Outdoor living has always been inseparable from life in the Bahamas, but Highbourne’s newest residential offering takes that relationship a step further. The 500-acre private cay at the northern gateway to the Exumas has launched sales for just 19 residences and estate parcels, with architecture, landscapes and outdoor spaces designed to exist in harmony with one of the Caribbean’s most biodiverse environments.
Rather than allowing development to dominate the island, the vision places the landscape first, carefully positioning homes so that beaches, native vegetation, and panoramic ocean views remain the defining features.
Architecture Designed Around the Landscape
Highbourne assembled an accomplished design team to shape the island’s next chapter, selecting Olson Kundig for architecture, Studio Valle de Valle for interiors, and Raymond Jungles, Inc. for landscape architecture. Each discipline was developed simultaneously so the homes, gardens, and outdoor living spaces respond naturally to the site’s topography, prevailing breezes, and surrounding vegetation.
Landscape plans rely exclusively on native plantings intended to strengthen local ecosystems rather than replace them, creating outdoor environments that feel fully connected to the island.
Outdoor Living at the Center
The nine planned four-bedroom villas begin at $18 million and occupy approximately two to three acres each. Large terraces, expansive glazing and open-air showers create a seamless transition between indoor and outdoor spaces, while private settings allow residents to experience uninterrupted views across the surrounding waters.
For buyers seeking greater flexibility, 10 estate lots ranging from approximately 10 to 20 acres provide generous beachfront homesites with roughly 430 feet of shoreline. Owners may build on their own timeline, with optional construction management available through Highbourne.
Resort Amenities Expand
Development begins this fall with a significant enhancement of the island’s shared amenities. Plans include a new Beach Club featuring a pool bar, racquet courts and indoor-outdoor fitness center designed to encourage year-round outdoor recreation. A $20 million marina redevelopment will introduce floating docks capable of accommodating larger vessels while improving shore power and marina services for owners.
Additional improvements include renovations to the island’s restaurant and general store, a new welcome center and broader infrastructure enhancements.
Conservation Guides Every Decision
Environmental stewardship remains central to the project. Bahamian naturalist Elijah Sands continues leading conservation initiatives across the island, documenting more than 300 species of plants and wildlife while overseeing efforts to protect coral reefs, seagrass meadows, mangrove forests and other sensitive habitats.
By limiting development to only 19 ownership opportunities across more than 500 acres, Highbourne aims to preserve the qualities that have made the island a destination for generations of boaters while creating a residential community designed around the natural landscape rather than in spite of it.
For homeowners seeking privacy, expansive outdoor living and direct access to one of the Caribbean’s most celebrated cruising destinations, Highbourne offers a rare opportunity to own within an intentionally low-density island community where architecture and nature are designed to coexist.
