| Our
Beginning
Sands Harbor Resort and Marina
premiered in 1950 as America's first "Yachtel," a combination yacht
basin and motel. Known as the Sands Yachtel, it was one of the first establishments
in Pompano Beach.
View old Sands
postcards | The
Pompano Beach Yacht Basin and the Sands Yachtel were conceived in 1948 when Mr.
H.J. McDonald, a boat dealer in Long Island, New York, delivered a cruiser to
Mr. E.W. Beye of Pompano Beach. After several frustrating hours searching for
a place to dock, the men finally located a slip in Fort Lauderdale. Mr. Beye,
a builder and real estate developer, realized the need for a good yacht basin
conveniently located on the Intracoastal waterway in southeastern Florida. The
two men agreed they would work together looking for and constructing a yacht basin. After
several weeks of investigation, a strip of land was purchased in Pompano Beach.
The location was ideal from the vacationing yachtsman's standpoint—in the
center of Florida's resort area with Miami 34 miles south and Palm Beach 35 miles
north, and just a step to the ocean and beach. The Hillsboro Inlet, one mile north,
provided access to the ocean and deep sea fishing grounds. The
original complex consisted of 40 docks, a 12 unit motel and to complete the facilities
a shopping center catering to both yachtsmen and tourists traveling by car. The
project was an immediate success. Boaters enjoyed leaving the cramped quarters
of their crafts for a few days and the shops made it possible to conveniently
buy supplies and necessities, eliminating the overstocking of small boats with
limited storage space. The
Early Years
By 1953, the Sands Yachtel grew to 23 units comprised of four
hotel rooms, two 1-bedroom apartments and 17 efficiencies. The marina was also
expanded to 76 slips, and a swimming pool was added. The
black-and-white photo at the right shows the marina with undeveloped beach front
in the upper right-hand corner that is today filled with high rise condos and
hotels. Also of interest is the old Intracoastal waterway bridge on Atlantic Boulevard
that appears in the lower left-hand corner. The new bridge has four lanes and
is much higher to allow most boats to pass underneath. To
meet the demand for hotel rooms in the growing city of Pompano Beach, the original
yachtel structure was demolished and a new nine-story building with 56 rooms and
2 penthouses on top was built in 1966. The hotel was renamed the "Sands Harbor
Inn." The 1960's and 1970's were a busy time for the hotel. Past guests may
remember eating at our fine dining establishment, "The Galleon Room."
This restaurant evolved into "Fishtales" in the 1980's. The Sands waterfront
Patio Bar was and continues to be a hot spot for tourists and locals alike, providing
a relaxed atmosphere with the endless boat parade on the Intracoastal serving
as an enjoyable backdrop. We
Continue To Grow
New owners purchased the hotel in 1977 and renamed the
inn to the "Sands Harbor Hotel." This name survived for almost two decades
when, based on the increased activities and amenities offered by the hotel, we
became the "Sands Harbor Resort and Marina." In
1989, the owners utilized the vacant strip of land south of the hotel and east
of the marina to create a two-story office building with stunning waterfront views.
Activity from the office complex enhances the level of fun at Sands Harbor, from
numerous yacht brokers selling huge megayachts to real estate and other professional
services being offered. Present
Day
The marina and office complex presently houses a retail dive shop;
scuba, boating and fishing charters; glass bottom boats; special occasion yacht
charters; waverunner rentals; bathing suit and sportwear manufacturers; beauty
salon and much more. Sands
Harbor Resort and Marina is home to the two largest saltwater tournaments
in South Florida—the annual Pompano Beach Fishing Rodeo and the Pompano Beach
Saltwater Slam!These events attract thousands of participants and spectators.
Each afternoon the fish are displayed along the Sands' dock while spectators guess
their weight and try to win fun prizes. Our
waterfront Patio Bar is a fun family hot spot. Kids swim and play in the pool
while mom and dad sit nearby, sipping one of our famous frozen cocktails. And
there's plenty of dockage available for boats of all sizes. Come relax and enjoy
a great view of all the passing boats while you sample our grilled burgers, chicken
wings and cool salads. Though
we've grown along with our city, our longstanding tradition of providing guests
with comfortable accommodations in a casual, relaxed setting continues today.
We would love to share the Sands Harbor experience with you, so make arrangements
to visit us soon! | 
