FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SARASOTA, FL – May 7, 2026 – After more than 20 years operating out of the Stickney Point “Boatyard” location near the south Siesta Key bridge, recognizable to many locals and visitors by the iconic yellow lighthouse, Siesta Key Watersports will officially transition operations to a new Sarasota location beginning May 15, 2026.

Starting May 15th, guests can find Siesta Key Watersports at:

5253 S Tamiami Trl Sarasota, FL 34231

Following Sarasota County’s approval of the acquisition of the Stickney Point Road waterfront property, Siesta Key Watersports is preparing for a significant operational transition after more than 20 years at the site.

The company says the transition involves far more than simply changing addresses or “renting another slip.” Behind the scenes, the move requires complex coordination involving federally inspected passenger vessels, Coast Guard operational requirements, bridge clearance limitations, vessel staging, transportation logistics, staffing coordination, waterfront compatibility, customer access, parking, and lawful passenger pickup operations.

“For inspected passenger vessels, this is not as simple as going out and renting a marina slip somewhere,” said Shawn Fontana of Siesta Key Watersports. “During portions of the discussion, there were comments that made relocation sound straightforward, but commercial marine operations in Sarasota County simply do not work that way. A dock slip alone does not create a lawful operating business. You need appropriate zoning compatibility, commercial permissions, navigational access, bridge clearance, dredging depth, customer pickup rights, parking logistics, Coast Guard operational compatibility, and the ability to safely load and unload passengers.

Many locations can store a vessel overnight but cannot legally function as a commercial pickup location during the day.” Fontana said there is also a painful irony surrounding the situation. “Siesta Key Watersports voluntarily participated in the original waterfront task force discussions because we genuinely wanted to help Sarasota County work through lawful commercial access, safety concerns, and operational realities on these waterways,” Fontana said.

“We believed our experience could help contribute to practical solutions for the community and for charter operators trying to operate the right way. That is why this process has been so emotional for us. We were not fighting the County. We were actively trying to help solve a problem. So to now find ourselves displaced through a process we helped contribute to feels incredibly difficult personally.

There is an undeniable irony in helping support discussions surrounding waterfront access solutions and then ultimately losing the very waterfront location your family business operated from for more than 20 years.”

Fontana said the company strongly supports preserving waterfront property and expanding public access opportunities throughout Sarasota County, but hopes future acquisitions utilizing Neighborhood Parkland Preservation (NPP) funds, should they be renewed by voters in November, include more operational collaboration and earlier conversations with the families and businesses directly affected.

“We support preserving waterfront land, protecting public access, and preventing overdevelopment. Those goals matter deeply to us too,” Fontana said. “But these places are not empty dots on a map. They are workplaces, careers, family businesses, and part of the fabric of Sarasota’s waterfront community.

“We support preservation and public access wholeheartedly,” Fontana said. “But we also hope future discussions continue focusing on the people, businesses, employees, and families already rooted in these spaces long before acquisitions are finalized.

Those voices matter too.” At some point, the community has to ask how long displaced families and small businesses will continue being treated as expendable parts of a larger ‘for the people’ approach to major public acquisitions. These decisions affect real people, employees, captains, children, and local businesses that have spent decades contributing to Sarasota’s economy and waterfront culture.”

Fontana also noted that operations like Siesta Key Watersports help provide affordable access to Sarasota’s waterways for families who may not otherwise have the opportunity. “What we do creates access to the water for families who may never be able to afford a private boat rental or a half-day fishing charter,” Fontana said. “For many kids and families, a dolphin tour may be their very first time experiencing Sarasota from the water. That matters to us. We take that responsibility seriously. Our captains and crews spend every day educating guests about local wildlife, manatee zones, seagrass protection, boating safety, and respecting these waterways.

We have always tried to operate in a way that balances tourism, education, and stewardship while introducing people to the beauty of Sarasota responsibly.”

