Work Begins on a New 62-Slip Marina in Downtown Punta Gorda
Punta Gorda, FL (October 2026) – Downtown Punta Gorda is getting a new place to tie up a boat. Construction is starting this month on a 62-slip marina at 300 W. Retta Esplanade, the waterfront site where the Punta Gorda Waterfront Hotel stood until Hurricane Ian damaged it and it was torn down.
What’s being built
Punta Gorda City Council approved the project 4-0 on August 26. The roughly $4 million marina will reach about 500 feet out into the Peace River, near the US-41 bridges, and is built to stand up to future storms.
- 62 slips on a mix of fixed and floating docks
- A fishing pier and a breakwater around the marina
- Water, power and a pump-out station for boaters
- Storm-ready design: tall steel pilings for the floating docks and decking that lets surge water pass through
The marina is planned for day docking for now and will be gated. The owner’s federal permit runs out in early January, so the goal is to finish construction by the end of 2026. A 160-room hotel is still planned for the site later, but it’s on hold until the market supports it.
What it means for visitors
Since Hurricane Ian, boaters have had fewer places to tie up near downtown. A new marina in the heart of the waterfront should make it easier to boat in for dinner, a stroll on the Harborwalk or a visit to the shops on Marion Avenue. Until it opens, expect some construction activity along W. Retta Esplanade near the bridges.
Downtown Punta Gorda is just a few minutes from our house. Guests who rent our pontoon boat can explore Charlotte Harbor right from our 40′ dock, and we’ll share an update here when the new marina opens.
Planning a trip? Our waterfront pool home in Punta Gorda Isles sleeps 12 and sits right on the canal. Check dates and book direct with the owners to save 10%.
Sources: Suncoast Loop; Gulfshore Business, August 27, 2026; WINK News, August 28, 2026. Photo: Punta Gorda Harborwalk by Sanibel sun, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
