Rebuilt Tennessee Marina Reopens

When the 2023 tornado season slammed through the Southeast United States, it left Tennessee’s Anchor High Marina heavily damaged. Located just outside Nashville on Old Hickory Lake, an impoundment of the Cumberland River, Anchor High Marina has been a local landmark since 1965. The marina has maintained a working relationship with Marina Development, Inc. (MDI) for the past 12 years, so marina owners called the construction company to help with the rebuild. It was December 13 on the night of the devastation, and Anchor High Marina co-owner Justin Miller was on the phone with MDI. “They were there within 48 hours,” Miller said. “They helped assess the damage and came back and walked through during the insurance visit. It was determined that the marina was a total loss.”

Demolition began in March 2024, and installation started the following month. The project followed a nine-month timeline and was completed in December 2024. The revamped Anchor High Marina includes 125 covered slips, two access gangways and two long floating walkways. “The storm totaled all four of the floating docks while the courtesy dock, fuel dock and restaurant dock were unharmed,” said Mick Webber, owner of MDI. “They kept the same footprint but with a small variance on the layout.”

In addition to replacing the lost floating docks, the marina also installed a 260-foot wave attenuator to calm the wind-driven wake off Old Hickory Lake as well as turbulence from boat traffic at the nearby public launch. Fate would have it that on the Friday of the marina’s soft opening, it sustained 80 mph winds, testing the new attenuator’s effectiveness.

The marina’s long-standing reputation in the area has fostered a loyal client base, 98% of whom returned after the storm. “Today they are at full capacity,” said Scott Mauldin, president of MDI. “That shows you the strength of their marina. Their customers stuck through with them.”

Looking ahead, Anchor High Marina is seeking approval for a 40-slip expansion project with the help of MDI. The marina also offers dry storage, laundry facilities, fuel and a ship’s store. It also shares the cove with the Rockland Recreational Park and The Rudder restaurant, providing a hub of activity for Cumberland River boaters.