History of the Marina

The history of Boating Lake Mead began in 1957 when Bob and Betty Gripentog dropped anchor in Las Vegas Bay with three young kids and one on the way. Bob’s thoughts were “work a little and fish a lot”. They began with a couple of trailers on the beach, no phones, and a generator for power. Being the closest marina to Las Vegas, Henderson, and Boulder City, it began to grow quickly. First came the gas dock, then a floating restaurant, next the tackle shop, and finally, with the slips, Las Vegas Boat Harbor was born.

Much has changed since then. In October 2002, silt accumulation from the nearby Las Vegas Wash forced us to move the marina 13 miles to the east. In 2007, our family purchased a piece of Lake Mead Marina and moved it three miles south and attached it to Las Vegas Boat Harbor at our current location. The next year, we purchased the rest of the marina and brought it over, as well. In buying the rest of Lake Mead Marina, we gained five hundred slips, The Boat House Bar and Grill, a second floating store, and a second dry storage.

Today, Las Vegas Boat Harbor has grown to encompass several acres, close to 1,500 slips, 300 open dry storage units, 100 enclosed dry storage units, two floating restaurants and lounges, two complete marine and tackle stores, a full-service marine repair shop, and boat and paddle craft rentals.

With the goal of fulfilling all of Southern Nevada’s boating needs, our family business opened the Marine Center of Las Vegas, a full-service marine mechanic repair service with factory-trained technicians, and Dry Dock Boat Sales – the largest new and used boat dealer in Nevada. Both stores are located in Las Vegas on Boulder Highway.

It’s been a long journey, but the Gripentog dream has been realized and expanded upon. We look forward to continuing to bring boating enjoyment to Lake Mead and throughout the southwest region.