Once complete, the facility will be the only dry storage operation near Galveston capable of accommodating boats over 50 feet, complementing Marina Bay Harbor's existing 65,700-square-foot storage facility and 7,000 square feet of premium aluminum and Brazilian Ipe hardwood docks. A future 5,000-square-foot ship store, accessible by boat and golf cart, is also planned as part of the marina's continued expansion.
The expansion responds to sustained demand for premium dry stack storage across the Houston, Clear Lake, Kemah, and Galveston markets. With recreational boating contributing over $511 billion to the national GDP in 2023, projects like this serve as economic catalysts for coastal communities. According to the Marina Bay Harbor team, the 288 new slips are expected to generate meaningful destination spending across local restaurants, retail, and tourism in both Kemah and Clear Lake Shores.
The Marina Bay Harbor expansion introduces several critical upgrades to the existing facility, including:
The completed facility will support VIP Marinas' full-service operation including valet boat handling, fueling, provisioning, onsite service, and maintenance, designed to deliver what the ownership group describes as the best valet boat storage experience on the Gulf Coast.
The Houston-Galveston corridor is one of the most active recreational boating markets in the country, yet premium dry stack storage for larger vessels has been significantly undersupplied. Until this expansion, no facility near Galveston Bay could accommodate boats over 50 feet in dry storage.
VIP Marinas operates 13 marinas across its portfolio, each with its own identity and culture. Marina Bay Harbor is positioned as a flagship location, and the expansion reflects the ownership group's commitment to meeting regional demand while strengthening the boating ecosystem across Clear Lake, Kemah, and Galveston.
The addition of a ship store accessible by both boat and golf cart further extends the project's community reach, creating a gathering point for marina users and surrounding residents alike.
Anchor Construction is serving as general contractor on the expansion, coordinating across a deep team of design, engineering, and marine construction partners.
The delivery approach is built around:
Dry stack boat storage at this scale is not standard commercial construction. It requires precision in structural engineering, environmental compliance, heavy coordination, and close collaboration with marine-specific trades. Anchor's role is to bring the same schedule discipline and quality standards we apply across our commercial portfolio to a project where the technical demands are significantly higher.
The Project Team
Ownership and Development
Municipal Support
Design, Engineering, and Construction
Projects like this contribute directly to the economic and recreational identity of Clear Lake Shores and Kemah. For Anchor, the opportunity to build infrastructure that supports a community's long-term growth is exactly the kind of work that defines our portfolio.
By building the infrastructure behind this expansion, Anchor is helping support:
Anchor Construction is a leading commercial general contractor delivering projects across Texas, specializing in retail, mixed-use, hospitality, and infrastructure developments. The company is known for its disciplined execution, strong partnerships, and ability to deliver projects aligned with market demand and long-term performance. Let's talk about your next project.