P H A S E I
Ground Breaking
THE FIRST PHASE WILL COMMENCE within 12 months of the approval of our application for a government permit to build under the Hotel Encouragement Act. During these first 12 months we intend to purchase locally and import equipment necessary to commence the project.
During Phase I of the development, Vital Cays Eco Resort will contract a surveyor to conduct a detailed topographical survey of the islands and surrounding waters. Following the survey results, Vital Cays Eco Resort will commence with cultivating single track exploratory trails of all the Cays with special consideration of the environment and to the proposed resort site location.
Because of our concern for the effects to the environment, we propose to start the project by doing thorough assessments of the land and water ecological assets and topography. As we explore the islands, more in-depth studies of the property and additional opportunities may include:
Assessing flora and fauna to identify plants, birds and other species on the island and determine if any are endemic or endangered species and shoreline bird nesting site.
Assessing invasive species on the islands and developing solutions to mitigate the issue.
Assessing shorelines for any sign of erosion or degradation and the need for shoreline restoration.
Identifying any turtle nesting sites.
Identifying coastal or inland wetland systems or creeks.
Exploring partnership opportunities with The Nature Conservancy, Agricultural and Marine Science Institute at the University of the Bahamas and the Florida Atlantic University.
Identifying location for a small sustainable farming operation.
Infrastructure and Construction in Phase I will be separated into two stages with both projected to complete within 3 years from the project commencement. This approach will provide the greatest extent of support to the long-term success of the resort and to the subsequent Phase II resort expansion efforts.
Stage I: Infrastructure
Dock that can accommodate a 60’ vessel and a ramp for loading and unloading
Electrical solar power plant
Drinking water treatment
Fire suppression storage
Service roads
Hiking and exploratory trails
Biking trails
Foot bridges
Stage II: Resort Construction
5 Large luxury suites
Dining facilities
Great room/Activities room
Pools and Cabanas
Equipment Storage
Beach Club
Trail System Completion
Applied Trails Research (ATR) was contracted by Vital Cays to develop a trail system plan on Lignum Vitae Cay. Trails on the island were designed after extensive scouting of the terrain and engagement with Vital Cays representatives to develop a common set of short-term and long-term goals for trails on Lignum Vitae Cay, including:
Providing improved access around the island for Vital Cays representatives to more easily scout for development options;
Developing a trail-based recreation system for resort visitors to explore the island’s natural resources and attractions; and
Connecting the resort, beaches, and other attractions in an efficient manner for ease in transportation.
Cays Assessed
Lignum Vitae Cay
Lignum Vitae is a 121-acre island that is approximately a quarter-mile wide and 1.3 miles in length oriented roughly North-South along its long axis. Rocky substrates host a dense and mature tropical forest punctuated with 80’ of elevation. The elevation and steep slopes at water’s edge offers commanding views of the surrounding waters and islands. At the southern end of the island the rocky terrain subsides to meet the sea with a healthy margin of mangroves filling most of the area between Lignum Vitae and Cistern Cays. Off the shoreline and under forest canopy, the understory tends to be thinner and more easily navigable on the higher elevation south half of the island with increased vegetation, briers and vines on the northern end. Additional attractions on the island include ruins of stone walls that likely date back to the slave trade era, a sandy beach on the west side of the island and rocky beaches to the south.
Bullock Harbour Cay
Access to this 224-acre island is limited by tides with shallow waters to the east. On the west side, access is limited to several discrete locations due to the extensive mangroves on this shoreline. The terrain is less pronounced than Lignum Vitae, with elevations up to approximately 40 feet. This island is approximately 2.5 miles in length and ranges in width up to 0.25 miles. Several rock walls were noted in scouting that look to extend East-West across the island.
Cistern Cay
Cistern Cay is the largest island at around 280 land acres, with some varied topography up to about 60 feet in elevation. Cistern Cay is approximately 1.6 miles in length and is wider than the other two islands with widths up to almost 0.5 miles.
Mangrove Channels
The extensive mangroves between all three islands provide unique opportunities for recreation and immersion in these land/sea scapes. A significant mangrove straddles the creek between the southern end of Lignum Vitae Cay and the northern end of Cistern Cay. The creek flows quite strongly with the tides and provides access for small water craft.
Additional extensive mangrove flanks the shores between Cistern and Bullocks Harbour Cays and contains multiple routes and dead ends for potential exploration and recreation via small water craft (paddle board, kayak, etc.).
Trail Future Recommendations
The design provides an approximately three-mile loop around the island, accessing most of the attractions noted above. A half-mile of additional trails provide spurs to access the northern extreme of the island and a crossover trail near the high points of the island to connect the west and east shorelines more directly.
Minimal corridor clearing along the flagged trail alignments was completed during the first phase of trail development, which provides expedited access and exploration at a minimal cost for development. Utilizing local labor with hand tools, small electric cutters and saws to open a corridor that is roughly 5-6 feet wide and 8-9 feet tall had minimal impact to the island’s vegetation and soils.
Following successful planning and design of the resort on Lignum Vitae Cay, Applied Trails Research recommends revisiting the design and specification of the trail system to address small changes in alignment or alternative specification to best suit operations and equipment to be used on the trails. These changes should seek to keep the circuitry (i.e. perimeter loop with access spurs and mid island crossover) intact while adapting to final locations of attractions, lodging, facilities and supporting infrastructure.
Vital Cays will revisit trail design upon a master plan that is in development
The open understory beneath a mature forest canopy on the southern portion of Lignnum Vitae Cay allows for low-impact construction
Lignum Vitae Trail System
Specifications
Exploration Trails - Natural Surface
Intended purpose: Island exploration trails, provide relaxing/adventurous hike, run or nature immersion. A consistently undulating and meandering alignment creates natural shapes and manages water off the trail
Trail tread material: native soil and rock
Trail corridor width: 48-60”
Trail corridor height: 84-96”
Tread width: 24-36”
Tread roughness: 2-6” protrusions, with steps integrated into stone substrate
Average grade: 3-5% with some sections up to 20% where stone substrate or steps are used
Transportation Trails - Gravel Surface
Intended purpose: Primary access routes with potential for use by electric carts for staff and guests. Less undulation and meander in the alignment provides efficiency, safety, and a more manicured experience
Trail tread material: crushed aggregate, limestone or locally crushed marl
Trail corridor width: 84-96”
Trail corridor height: 96-120”
Tread width: 60-84”
Tread roughness: smooth with no protrusions
Average grades: less than 3-5% with subtle grade reversals and meanders integrated
