What Safe Harbor Development does

Safe Harbor Development is a privately held, vertically integrated real estate development company headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee, founded in 2014. The company delivers full-service development across hospitality, resort, RV resort, retail, mixed-use, entertainment, marina, and residential projects, with a portfolio anchored by long-standing partnerships with Margaritaville and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. Notable projects include the Camp Margaritaville RV Resort and Lodge concept (originated in Pigeon Forge and expanded to Lanier Islands near Atlanta), the Margaritaville Island Hotel in Pigeon Forge, The Island mixed-use development, and the $82 million, 12-story Margaritaville Hotel Nashville, which required complex engineering including bridging an active storm sewer and interior-out wall construction.

The company operates on a B2B, project-based revenue model, generating income through development fees, property sales, and ownership stakes in completed projects, with pricing specific to scope, size, and complexity. Its go-to-market is enterprise field sales and relationship-based direct engagement with hospitality brands, municipal governments (notably the City of Pigeon Forge), and commercial developers, primarily across the southeastern United States. The firm is led by Founder & Chairman Darby Campbell and CEO Chris Ooten (30+ years of development experience), with an executive team covering hospitality operations, legal, finance, and marketing. Affiliated companies Sun Life Marinas and Go Outdoors extend the ecosystem into marina and outdoor recreation services. No external funding has been disclosed, and revenue figures are not publicly available.

Name

Safe Harbor Development

Legal name

Safe Harbor Development

Website

https://safeharbordev.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Safe Harbor Development is a Knoxville-based, vertically integrated real estate developer specializing in hospitality, resort, RV resort, and mixed-use projects, primarily serving flagship partner Margaritaville and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts across the southeastern United States.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Real Estate Development

NAICS

Marinas (713930)

SIC

Land Subdividers & Developers (No Cemeteries) (6552)

akta.pro primary industry

Marina & Waterfront Full-Service Hotels (THAGAAAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Marina & Small Craft Harbor Construction (IMAFAJAG)

Keywords

• Hospitality real estate development
• Resort development services
• Mixed-use development
• Commercial construction management
• RV resort development

Headquarters

HQ city

Knoxville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Real Estate Development: Full-service property development from concept to completion, including hospitality (hotels, resorts), RV resorts, retail centers, entertainment venues, and residential developments. Revenue generated through development fees, property sales, and ownership stakes in completed projects.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Safe Harbor Development is a vertically integrated real estate development company that delivers full-service property development from concept to completion. Its portfolio spans hotels, resorts, RV resorts, marina developments, retail centers, entertainment venues, mixed-use destinations, and residential projects, primarily executed under co-development and partnership arrangements with hospitality brands and municipalities across the Southeastern United States.

Product overview

Safe Harbor Development is a vertically integrated real estate development company specializing in hospitality and resort properties. The company's portfolio includes Camp Margaritaville RV Resorts, Margaritaville Hotels (Nashville and Pigeon Forge), and The Island mixed-use development in Pigeon Forge. Operating as a full-service developer, the company manages all aspects of development from concept to completion, with capabilities spanning commercial and residential construction, marina development, and destination resort creation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Camp Margaritaville RV Resort A first-of-its-kind RV resort concept developed for the Margaritaville brand that combines luxury resort amenities with outdoor adventure. The offering has been expanded to multiple locations, including Lanier Islands near Atlanta, and is targeted at branded hospitality operators and RV travelers seeking high-end destination camping.
• Margaritaville Hotel Nashville An $82 million, 12-story casual-luxe urban hotel developed for the Margaritaville brand, located half a block from Music City Center and featuring 10,719 square feet of event space and a rooftop pool. The project also includes 52 timeshare opportunities added through the Wyndham partnership and is targeted at branded hospitality operators and urban hotel guests.
• Margaritaville Island Hotel A hotel development project located in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, that marked the beginning of Safe Harbor Development's partnership with the Margaritaville brand. Targeted at branded hospitality operators and destination travelers in the Pigeon Forge / Great Smoky Mountains market.
• The Island (Pigeon Forge) A mixed-use destination development in Pigeon Forge featuring retail, dining, and entertainment spaces along the Parkway near Great Smoky Mountains National Park, enhanced through the company's partnership with Wyndham. Targeted at retail and commercial operators, tourists, and the local community.
• Marina Development Services Vertically integrated development services spanning marinas, RV resorts, hotels, restaurants, entertainment venues, retail centers, and residential projects, delivered through the company's in-house construction and project management capabilities. Targeted at brand operators, marina owners, and commercial partners across the Southeastern United States.

