The dream for Dragon Bay, the ultimate in residential island living in the Cayman Islands, began with an 11-month international sailing expedition by developer Michael Ryan. When searching for the perfect fusion of water and land for the residential resort community on Grand Cayman, Mike turned to the shores of Portofino, the Greek Isles, Thailand, Cambodia, and Singapore for inspiration. There, among the changing tides of these distinguished global ports, Mike sought the ingredient that would transform Dragon Bay into a world-renowned residential water-based community.
Anchored by The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman, Dragon Bay encompasses 360-acres of Caribbean island land. Stretching across from the North Sound to Seven Mile Beach, Dragon Bay provides an oasis of leisure unparalleled in these tropical islands. And, inspired by the captivating surroundings of Cayman, Mike and his team imagined a place where everyone was connected back to the water.
Mike repeatedly took his team with him on expeditions so they could directly experience the influences of the project. One example led to the birth of The DeckHouses, when, seeking inspiration, the team responsible for bringing this tropical wonder to life embarked on a 12-country, 32-property, six-day tour, exploring the very best of resort living. It was then that the true potential of Grand Cayman’s uncompromising elements was discovered. For them, everything came back to the water, and uniting residents and visitors with the peace and serenity of this remarkable natural resource. “The most amazing thing about Cayman is the water, and I wanted to bring everyone into contact with it,” explains Mike. But inspiration didn’t start and stop with the sparkling seas flowing around Grand Cayman.
The team of experts responsible for creating this Caribbean refuge turned to the traditions of British Colonial explorers for further guidance. Following in the practice of the British, who traveled the tropical girdle of the globe building seaside communities in the Mediterranean, Indies, South East Asia, the Pacific, and the Caribbean, the development team found extreme potential in evoking that same genuine feeling at Dragon Bay. The architectural and design elements seen throughout this immense development draw from those same colonial techniques used hundreds of years before, but updated to suit the modern travelers visiting Cayman today. It was important to the developers to stay true to the existing characteristics of British origin on Cayman rather than designing a layout that just wouldn’t fit. “For things to really work long-term, [the buildings] really need to seem like they belong in the place that they are in. You can’t force it,” explains Mike. What resulted is an extraordinary mix of high-end homes, residential buildings, and five-star resort facilities that complement the ambiance of Grand Cayman.
Currently, Dragon Bay is the only development in the Caribbean that stretches from sea to sea. The North Sound and Seven Mile Beach frame this world-class community, and everything that lies in between is a virtual playground of outstanding amenities, including a marina, beach club, private movie theater, Greg Norman’s Blue Tip golf course, Nick Bollettieri tennis courts, Michelin-rated restaurant by Chef Eric Ripert, Silver Rain La Prairie Spa, shops, galleries, and, of course, the award-winning Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman. Not to mention the countless real estate options including The Residences at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman, the DeckHouses, and Secret Harbour.
