Officials announced that a new operator has been officially selected, allowing North Point Marina in Winthrop Harbor to reopen after state officials were left scrambling when the prior operator ended its contract.
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) announced on Wednesday that a new contract had been secured for North Point Marina, which is the largest marina on the Great Lakes.
The IDNR says the marina will open for the 2026 season under the management of SkipperBud’s, a longtime business at the marina.
The change comes after it was learned in November that the marina was without a management contract, putting the 2026 season in jeopardy.
Illinois State Rep. Joyce Mason (D-Gurnee) said she immediately began working at that time with state and local leaders to find a solution to keep the marina open.
“As soon as we found out the marina may close for a year, everyone jumped in to keep that from happening. Not only would the marina’s closure hurt my district’s economy, but it would deprive so many of their cherished summer traditions,” Mason said.
“I want to thank the IDNR, the Governor’s Office, the Winthrop Harbor Marina community, and everyone who has expressed their support for the marina. Your commitment to ensuring the North Point Marina will open for the 2026 season means so much to me and my district,” Mason said.
The North Point Marina is home to 1,500 boat slips, sandy beaches, scenic hiking trails and beloved lakeside restaurants.
The closure of the marina would have resulted in hundreds of job losses, significant impacts on Winthrop Harbor’s boating and fishing industry and a decline in northeast Illinois tourism.
North Point Marina and the adjacent Illinois Beach State Park lands are owned, managed and regulated by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR).
The areas lie within the geographical boundaries of the Village of Winthrop Harbor but the village does not operate, oversee or direct the day-to-day or long-term functions of the marina or the state-controlled lands.
All operational decisions, including maintenance, capital improvements, concessions, leasing, programming and staffing, fall under IDNR’s authority or its operators.
IDNR told Lake and McHenry County Scanner in a statement in mid-December that Suntext requested termination of their contract at North Point Marina, citing poor financial performance.
All rental agreements under that contract had been terminated and marina assets were winterized.
IDNR and Suntext had been in talks months prior about re-negotiating Suntex’s contract.
IDNR was supposed to send out a new request for proposal to get new bids from any interested companies, including Suntex.
“But because of some turnover at the agency, the RFP was never issued. Suntex has decided they are no longer interested in continuing to run the marina, so they are winterizing the marina and they will be done,” Mason said previously.
“Suntex’s financial inability to operate North Point Marina is obviously not the outcome the department had hoped for. We understand the value the marina brings to the region and the reasons why customers, residents, local businesses and others are concerned,” IDNR said in December.
The village said they were appreciative of Mason and Illinois State Senator Mary Edly-Allen, as well as the governor’s office, for their efforts to obtain answers and work toward solutions.
“Their engagement has ensured that concerns surrounding the marina are being elevated and addressed at the highest levels of state government,” the village said.
North Point Marina is a “critical economic engine” and an “essential part” of the village’s identity.
Antioch-based SkipperBud’s was chosen through a sole-source procurement process and recently had to go through a public hearing before the contract was officially finalized.
“As the weather is starting to warm up, I hope this news brings joy and excitement to my community as we look forward to fun, summer days by the lake. I am excited to see everyone at the marina this summer!” Mason said.