The Tribune

A 500-acre private island in the Exumas, co-owned by Mark Holowesko, is introducing 19 new estate lots and villas alongside a $20m marina redevelopment, new Beach Club and sporting and other amenities.

Highbourne Cay and its owners, in a release yesterday, said they will be making significant investment in the marina, cottages, restaurant, beach club, general store and island infrastructure starting in fall 2026

They added that the planned upgrades are intentionally limited in scale, with a focus on conservation and preserving the island for boaters and guests who have long been part of its community. 

Sales are now underway for the limited collection of 19 villas and estate lots, which will be dispersed across the island so that the land, rather than the architecture, remains the defining presence.

Highbourne Cay said the work that will begin this fall is set to include a new Beach Club, with a pool bar, racquet courts and an indoor/outdoor fitness centre, alongside the $20m marina redevelopment. Floating docks will be built for larger vessels along with upgraded shore power.

It added that a limited number of slips are now available for purchase exclusively by Highbourne owners. There will also be renovations to the restaurant and general store, a new welcome centre and island-wide improvements to follow. As the work proceeds, Highbourne Cay will remain open to day visitors and overnight guests. 

“Highbourne holds a special place in my heart. For years, it has been a place my family returns to disconnect and spend time together,” said Mr Holowesko, Highbourne co-owner and chief executive of Holowesko Partners.

“As we look to Highbourne’s next chapter, our priority is to protect what has always made this island so special: Iits natural beauty and sense of place that families like ours have treasured for generations.” 

The nine planned four-bedroom villas, starting at $18m, will occupy around two to three acres each. Delivered fully furnished and managed by Highbourne Cay, they will offer the privacy of a secluded island home with turnkey ease. 

And the ten estate lots, starting at $12m, span about 10 to 20 acres - a scale rarely found in the Caribbean, each with direct access to roughly 430 feet of untouched beach frontage. Highbourne Cay said owners can build on their own terms and timeline, with no requirement to develop following purchase.

Highbourne Cay will offer optional construction management. Upon completion, all villas and select estates will be eligible for its rental programme, with property management and guest services handled on-island.

Architecture for the project will be provided by Olson Kundig, with interiors coming from Studio Valle de Valle and landscape design by Raymond Jungles.

Highbourne Cay said the buildings are designed to engage the terrain and frame ocean views, while the interiors will take their cues from the textures of island life. Landscape planting will draw entirely from native species, chosen to strengthen the ecosystem rather than alter it. 

Conservation will continue to be led by Bahamian naturalist, Elijah Sands, who has documented more than 300 species of plants and wildlife across Highbourne Cay and its surrounding waters.

His work covers the island’s diverse ecosystems, ranging from coral reefs and seagrass meadows to mangrove forests, coastal scrubland and globally rare living stromatolites. Mr Sands’ ongoing work to remove invasive species and protect native habitats across the island is central to Highbourne Cay’s approach to conservation.