“Our plan is to develop a family friendly marina with all the amenities the boating public would find at any world class lakeside facility,” said Ellerbrock. “Scorpion Bay will have a park-like setting with slips, boat storage availability, a tram system for easy access to the marina, fuel docks, boat rentals, launch ramp, restrooms, store, deli and state of the art decking.”
According to Bill Scalzo, director of the Maricopa County Parks Department, the new marina will be a financial boon to the county with $4 million expected in revenues. The revenues will be reinvested in the park.
“We expect to see an additional 200,000 boaters annually at Lake Pleasant and Scorpion Bay will play a large part in serving those people,” said Scalzo. “The new marina will serve in an economical manner all boaters, ranging from those with small fishing boats to huge cruisers.”
Slips can be reserved for the 2007 season with a $500 non-refundable deposit, said Ellerbrock.
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