Cat’s Paw Marina, one of the Bulls Dixon Companies, purchased an additional 11.5 waterfront acres, adding to its current 8.5-acre dry stack marina location on the San Sebastian River at the Intracoastal Waterway, to use for a marina expansion project approved by the Planning and Zoning Board on June 4. Phase one of the three-phase expansion will expand the marina from a 178-boat dry stack facility with fuel service to a 20-acre dry stack marina with 114,000 square feet of boat barn storage serving 500 boats up to 45 feet in length.
The expansion also adds transient boat dock space and incorporates a new waterfront restaurant built by the owners in 2023 and expected to open in late 2024.
The waterfront drop zone will be renovated and have 2,100 linear feet of staging docks. It also adds 78 self-storage units perfect for fishing tackle and supplies. The owners purchased a new forklift in 2022 and a second forklift designed for larger boats will be onsite and available for use in September.
Phase one is expected to begin construction in October and be completed by June 2025. The marina welcomes boat owners up to 45 feet in length to join the quickly growing waitlist.
Phases two and three incorporate a third barn and 85,000 square feet of flexible commercial space to be developed at a later date. Approximately 10 acres of waterfront are available for development partners.
“As a local boater myself, it’s exciting to be a part of the growth of the Northeast Florida marina community and serve more boating and fishing enthusiasts moving to our area,” said Gayle Bulls Dixon, founder and managing partner of Bulls Dixon Companies. “We’re excited to expand Cat’s Paw Marina’s dry boat storage so significantly — meeting a need that has only grown with St. Johns County’s population. I am grateful for the support of the City of St. Augustine and others who have supported this complex project and provided their expertise and guidance to help make it a reality.” This expansion complements efforts by both the City of St. Augustine and St. Johns County to increase boating access in the region. In 2022, St. Johns County purchased a neighboring 38-acre parcel of land to construct a new park and the first public boat ramp in decades. A series of walking paths will connect the public park to the Cat’s Paw Marina property, allowing for safe public access to the restaurant.
Terry Dillinger, owner of Fishbites (fishbites.com), neighbors the marina to the west and is ramping up to serve the additional boaters who will use the new boat ramp with fishing lures, bait and other fishing specific amenities. These complementary projects will create a 60-acre hub for boaters and fishing enthusiasts alike.
According to a 2024 market feasibility study conducted by Veritas Development Advisors, the average growth rate of power boat registration in St. Johns County is 2.1%. The population is expected to grow by 12.8% in the next five years. As of 2022, there were 16,721 registered boat owners in St. Johns County; however, public boat ramp parking spaces total approximately 500 across the entire county.
Cat’s Paw Marina was purchased on Dec. 31, 2020, by Bulls Dixon Companies. At that time, it was located on 6.5 acres of property and offered 32,000 square feet of dry storage for boaters and fuel. Recognizing the high demand for boat storage in St. Johns County and a deficit in availability, the organization acquired a smaller adjacent parcel and constructed a new freestanding waterfront restaurant building with 3,000 square feet of shaded outdoor seating to serve marina patrons and the general public. The owners continued efforts to acquire surrounding parcels in support of the approved expansion.
“Bulls Dixon Companies is dedicated to working closely with St. Johns County and the City of St. Augustine on this waterfront project,” said Wester. “As a Northeast Florida company, it has worked steadfast every step of the way to make sure that this expansion meets the expectations of the community.”
For more information on Cat’s Paw Marina go to catspawmarina.com.
