Dana Point Harbor Partners

What Dana Point Harbor Partners does

Dana Point Harbor Partners LLC is a private real estate development partnership formed to lead the $600 million revitalization of Dana Point Harbor in Dana Point, California. The partnership comprises three companies — Burnham Ward Partners, RD Olson Development, and Bellwether Financial Group — and was organized specifically to execute the multi-year, multi-phase harbor renovation. The firm operates a waterfront destination portfolio centered on two primary marinas (The Marina at Dana Point with over 2,400 slips for vessels 21' to 85', and Embarcadero at Dana Point with 464 dry storage spaces for boats 18' to 25+'), alongside the Dana Point Shipyard, a fuel dock, launch ramp, and the free Bilge Pad Exchange Program run jointly with Orange County and the City of Dana Point.

Beyond marina operations, the destination encompasses waterfront dining, boutique retail, recreational activities (whale watching, sportfishing, sailing, parasailing, paddle boarding, cruises via operators such as Dana Wharf and Captain Dave's), community programming (a weekly Certified Farmers Market launched in 2025, live music at Frisby Cellars), and event venues including Doheny State Beach (home of the Ohana Festival) and the Ocean Institute (host of the Maritime Festival). Revenue is generated through a mix of slip and dry-storage leases, commercial tenant leases, fuel dock and shipyard services, event programming, and the broader revitalization development pipeline — including a planned two-hotel waterfront development that is currently in limbo after Orange County Supervisors rejected a ground lease agreement in 2026, citing insufficient written guarantees for displaced hotel workers. The project is racing against the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics timeline cited by R.D. Olson Development as critical to the hotel component's viability.

Name

Dana Point Harbor Partners

Legal name

Dana Point Harbor Partners LLC

Website

https://danapointharbor.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2024

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Dana Point Harbor Partners LLC is a private three-company development partnership (Burnham Ward Partners, RD Olson Development, Bellwether Financial Group) executing the $600 million revitalization of Dana Point Harbor in California, operating over 2,400 marina slips, 464 dry storage spaces, waterfront dining, retail, and recreational activities for boaters, tourists, and the local community.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Dana Point

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Dana Point Harbor Partners operates and is revitalizing Dana Point Harbor, a Southern California waterfront destination offering over 2,400 boat slips, 464 dry storage spaces, a full-service shipyard, fuel dock, launch ramp, and bilge pad exchange program for boaters. The harbor also serves as a recreational and commercial hub with whale watching excursions, sportfishing, sailing charters, cruises, waterfront dining, boutique shopping, and event venues (Doheny State Beach, Ocean Institute), supported by a $600 million multi-phase revitalization project and a weekly Certified Farmers Market.

Product overview

Dana Point Harbor Partners operates a waterfront destination portfolio centered on Dana Point Harbor in Dana Point, California. The offering consists of two primary marina facilities—The Marina at Dana Point (2,400+ slips) and Embarcadero at Dana Point (464 dry storage spaces)—alongside supporting services including the Dana Point Shipyard for boat repair and the Bilge Pad Exchange Program for environmental protection. The harbor's revitalization project (a $600 million initiative by a three-company partnership of Burnham Ward Partners, RD Olson Development, and Bellwether Financial Group) is expanding the destination with new parkscapes, pedestrian connectivity, and 100,000 square feet of new development. Current visitor amenities include whale watching and sportfishing excursions via Dana Wharf, waterfront dining, boutique shopping, and the Certified Farmers Market. Planned hotel developments remain in limbo pending county lease approvals. The harbor also serves as an event venue for community programs including the Ocean Institute's Maritime Festival and Doheny State Beach's Ohana Festival.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Dana Point Harbor: The watermans paradise harbor destination managed by Dana Point Harbor Partners, offering whale watching, sailing, fishing, dining, shopping, and boating activities.