Quantifiable outcome

• $82 million Margaritaville Hotel Nashville project successfully completed
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• MargaritavilleflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing strategic partnership with Margaritaville for hotel and resort development. Initial project was Margaritaville Island Hotel in Pigeon Forge, followed by development of Camp Margaritaville RV Resort and Lodge concept. Also developed urban Margaritaville Hotel in downtown Nashville. Partnership has expanded to multiple locations including Lanier Islands near Atlanta.
• Wyndham Hotels & ResortscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership with Wyndham Hotels for timeshare and hospitality development. Enhanced projects like The Island in Pigeon Forge and added 52 timeshare opportunities at Margaritaville Hotel Nashville. Collaboration enables creation of exceptional destinations through combined expertise.
• Sun Life MarinasminorOthersAffiliated company under the Safe Harbor Development umbrella, providing complementary marina services and operations.
• Go OutdoorsminorOthersAffiliated company operating outdoor recreation and retail services. URL reference indicates close corporate relationship with Safe Harbor Development.
• City of Pigeon ForgecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding partnership began with request from city of Pigeon Forge to develop a forgotten retail space. City has entrusted Safe Harbor Development to develop key areas along the Parkway and near Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Partnership designed to enhance region, boost tourism, create jobs, and be responsible stewards of local community.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Kalahari Resorts: Family-owned operator and developer of large waterpark resort destinations. Comparable to Safe Harbor's vertically integrated resort development model, especially the Camp Margaritaville RV Resort and Lodge concept.
• Great Wolf Resorts: Operator and developer of large-scale indoor waterpark resort destinations across North America. Comparable to Safe Harbor as a destination resort developer creating integrated hospitality and entertainment properties.
• Sun Communities: Real estate company specializing in RV resorts, marinas, and manufactured housing communities. Directly comparable to Safe Harbor's RV resort and marina development focus, particularly given Safe Harbor's affiliation with Sun Life Marinas.
• RIDA Development Corporation: Hospitality-focused real estate developer with a portfolio of branded hotels and resort developments. Directly comparable to Safe Harbor as a similarly sized, brand-partner-driven development firm executing comparable hospitality projects.
• The NRP Group: Vertically integrated real estate developer of multifamily, mixed-use, and affordable housing across the US. Comparable as a similarly structured, vertically integrated development firm with comparable headcount and project scale.

Broad incumbents

• Brookfield Properties: Global commercial real estate developer and operator with significant hospitality, mixed-use, and retail portfolios. Operates broadly in adjacent real estate categories that Safe Harbor serves, though at vastly greater scale and capital base.
• Equity Lifestyle Properties: REIT specializing in RV resorts, marinas, and manufactured housing communities. Comparable to Safe Harbor's RV resort and marina development segments through affiliated Sun Life Marinas, though at materially larger scale.
• Pebblebrook Hotel Trust: Largest hotel-focused REIT in the US, owning and operating resort and urban hotels. Relevant as a hospitality real estate acquirer/developer operating at significantly greater scale than Safe Harbor.
• Hersha Hospitality Trust: Hotel-focused REIT with boutique and lifestyle hotel portfolio. Comparable in its focus on upper-upscale hospitality real estate development and ownership, though at much larger scale and broader geographic reach.

Regional players

• Ryman Hospitality Properties: Nashville-based hospitality REIT focused on large-group, destination-oriented assets including the Gaylord Hotels brand. Operates in the same geographic market as Safe Harbor's Nashville projects and shares hospitality real estate development expertise.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/safe-harbor-development
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

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 Safe Harbor Development