Guy Harvey Outpost Resort & Marina on Bimini: A Revived Marine Retreat

Guy Harvey approaches the sea from many vantage points—artist, angler, diver, conservationist, biologist and entrepreneur—so it is fitting that his newly reopened Guy Harvey Outpost Resort & Marina on Bimini reflects that multifaceted relationship with the ocean. The property is a carefully restored and reimagined version of the island’s historic Bimini Big Game Club, now positioned as a small-scale, ecologically minded destination for anglers, divers and eco-tourists.

The renovation, a $3.5 million revitalization of the former Big Game Club that had been closed for two years under prior ownership, preserves the club’s heritage while emphasizing sustainable marine tourism. Harvey and his partners envision this Outpost as the prototype for a network of intimate resorts that prioritize hands-on marine experiences, conservation education and support for scientific study.

Immersive Sea-Focused Experiences

“I’m a big diver,” Harvey says, reflecting his lifelong passion for underwater life and his fame as a painter of billfish and other ocean species. His ideal day blends multiple dives with fishing breaks, and the Outpost is designed to facilitate that kind of variety. The resort places activities with direct ties to the ocean at the center of its guest experience—fishing, diving, swimming, beachcombing, photography and art—while specifically omitting typical resort distractions like golf, tennis, casinos and large retail complexes.

The goal is immersion: offering visitors a chance to experience Bimini’s natural beauty through guided activities led by staff who are genuinely enthusiastic about the marine environment. Guests can participate in interactive conservation programs, attend educational presentations and support ongoing research efforts during their stay.

Conservation, Research and Community Partnerships

The Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation plays an active role in supporting shark research at the Biological Field Station on Bimini, led by scientist Hans Gruber. The Outpost runs excursions to the shark lab where guests can observe sharks in their natural environment and learn how research and conservation work hand in hand—while helping to fund the lab’s efforts.

Harvey also plans to revive catch-and-release tournament fishing from the Big Game Club, modeled in part on the Guy Harvey Ultimate Shark Challenge Series in Florida. Such events are designed to attract anglers, promote conservation-minded fishing practices and generate valuable scientific data through the measuring and tagging of catches.

History Preserved, Amenities Updated

Founded in 1936 as a formal dinner club in Alice Town on North Bimini, the Big Game Club became legendary among anglers and visitors including Zane Grey, Ernest Hemingway, Howard Hughes and Michael Lerner, who came for Bimini’s celebrated blue marlin and tuna. After years of decline and a 2008 closure, the club reopened last July as the Bimini Big Game Club while operating under the Guy Harvey Outpost Marina & Resort brand.

The restored property retains its 75-slip marina and 51-room retreat, and the makeover introduced upgraded guest rooms, the Bimini Big Game Bar & Grill, an Outfitter Shop and a Guy Harvey sportswear and gift shop. The Outfitter Shop now hosts operations such as Black Fly Bimini, organized by marine artist and master fly fisherman Vaughn Cochran, which arranges backcountry flats fishing for bonefish and permit using local guides.

Diving, Fishing and Local Expertise

Legendary scuba pioneer Neal Watson operates Dive Bimini at the Outpost, continuing a long association with the island that began in 1975. Watson’s team runs the 60-foot, two-deck glass-bottom boat Bimini Blue for wreck, reef and wall diving. Bimini’s water clarity is exceptional, aided by Gulf Stream eddies that sweep close to shore and act like a natural cleaner for the marine environment.

Fishing opportunities stretch from the Gulf Stream—where blue marlin, tuna, wahoo and mahi-mahi are pursued—to the flats, where skilled guides target bonefish and permit. The Outpost aims to serve anglers of varying interests while promoting catch-and-release practices and scientific data collection.

Planned Additions and Leadership

Planned enhancements for the Outpost include a Guy Harvey Theater with multimedia and interactive programming; a fitness center and spa; expanded conference facilities; a full-service fuel dock; and a schedule of seminars and presentations featuring on-island researchers, Harvey himself and scientists from the Guy Harvey Research Institute at Nova Southeastern.

Partners in Guy Harvey Outposts Ltd. bring a range of expertise: Outpost president Mark Ellert is a Fort Lauderdale developer experienced in hospitality and resort properties; conservationist Bill Shedd, president of Aftco, contributes conservation and industry ties; and Fort Lauderdale attorney Charles Foreman brings community and academic connections tied to Nova Southeastern University and its research institute.

Looking Ahead

Fifty miles from Miami, Bimini remains an evocative island setting that inspired writers such as Ernest Hemingway. Harvey envisions a few more Outpost-style retreats in special, water-oriented locations—possibly the Abacos, the Exumas, parts of the Florida Keys or other coastal areas where sensitive, small-scale developments can provide exceptional fishing, diving and boating without overwhelming the local environment.

With Harvey’s blend of artistic fame, scientific commitment and hands-on passion for the sea, the Outpost aims to operate not only as a business and vacation destination, but also as a platform for marine education, conservation and research.

This article originally appeared in the April 2011 issue.