Here's the Scoop on That Padel Island Floating Around Miami

Among the buzzier unveilings at this year's Miami Art Week was the first-ever floating padel court. In early December, it was anchored off the coast of Fisher Island during its grand unveiling. The whole spectacle begged the question, how did this come to be, and how in the world can I access it?

For starters, it's the brainchild of Yntegra Group, a Miami-based private investment firm spearheading ultra-lux residences and resorts in Exuma, a part of the Bahamas southwest of Nassau. Upon completion, the Exuma project will include a superyacht marina and a Rosewood-branded hotel.

The floating padel court will one day be a permanent fixture of that Exuma vision. Yntegra Group CEO Felipe MacLean tells New Times the unveiling during Art Week was designed primarily for the project and brand awareness.

"People today are looking for unique, out-of-the-box experiences, and this is certainly one of them," MacLean shares. "About a year ago, we decided to take on this journey, with many saying it'd be impossible to build. Best of all, not only is it possible, but the feedback we've received is that it's stable and perfect to play on."

According to MacLean, the court cost $1 million to construct. It's made of recycled steel from old shipyard materials and is engine and battery-free. It spans approximately 16 by 38 by 71 feet and weighs 81 tons. It's currently being housed at an undisclosed shipyard off the Miami River.

As for its next destinations? Activations are planned for the floating court in February, likely in Key Biscayne, and around the Miami Grand Prix in early May. Afterward, MacLean says the padel court will begin its journey to the Bahamas, with stops on various islands before it becomes a more permanent fixture in Exuma. Yntegra Group's multi-island, 365-acre endeavor is slated to announce its architect in February and formally break ground in March.

In the meantime, if you're looking to book the floating padel court, you'll need some major luck or special access. MacLean says, "It's not for hire and not for third parties to book. It's an amenity of Yntegra Group and not open to the public."