Despite the operational challenges, the company says it is continuing to expand its long-term vision for local families and educational opportunities on the water. “We want more kids out on the water learning about marine life, conservation, navigation, weather, and maritime careers,” Fontana said. “That is a huge part of why we are so excited about what comes next.”

As part of that effort, Siesta Key Watersports has officially been approved as a provider through the Step Up For Students program, allowing eligible homeschool families throughout Florida to utilize scholarship funds through the Step Up marketplace for educational experiences with Siesta Key Watersports, including dolphin eco tours and other hands-on marine experiences.

“As a homeschool mom of four, the Step Up program has opened so many doors for families like ours,” said Heather Marchand, who oversees marketing and strategic planning for Siesta Key Watersports. “It allows kids to participate in more activities, sports, and hands-on learning opportunities. We are so incredibly excited and grateful to now be part of that program ourselves.”

The company says it plans to continue expanding educational opportunities and school group experiences focused on Sarasota’s waterways, marine wildlife, and environmental stewardship.

“How cool is it that homeschool families can now use the Step Up marketplace to directly book a dolphin eco tour with Siesta Key Watersports?” Marchand said. “There are so many kids who have never had the opportunity to get out on the water, learn about marine wildlife, see dolphins in their natural habitat, or experience Sarasota from this perspective. Now they can.”

The company says the transition remains a work in progress, and not every operational challenge has been fully solved at this time. “This new location does not currently accommodate our parasail vessels or our 49-passenger tour boat for direct customer pickup operations,” said Ben Marchand, co-owner of Siesta Key Watersports. “But we are figuring it out. We can utilize our Coast Guard-approved shuttle transfer operations and secure overnight dockage for portions of the fleet.

It creates a tremendous amount of additional work behind the scenes for our team, but we have our sleeves rolled up and everybody is determined to see this through.” Marchand said the company’s staff has been one of the brightest parts of an otherwise emotional transition. “We are unbelievably lucky to have the crew we have,” Marchand said. “I honestly do not think we could ask for a better team. These guys and girls have stayed positive, adapted, worked long hours, and continued showing up for our customers through a really stressful time for everyone.”

Marchand encourages the local community to continue supporting the business during the transition.

“Come out and say hi to our crew. Thank them. Bring your mom or wife out for a sand bar tour or sunset cruise. Be patient with us while we navigate this new chapter for our family business,” Marchand said.

“Most importantly, spread the word that we are still here and still operating. The local support means everything to us right now.” Marchand also said the company hopes to continue strengthening relationships with other Sarasota and Siesta Key businesses moving forward.

“To the local businesses on Siesta Key and throughout Sarasota, reach out and reconnect with us,” Marchand said. “It has been a long time since we were all 21 years old running around the Siesta Key Village having fun. Now we are raising kids and getting gray hair together. We want to support local businesses, local farms, flower trucks, local creators, local marketing groups, and local families. If you are local, we want to send our customers to see you too.”

“We have been doing this for a very long time,” Marchand added. “This business helped raise our families, create careers, train captains, and introduce hundreds of thousands of people to Sarasota’s waterways. We still fully intend to pass this business down to our children one day, should that be the path they choose.

We are not going anywhere. We love Sarasota. We love Siesta Key. We love what we do.

So no matter what comes next, we’ll see everybody back out on the big blue wet thing.”

Customers with existing reservations will continue to receive updates directly from the company regarding pickup instructions and operational details. For updates, bookings, and additional information, visit: Siesta Key Watersports

About Siesta Key Watersports:

Founded more than 20 years ago, Siesta Key Watersports is a locally owned and family-operated watersports company serving Sarasota County and Siesta Key visitors through parasailing, dolphin tours, sunset cruises, jet ski rentals, and sandbar excursions. Operating from Sarasota’s waterways year-round, the company focuses on safe, family-friendly access to the water while promoting marine stewardship, local tourism, and hands-on educational opportunities for guests of all ages. Siesta Key Watersports welcomes approximately 50,000 guests annually and continues expanding partnerships focused on environmental education, school group experiences, and affordable access to Sarasota’s coastal waterways.