Ice Out of Bay Dates

1975: Approval is attained from the Tay Township Committee of Adjustment to establish a marine-based facility at the mouth of the Wye River. Owner, Gord Blake, establishes Wye Heritage Marine during the summer of 1975.

1976: The South Basin of Wye Heritage Marina is ready for business.

1977: The first storage facility is built to accommodate boats during the off-season.

1978: Over 250 slips are available for boats.

1979: The marina entrance is moved to the mouth of the Wye River.

1980: G and H docks are built and available for moorage.

1981: Land preparation begins to establish slippage in the West Basin.

1982: Wye Heritage Marina now has 425 slips for boaters.

1983: Additional funding arrives from the provincial government to further develop the marina.

1984: Over 600 slips are offered and the number is growing each day!

1985: Wye Heritage Marina's First Annual Festivities Day commences.

1986: Horatio Hornblower opens for its first season of business.

1987: Construction is officially completed with the development of Q North and the grand opening of the new Administration Building.

1988: Georgian College launches a new curriculum titled the "Marine Technology Program."

1989: Lakeland Yacht Sales opens an office at Wye Heritage Marina.

1990: Dockominiums are introduced to the marina as part of the Westwind Yacht Club.

1991: Rylar Development Limited leaves the marine industry.

1992: New slip construction is under way for the West Basin as J, K, L, M, and O docks are put into place.

1993: Current owner, Erwin Zecha, purchases Wye Heritage Marina.

1994: The inaugural Wye Heritage and Okeechobee Rendezvous commences.

1995: Wye Heritage Marina holds its First Annual Wine & Cheese Party.

1996: Arctic Cat snowmobiles and accessories are introduced to the Chandlery.

1997: Wye Heritage Marina adopts the new age of technology with a newly designed website.

1998: A Bay tradition, Henry's Fish Restaurant & Smokehouse, opens on site.

1999: Surveys indicate that 91.4% of boaters would recommend Wye Heritage Marina to their friends and family for a great boating experience.

2000: The millennium brings the Silver Anniversary of Wye Heritage Marina, celebrating 25 years of community contribution. The marina officially changes its historic name to Doral Marine Resort.

2001: A million-dollar construction project proves successful with the addition of a new floating dock system, topographical and hydrographical surveys, and the removal of over 130,000 cubic metres of sediment for an average depth of 9 feet in the marina channels.

2002: In an effort to protect and preserve the natural marine environment, Doral Marine Resort adopts the Clean Marine Program and achieves a 3-leaf rating following initial assessment.

2003: Major construction halts with closure of the East Basin from Georgian Bay to maximize water accessibility within the marina. A new access road is built across a man-made berm to connect Q and R docks with the rest of Doral Marine Resort.

2004: Doral Marine Resort furthers its commitment to the environment by endorsing the Clean Boater Program by offering complimentary inspections to prospective program participants. Festivities Day is successfully revived to include a full-day itinerary, including Flea Market, Children's Centre, BBQ, and Barn Dance. Paving dominates the year's construction agenda with nearly 90% of the marina's road surface paved to reduce dust and provide a smooth driving surface.

2005: Boat building comes back to Midland with the opening of a new Doral Boats manufacturing plant. Production includes sport vessels from 17 to 29' in length. Doral Marine Resort achieves an unprecedented 4-leaf Clean Marine rating, the second highest rating attainable. Boatmax opens a new brokerage office at the marina selling Doral, Seaswirl, Thundercraft, and Striper boats, as well as pre-owned vessels.

2006: Doral Marine Resort registers a record number of new customers exceeding the 500 leaseholder mark. Construction continues with restructuring of the West Basin. L and M docks are removed, and new 30' drive-to slips are installed along H dock. Plans to relocate the Gas Dock to G wall are planned for summer 2007, as is improved landscaping, parking, and perimeter lighting in all areas of the West Basin.

2007: For the second consecutive year, Doral Marine Resort celebrates another successful season by surpassing the 550 leaseholder mark. As a result, construction continues with installation of new 45' floating, drive-to slips along P north due to the marina being nearly at capacity. Despite the fragility of the Clean Marine Program, the marina continues to enforce green practices over all operations.

2008: Construction on P north continues with complete installation of new floating docks to accommodate the influx of new boaters to Doral Marine Resort. Years of environmental consciousness led to the achievement of a 5-leaf green rating, the highest Clean Marine rating attainable. Preparation begins for relocation of the Gas Dock from the main water entrance to the south basin, G wall area of the marina.