It all began nearly 20 years ago…
When we purchased The Salinas in the early 2000’s, we had no idea what we were getting into. We knew that we were acquiring responsibility for a 10,000 acre natural marvel. We saw that nature was begging for someone to advance its reclamation of an abandoned Diamond Crystal Salt plant — a wetlands habitat in dire need of intervention. But no one could have foretold what The Salinas would become.
After closing title on the property in 2019—15 years after purchase—going big was the only option. We set out to rewrite the history of development in The Bahamas by bridging the divide between nonprofit and for-profit worlds with a first of its kind regenerative development project.
The Salinas is two world-class destinations in one. For travellers seeking respite from the bustle of daily life, it is a secluded oceanfront oasis that offers a personal slice of Eden. For outdoor enthusiasts and environmental stewards who are passionate about positively impacting our world, it is a wildlife refuge brimming with native species and begging for exploration.
We are redefining the story of Caribbean tourism, and we are so excited to welcome you on our journey.
A true Bahamian
experience like no other
Long Island is located southeast of Nassau, about 815 kilometres off the
coast of Florida. Unlike most places in The Bahamas and throughout the Caribbean, Long Island has seen little development over the years, with a significant portion of prime beachfront located on our property. Remote in nature, the island is brimming with natural beauty. Beaches with sugary white sand and neon turquoise waters remain a secret amongst in-the-know travelers and boaters. ..Front doors remain opened, faces are remembered from years ago, and keys for the rental car are left on the dashboard. Spend a week in Long Island and you will leave with friends for life.
Long Island is set to welcome its first international airport with the redevelopment of Deadman’s Cay Airport, which is located 25 minutes from The Salinas.
History of
The Salt Works
In the 1960’s, Diamond Crystal Salt company acquired ownership of 25,000 acres of coastal wetlands for a sweeping solar sea salt operation. In an immense feat of engineering, The Salinas intertidal lagoons were completely reconfigured into a series of berms and levees to create hypersaline conditions for salt harvesting. Diamond Crystal became the leading employer in Long Island, where the local economy demonstrated stable growth.
In 1982, after several years of diminishing salt yields in Long Island, an oil rig accidentally drilled into Diamond Crystal’s primary salt mine in Louisiana and the company filed for bankruptcy. Diamond Crystal closed its salt operation in Long Island, leaving countless Long Islanders unemployed. In the mid-1980’s, a fish farming company purchased the abandoned salt works site, but failed to secure financing and soon closed its operation. Since then, 25,000 acres of wetlands have sat untouched, in dire need of restoration, and the prime oceanfront property has offered none of the countless employment opportunities typically associated with a property of its scale.
About The Michael
Young Family Foundation
The Michael Young Family Foundation is a Toronto-based charitable organization whose primary purpose is to enrich our world with better ways of living. Since its inception, The Michael Young Family Foundation has championed organizations and projects that improve the places we live by preserving open spaces, revitalizing historic centers, and advancing conservation initiatives. Over the past several decades, the foundation has partnered with the Nature Conservancy of Canada, Evergreen Brickworks, the Art Gallery of Ontario, and more to both fund as well as strategically advance special projects in their early stages.
