Thirty-five miles southeast of Nassau, where the Exuma chain begins, lies an island known for generations mostly to those who arrived by sea. Highbourne, a 500-plus-acre private cay long favored among seasoned yachtsmen, is entering its next chapter introducing a limited collection of private residences and estate parcels, now available for purchase. The collection is deliberately small. Nine planned villas and 10 estate lots will be dispersed across a remarkably biodiverse landscape so that the land, rather than the architecture, remains the defining presence. The vision is for a community shaped by a shared attachment to the land and the sea around it. Work begins this fall and will include a new Beach Club, with a pool bar, racquet courts and an indoor-outdoor fitness center, alongside a $20 million marina redevelopment with floating docks built for larger vessels and upgraded shore power. A limited number of slips are now available for purchase exclusively by Highbourne owners. There are also renovations to the restaurant and general store, a new welcome center and island-wide improvements to follow. As this next chapter takes shape, Highbourne will remain open to day visitors and overnight guests.
“Highbourne holds a special place in my heart. For years, it has been a place my family returns to disconnect and spend time together,” said Mark Holowesko, Highbourne co-owner and CEO of Holowesko Partners. “As we look to Highbourne’s next chapter, our priority is to protect what has always made this island so special: its natural beauty and sense of place that families like ours have treasured for generations.”
The team behind it was chosen for its restraint: architecture by Olson Kundig, interiors by Studio Valle de Valle and landscape design by Raymond Jungles, Inc. The buildings are designed to engage the terrain, frame ocean views and capture prevailing breezes, while the interiors will take their cues from the textures of island life. Landscape planting will draw entirely from native species, chosen to strengthen the ecosystem rather than alter it.
Conservation on the island will continue to be led by Bahamian naturalist Elijah Sands, who has documented more than 300 species of plants and wildlife across Highbourne and its surrounding waters. His work spans the island’s diverse ecosystems from coral reefs and seagrass meadows, to mangrove forests, coastal scrubland and globally rare living stromatolites. His ongoing work to remove invasive species and protect native habitats across the island is central to Highbourne’s approach to conservation.
The nine planned four-bedroom villas, starting at $18 million, will occupy approximately two to three acres each. Floor-to-ceiling windows, private terraces and open-air showers will dissolve the line between inside and out; interiors will pair sun-washed woods, textured stone and natural fibers. Delivered fully furnished and managed by Highbourne, they will offer the privacy of a secluded island home with turnkey ease.
The 10 estate lots, starting at $12 million, span approximately 10 to 20 acres, a scale rarely found anywhere in the Caribbean, each with direct access to roughly 430 feet of untouched beach frontage. Owners build on their own terms and timeline, with no requirement to develop following purchase; for those who do, Highbourne offers optional construction management.
Upon completion, all villas and select estates will be eligible for Highbourne’s rental program, with property management and guest services handled on island. To learn more about residential and leisure opportunities, visit: www.highbourne-property.com.
