By Christine Walker
Florida’s Tyndall Air Force Base has opened a newly constructed marina, a resilient recreation addition to the installation’s ongoing rebuild, which hosted its first event, Liberty Fest, on July 3.
Inspectors from the Air Force Civil Engineer Center Natural Disaster Recovery Division, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and construction contractors conducted a final walkthrough of the 42,732-square-foot facility on June 4. Following the inspection, Brian Stahl, deputy base civil engineer, and Lt. Col. Allen Lewis, 325th Civil Engineer Squadron commander, signed the acceptance documents for the $47-million project.
The Tyndall Marina restaurant offers additional outdoor seating and flexible event space. The project is one of several new amenities designed to support
The $47-million Tyndall Marina includes 20 boat slips, pontoon boat and kayak rentals, and recreational storage. These features support the base’s mission to provide resilient, high-quality facilities for the Tyndall community.
The marina includes indoor and outdoor dining areas, a bar, event space, 20 boat slips, pontoon boat and kayak rentals, recreational storage, fishing areas and covered shelters with grills.
“This structure is built to withstand the worst Mother Nature can throw at it,” said Col. Robert Bartlow, chief of the AFCEC Natural Disaster Recovery Division. “It meets Miami-Dade hurricane construction standards and is designed to endure winds up to 165 mph and storm surges from major hurricanes. I expect Tyndall Airmen and families will enjoy this marina for generations.”
The project is part of a $5.3-billion rebuild effort following Hurricane Michael’s direct hit in 2018, which damaged nearly 500 buildings across the installation. AFCEC’s Natural Disaster Recovery Division is leading the reconstruction, which includes 44 military construction projects and 260 facility sustainment, restoration, and modernization efforts.
The marina supports the broader goal of creating a more resilient, ready and modern installation to meet the needs of current and future Air Force missions.
