GARDEN CITY, Utah — Construction crews have begun work on a long-awaited second marina at Bear Lake State Park, aiming to alleviate severe boat congestion and enhance safety during peak visitor periods. The multi-year project is set to transform lake access and visitor experience while also stimulating local economic growth.

Currently, the only marina on the Utah side of Bear Lake struggles to keep up with high demand, especially during major holiday weekends. Boaters often face long waits at the single access point, creating both logistical challenges and safety risks as vessels try to launch or return during sudden storms.

“There’s often a big bottleneck on major holiday weekends at Bear Lake’s current marina,” said Richard Droesbeke, manager at Utah’s Bear Lake State Park. But the new project is designed to change that. “Oh, this is a really awesome point in time,” Droesbeke said, emphasizing the milestone.

The new marina is planned just north of the existing facility and is expected to take about three years to complete. Park officials said the new infrastructure will include a wider launch ramp, more dock space, and improved environmental protections.

“We’re moving a lot of Earth as a part of this project, and if winters are mild, our construction company can continue to work throughout the winter,” Droesbeke added. “If we have severe winters, it may take longer.”

The scope of the construction is significant. Approximately 360,000 tons of gravel will be brought in to build the marina’s base and berm, which will support a 140-foot-wide launch ramp and hundreds of new boat slips—substantially increasing capacity over the current facility.

Beyond boating convenience, the new marina introduces environmental safeguards. A specialized dunk tank system will be installed to wash boats and prevent the spread of invasive species like quagga mussels.

“(That) will mean a level of protection that it’s (the lake) never seen before,” said Brady Long with the Bear Lake Watch. Long said the inclusion of these features signals a new level of care and oversight in protecting Bear Lake’s delicate ecosystem.

Local businesses are also optimistic about the economic benefits that will stem from the expanded capacity and growing visitor traffic.

“It’s going to promote more business. We’re going to have more boat services, more food, more amenities, all those things are just going to grow because of it (the new marina),” said Patrick Lloyd, President of the Bear Lake Valley Chamber of Commerce.

The second marina isn’t the only major development underway at Bear Lake. On the Idaho side, construction is in progress for new campsites and a day-use beach area on the eastern shoreline. These improvements aim to meet the increasing demand for outdoor recreation and overnight accommodations, reinforcing Bear Lake’s status as a year-round destination.

The marina expansion was first approved for funding in 2022, but project planners spent the last two years locating a suitable site and refining designs to meet both user needs and environmental standards.

When completed, the new marina will not only streamline boat traffic but also provide a safer, more sustainable recreational environment for the hundreds of thousands who visit Bear Lake each year.

Originally reported by KSL News Radio.