Old Bahama Bay is the (relatively) new incarnation of the old Jack Tarr Marina at West End, Grand Bahama. OBB lies only 56 nm east of Lake Worth Inlet (Palm Beach), making it a convenient arrival point for boaters traveling to the Bahamas from the US, and vice versa. Since September 2004 the facility has been struck by a number of hurricanes. What follows here is a series of reports from visiting boaters and OBB itself. Please note the date of each report. Before you plan on visiting OBB, call them at 1-877-949-4466 , or visit their web site.
One warning: “we made three calls from the direct USA phone at the shower area. Two were no answers, the last was a very brief conversation. We used our SBC calling card and were charged five minutes and $38 for each of the three calls!”
Update, February 1, 2005
(I rec'd this email from OBB 2/1/05)
Refurbished and rejuvenated after the 2004 hurricane season, Old Bahama Bay will officially re-open on Monday, March 14, 2005. The exclusive 49-room resort, marina and residential community situated on the western tip of Grand Bahama Island in the village of West End will fully resume operations and offer guests the opportunity to experience a luxurious island escape at 2001 rates.
From March 14 to April 30, 2005, Old Bahama Bay will welcome back vacationers by honoring a special rate of $275 per night, the same rate the property opened with in 2001. The $275 rate includes a beachfront junior suite for two, nearly a fifty percent discount from regular spring rates. Each suite at this Small Luxury Hotel of the World resort features a large ocean or garden-view terrace designed with elegant Bahamian decor. Suites are also fully appointed with custom-designed Island Plantation furnishings and lighting, a marble bath, full kitchen and sitting area. The resort is also offering two bedroom suites for or $879 a night, a $200 savings. The spacious two bedroom suites include a master bedroom, a second bedroom with two double beds, a full living room and dining area and two ocean-view terraces.
Grand Re-Opening Rates (3/14/05 – 4/30/05) Regular Spring Rates
Junior Suite $275 per night $509 per night
Two Bedroom Suite $879 per night $1079 per night
“We are back!” said Bob Kramm, General Manager for Old Bahama Bay. “Through the incredible support of our loyal staff, owners, executive team and West End family, we are able to once again open our doors. Most importantly, we are pleased to welcome back our loyal employees who have supported us through this very difficult time. And now we eagerly await the arrival of our guests."
Old Bahama Bay will reopen its fine dining restaurant Aqua, featuring innovative Bahamian fusion cuisine, the casual Dockside Grille overlooking the marina and the beachside Straw Bar on March 14. The property will also re-open its full service marina, snorkel trail programs and recreational amenities. All marina services are also fully restored, including power, water, showers, laundry, fuel dock, and customs & immigration.
The resort is excited to herald the return of its popular events program of unique celebrations. Every full moon weekend beginning March 26 guests are invited to join the “Croon to the Moon” celebration including Karaoke, Crab Racing, Fire Dancers, live Junkanoo entertainment and food and drink specials. Wednesday and Friday nights will feature a “Sunset Celebration” party to honor the catch of the day. The highlight of these events will be performances by our very own West End Love Train, an employee group and growing national sensation! Additional productions will include “Gospel Sunday Brunch,” &ld! quo;Kids Movie Night” and the new monthly “Captain’s Barefoot Ball” for visiting yacht captains and crews.
Special Rates are based upon space and availability and subject to change. For reservations call 1-877-949-4466 or 242-350-6500, email info@oldbahamabay.com or visit www.oldbahamabay.com
January '09 Update
Fall '09 Update
During November we received this report from a boater who stopped at the marina:
"We stopped at Old Bahama Bay 2 weeks ago when bringing our boat home from Abaco for the winter season. We arrived on Sunday morning and the marina was about 1/2 full. There were several large boats and a number of smaller boats waiting for a weather window. Several of the boats there did have some pretty good luck getting lobster and a few positive wahoo reports. The marina office was open and very helpful to us (we needed to get someone out on a flight and also use the Internet for some other tasks). The restaurants were open and the food was as good as it has been in the past. I have no idea if the rooms were being rented- it seemed like most of the people there were other folks from other boats. We booked a slip for one night and it cost about $130 for a 45 foot boat. We also fueled up and diesel was pretty cheap (as it generally is) - can't remember the exact price but much cheaper than our last fuel from Harbour View Marina in Abaco. As for the development, it appeared as if it was completely abandoned. The place outside of the marina/resort proper is pretty eery. There was a bit of a blow when we arrived and the dust from the area that was completely devoid of vegetation was really blowing around. Otherwise, the experience we had was pretty typical- a completely acceptable stopping point between West Palm Beach and Abaco but nothing to make us want to stay very long."
"Old Bahama Bay and the West End area looks absolutely nothing like the artists rendering on their web site. The parts that exist at Old Bahama Bay are the parts that have been there for years prior to Ginn buying the place- the marina, less than 10 tastefully done 2-story buildings (with 4 or 6 rooms in each building and designed with typical island-style architecture) and a few restaurants/marina office/customs office. There are a few extremely luxurious single-family homes that have recently been built on the canals outside of the marina proper but they are surrounded by vacant lots and have that development gone bust feeling."
"Many people confuse the town of West End with Old Bahama Bay and the resort area that is actually outside of the town on the tip of the island. West End (the town) has struggled for a long time. I drove through on the recent trip and there is still a good deal of visible damage in the town from the hurricanes several years ago. The commercial fishing/lobstering/conching isn't what it was years ago and there is no doubt that the end of the Ginn project will hurt the locals, regardless of the merits of the project."
"We have always enjoyed going into West End (the town) for a real Bahamian meal and drink- the type you can never get when at the typical resort-type restaurant. One night a few years ago, we took a cab from Old Bahama Bay into West End to go to a restaurant called Coffee on the Bay. When we arrived, there were a few local guys drinking at the bar and we asked if we could get some food too. The bartender said he would call the cook. About ten minutes later, the sweetest Bahamian lady in the world walked in the front door with her apron on and approached our table of 6. She asked us what we wanted to eat as she came to cook for us. She explained that she didn't have a menu but could make just about any of the typical favorites- conch, lobster, fish, etc. After about 45 minutes and a number of Kaliks, she brought out 6 steaming plates covered with cracked conch, cracked lobster, and peas and rice. It was one of the best meals I have ever had. The best part was when we got the bill- with all the beer and all the food, it was less than $100! While we have certainly eaten many meals at the resort as well, I never understood why more boaters don't venture out of the resort boundaries to explore the town of West End."
