With more than 30 years of real estate development experience, Taplin is considered a visionary among his peers for creating lifestyle developments. His area properties include The Falls at Marina Bay, The Falls at Pembroke, Marina Bay Yachting Center, TRYP by Wyndham Maritime Fort Lauderdale and HarbourHouse Bal Harbour.
The 150-room TRYP by Wyndham Maritime Fort Lauderdale, which recently celebrated its first anniversary, is Fort Lauderdale’s only marine-themed hotel. It features a nautical-inspired design as well as a plethora of aquariums containing a variety of marine wildlife.
Like the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, Marina Bay Yachting Center has its own spot in the city’s history books.
In the 1970’s and 1980’s, Marina Bay was the playground of the rich and famous with Alfred Bloomingdale and Bill McComas heading a private club with a roster of 6,000 names including such famous members as Bob Hope, Ronald Reagan, Burt Reynolds, Paul Newman, Kenny Rogers and Evel Knievel, among others.
With a 10,000 square foot restaurant called the New River Storehouse and 40 exotic floating houseboat hotel rooms docked at the edge of Marina Bay’s famous 200 slip marina, Marina Bay personified the glamorous, luxurious South Florida lifestyle. It was also the home of the Surfside 6 floating houseboats that were seen on the TV series Flipper.
Today, Marina Bay Yachting Center is regarded as one of the finest marinas in the world. It is rated among the top 100 mega yacht marinas by Showboats International.
A four-star luxury marina accommodating vessels up to 150’, Marina Bay Yachting Center features an amenity-rich environment that includes an expansive activity center with crystal-blue resort pool, state-of-the-art fitness and tennis facilities, private theater, hand ball court, business center along with a complete Captain’s Lounge and a 168 slip marina for yachts.
“Back in the day, we offered a luxurious South Florida lifestyle,” said Taplin. “To be sure, we have certainly enhanced that with the marina, apartments and hotel. I believe it’s a lifestyle that few can match.”