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The Kingfisher Bay Marina has been named as the January Business of the Month by the Demopolis Area Chamber of Commerce. The marina is located at 244 Kingfisher Bay Drive.

Owner Fred Hansard said the marina began as a joint venture with Arthur and Estelle Taylor, and his wife Kim. They began digging the sand out in 2000, and in 2011 they opened the entrance to the river. The docks and marina were built inside before they opened the entrance to the river.

As time went on the hole got bigger and deeper, so entered the dredge and the dredging started. In March of 2017, dredging was completed in phase one of Kingfisher Bay Marina.

“It’s pretty unique and it’s been busy ever since. We’ve been operating for thirteen years,” said Fred Hansard.

Hansard said the marina keeps around 150 boats in the dry storage yard, and they see boats from all over the U.S. and even from some European countries. The marina has had visitors from England, Scotland, and Australia. The marina also sees around 1,200 transit boats a year traveling up and down the river.

“We see a variety of people from all over the U.S.,” said Hansard.

What makes the marina, and Demopolis as a whole, special and unique is that it has two rivers that meet – the Tombigbee River and the Black Warrior river. There is more waterway in Demopolis than any other city in Alabama.

“That’s probably the most unique part. The waterway traffic that we have is because the two rivers meet right here in Demopolis,” said Hansard. “We have the town that’s only six or eight blocks away from the river, and Demopolis is a great town. Everyone here is friendly and all the boaters love to get here.”

Hansard said it is a big honor for the marina to have been chosen as the business of the month.

“We all created this place. All of our workers, Arthur and Estelle, and Kim and I, this was a huge project for us. We watched it grow from nothing to what it is now,” said Hansard. “It’s been amazing, and then to have the Chamber recognize us as the Business of the Month? We’re proud that it means something to the people of Demopolis.”

The marina is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Then, around April, hours change to 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.