Rich in history and vibrant in rebirth, the Galveston Yacht Basin has been a staple on Galveston Island for as long as I can remember. The monumental marina was built by avid fisherman Robert Everett “R.E. Bob” Smith in the 1960s and completed in 1969. What makes the Galveston Yacht Basin unique is it wasn’t built as a business endeavor but out of a joy and love of the ocean and for fishing. The roots and history of Galveston Island and the people who care about it run deep.
Galveston Yacht Basin
In the aftermath of Hurricane Ike, the Yacht Basin was structurally devastated. A fire set ablaze 150-200 boats in the dry storage unit. Fortunately, the majority of the wet slips in the marina were usable. So while the basin never officially “closed” due to its 481 functioning wet slips, the marina was not running to its entirety after Ike. The restaurant, pool, onsite filling station and more were all out of commission.
Enter in a group of friends who decided to take a chance. Like Bob Smith before them, present owners John “Rocky” Sullivan, Greg Pappas and Steven Swan hold a deep affection for the basin and angling. It was a somewhat risky move, but because they believed in the importance of reviving a piece of this city’s rich history, these men have opened new doors and brought a new face to the Galveston Yacht Basin.
The Galveston Yacht Basin has completely reinvented itself and its ideals. As for the member’s area, the swimming pool and outdoor lounge section is back open for business, and there is even talk of an additional waterside restaurant and grill in the near future. As for right now, the restaurant, bar and lounge area has been completely refurnished and placed back in its original form ready for reserved parties and events. Complete with novel custom décor, the new owners have preserved all original wood panels, ceiling, and artistries once imported from Germany as its founder, Bob Smith, intended it.
The marina, which can accommodate a 100 foot yacht or a 7 foot bay boat, is also making huge progress! Construction is underway for a brand new 60 foot tall, 57,000 square foot dry storage unit that is in a class of its own. A modern feature completely new to the dry storage facility is the fully tuned concierge service that will be available to those who wish to take advantage of a little extra help before a long day on the water. With one phone call to the marina you can get all the supplies and necessities you’ll need for the next day’s events. Whether it’s bait, ice, snacks, or even beer, the full service concierge assistance can make it happen! The wet slips areas are changing as well as new owners have implemented built-in palapas upon request. This is a fun change slip owners can really enjoy.
Also new to the Basin is a fully functioning boat maintenance shop adding an extra convenience for when something on your boats breaks…again. There’s also a small store up and running that provides on the water gas fill up and sells drinks, snacks, floats, t-shirts, and other convenience items.
Good news for the Galveston visitor and those who can’t manage renting a slip of their own, is that GYB is now open to the public for launching. This is especially notable to Galvestonians and out-of-towners because the GYB is the closest launch to the Galveston jetties and offshore access that the city has to offer. Changing the policy to a public access was something the new owners were excited about, and you should be too.
According to Sullivan, “it’s time to bring the fun back,” and that’s exactly what he, Pappas, and Swan are doing. The Galveston Yacht Basin is the third largest saltwater marina in Texas Gulf Coast and it was almost lost and forgotten forever. Thankfully there are those out there who care enough to put their faith and hard work into making this piece of Galveston come back to life!
If you have yet to take part in this growing and newly revitalized experience, I suggest you come down and check it out!
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT GALVESTON YACHT BASIN http://www.galvestonyachtclub.com/
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