Products and services

• The Marina at Dana Point Full-service marina offering over 2,400 boat slips ranging from 21 feet to 85 feet, operated by Dana Point Marina Company for resident and visiting boaters.
• Embarcadero at Dana Point Dry storage facility accommodating 464 boats and trailers from 18 feet to 25+ feet, with full launch ramp, launch services, and overnight trailer parking.
• Dana Point Shipyard Complete boat repair facility with marine hardware store and factory-trained certified technicians, offering full-service yard, DIY accommodations, and fully insured and licensed operations at 34671 Puerto Place, Dana Point, CA.
• Bilge Pad Exchange Program Free bilge pad exchange program with collection points and free replacement pad distribution at Dana West Marina, Dana Point Marina, and Dana Point Fuel Dock to protect marine environment quality.
• Dana Wharf Whale Watching & Sportfishing Whale watching excursions and sportfishing trips departing from Dana Wharf, including half-price Tuesday whale watching sails, golden hour cruises, sunset wine cruises, and live music harbor cruises.
• Certified Farmers Market Weekly Certified Farmers Market held every Wednesday from 9A-1P at 799 Harbor Way (between the Parking Structure and The Wharf), featuring local vendors such as Black Sheep Farms, Bee Ladies Honey, Chaupain Bakery, and Fresco Pasta.
• Doheny State Beach Events Beach venue within the Dana Point Harbor area hosting special events including the Ohana Festival featuring 35+ performances across three stages.
• Ocean Institute Maritime Programs 501(c)(3) non-profit education facility and venue hosting the 42nd Maritime Festival and other community events, using the ocean as a classroom to inspire children to learn.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Burnham Ward PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership member in the three-company Dana Point Harbor Partners LLC leading the $600 million Dana Point Harbor revitalization project. Contributes to development planning and execution alongside RD Olson Development and Bellwether Financial Group.
• R.D. Olson DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership member leading development of hotel projects at Dana Point Harbor. Construction paused pending ground lease approvals. Developing two waterfront hotels and considering renovation of existing Marina Inn instead if leases not approved. Cited 2028 Olympic Games timeline as critical.
• Orange CountycoreOthersOrange County Supervisors hold authority over ground lease agreements essential for the Dana Point Harbor development. County rejected lease agreement citing insufficient written guarantees for displaced hotel workers, leaving the $25 billion project in limbo.
• The Marina at Dana PointcoreOthersOperates over 2,400 slips from 21' to 85' within Dana Point Harbor. Primary boat storage facility partner. Contact: 949.496.6137, www.themarinaatdanapoint.com
• Embarcadero at Dana PointcoreOthersDry storage facility for boats and trailers accommodating 464 boats/trailers from 18' to 25+'. Offers full launch ramp, launch services, and overnight trailer parking. Contact: 949.496.6177.
• County of Orange and City of Dana PointminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint partnership operating the free Bilge Pad Exchange Program to safeguard marine environment quality. Collection points at Dana West Marina, Dana Point Marina, and Dana Point Fuel Dock.
• Dana Point ShipyardminorOthersFamily-owned complete boat repair facility with marine hardware store and factory trained/certified technicians. Location: 34671 Puerto Place, Dana Point, CA 92629. Phone: (949) 661-1313.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching: Dana Wharf is a third-party operator located within Dana Point Harbor offering whale watching, sportfishing, and cruises. It is comparable as a co-located partner delivering the core whale-watching tourism experience tied to the harbor's brand identity.
• Visit Dana Point (Tourism Improvement District): Visit Dana Point is the destination marketing organization for the city. It is comparable as the tourism-promotion counterpart that channels visitors into harbor-area assets, driving the same tourism demand that Dana Point Harbor monetizes.

Regional players

• Catalina Island Company: Catalina Island Company operates destination hospitality, retail, and visitor services on Catalina Island, frequently accessed from Dana Point Harbor. It is comparable as a Southern California waterfront destination operator with mixed-use tourism, retail, and recreation offerings.
• Marina del Rey (LA County): Marina del Rey is a Southern California small-craft harbor operated by Los Angeles County with slip rentals, dry storage, waterfront dining, and tourism. It is directly comparable as a Southern California marina destination competing for similar boating customers.
• Newport Harbor Marina (City of Newport Beach): Newport Harbor in Newport Beach is a major Southern California recreational marina with comparable slip inventory, boating services, and waterfront tourism. It competes for the same Orange County boating and tourism market.

Direct peers

• Suntex Marinas: Suntex Marinas is a top-tier U.S. marina owner and operator with a portfolio of upscale recreational marinas. It is directly comparable to Dana Point Harbor as a destination-style marina operator offering slips, dry storage, fuel docks, and waterfront amenities to recreational boaters.
• IGY Marinas (Island Global Yachting): IGY Marinas operates a global network of premium marina destinations catering to megayachts and recreational vessels. It is directly comparable to Dana Point's larger-slip (up to 85') offering and destination-style positioning.

Emerging players

• West Marine: West Marine is the largest U.S. retailer of boating supplies, parts, and accessories with a strong adjacency to marina customers. While not a marina operator, it serves the same recreational boating customer base as Dana Point's shipyard and marine services.

Broad incumbents

• Port of San Diego: The Port of San Diego operates multiple waterfront districts with marinas, hotels, retail, dining, and tourism assets. It is comparable as a larger regional port authority combining maritime, hospitality, and real estate functions.
• Safe Harbor Marinas: Safe Harbor Marinas is the largest marina operator in the United States with over 130 protected wet slip and dry storage facilities. It is directly comparable as a multi-property marina operator serving recreational boaters with similar slip and dry storage offerings to Dana Point Harbor's core marina business.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

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• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/golden-galleon
• Instagraminstagram.com/DanaPointHarbor

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Dana Point Harbor Partners