Wind & Sea announces Sept. 15 closure as remaining Wharf businesses prepare to vacate by Oct. 31.
For generations of Southern California boaters, a trip to Dana Point Harbor has meant more than launching a boat or heading offshore. It has meant grabbing breakfast before a fishing trip, sharing drinks after a day on the water, wandering the boardwalk with family or stopping at waterfront shops that have become as much a part of the harbor as the marina itself.
Now, another chapter in the harbor’s history is coming to a close.
Dana Point Harbor Partners announced July 15 that the Wharf will officially close to the public on Nov. 1 as the Commercial Core Revitalization moves into its fourth and final construction phase. The announcement signals the beginning of the end for many of the original harbor businesses that have called the Wharf home for decades.
“The Wharf will close to the public effective November 1, 2026, with all businesses terminating operations by October 31, 2026,” Dana Point Harbor Partners said in an email to The Log.
The first major milestone will come Sept. 15, when Wind & Sea Restaurant serves its final customers before extensive abatement and demolition begins on Building 1.
The remaining Wharf buildings, Buildings 2 through 5, will continue operating through Oct. 31 before closing as construction expands across the site.
For many longtime harbor visitors, the announcement marks another emotional turning point in the revitalization project.
Over the past several years, familiar storefronts have gradually disappeared as construction has progressed through the harbor. With Phase 4 approaching, nearly every remaining Wharf tenant will either relocate, temporarily close, retire or await an opportunity to return to the new waterfront development.
Despite the closures, Dana Point Harbor Partners emphasized that the remaining months will serve as a celebration of the businesses that helped define the harbor for generations.
“We look forward to an incredible summer ahead celebrating these original harbor businesses,” said Bryon Ward, president of Burnham-Ward Properties and partner of Dana Point Harbor Partners. “We encourage the community to show their support not only now, but into the next chapter for these businesses as well.”
Ward noted that each business faces a different path forward. Some owners are preparing for retirement after decades in the harbor, while others are relocating elsewhere in Orange County or remain in discussions to become part of the completed redevelopment.
Among the businesses still considering future opportunities are Wind & Sea, Turk’s, Art Sea Gift Chateau, Golden Galleon and Frisby Cellars & Brewing.
“Wind & Sea ownership remains in discussions with DPHP on a reimagined concept in the final project,” Dana Point Harbor Partners said. “Fellow Wharf businesses, including Art Sea Gift Chateau, Frisby Cellars, Golden Galleon, Turk’s and Wind & Sea, remain in ongoing discussions with Burnham-Ward Properties’ management and leasing teams for the final harbor project.”
One business that has already secured its next location is Coco Bloom Coffee. After operating from its temporary harbor storefront, the company will relocate to Newport Beach, where it plans to open a café this winter at 1500 W. Balboa Blvd.
Frisby Cellars & Brewing will continue serving customers from its Rancho Mission Viejo tasting room, located about nine miles from Dana Point Harbor, while construction is underway.
Top Brass and Proud Mary’s are expected to conclude operations Oct. 31 in conjunction with the Wharf closure.
Vintage Yacht Club is also considering options beyond its current waterfront location.
“Vintage Yacht Club continues to work with Burnham-Ward Properties’ management team to explore local relocation options that will align with long-term business goals,” Dana Point Harbor Partners said.
Although much of the commercial core will be under construction, many of Dana Point Harbor’s most recognizable attractions and marine services will remain accessible throughout the project.
“Access to harbor businesses located outside of The Wharf will remain uninterrupted through these formal phases of construction,” Dana Point Harbor Partners said.
Those businesses include Dana Point Yacht Club, Dana West Yacht Club, Aventura Sailing Association, Captain Dave’s Dolphin Safari, Ocean Institute, Pure Watersports and other harbor tenants outside the active construction zone.
For boaters, anglers and passengers preparing to travel from Dana Point, one of the most significant considerations will be how to reach Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching and Catalina Express after the Wharf closes.
Both companies will relocate to temporary on-site trailers adjacent to the harbor parking structure, allowing them to continue operating while their permanent facilities are built.
“There will be no interruption to the Dana Point Harbor Parking Structure, with dedicated parking available for guest excursions, including Dana Wharf and Catalina, as well as permitted boater parking,” Dana Point Harbor Partners said.
The temporary facilities are intended to keep fishing trips, whale-watching excursions and ferry departures running during the remaining construction phases.
For Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching, the move carries special meaning.
“We’re grateful to Dana Point Harbor Partners for working closely with us to maintain operations throughout every phase of construction,” said Donna Kalez, co-owner of Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching.
“It’s a full-circle moment for us. Our founder, my father Don Hansen, launched the business from a trailer in 1971 while the original harbor was under construction. After 55 years of operations, we are committed as ever to our year-round schedule of fishing, whale watching and harbor experiences, and we look forward to our much-needed and long-overdue home at the new Wharf.”
Dana Point Harbor Partners said the landside construction will not affect several essential boating facilities elsewhere in the harbor.
“The Embarcadero, launch ramp, fuel dock and bait barge will not be impacted by the Wharf landside construction,” the partnership said.
The distinction is important for recreational boaters who may see fencing, demolition activity and altered pedestrian routes near the commercial core but still need access to the harbor’s working waterfront.
The harbor’s Certified Farmers Market will also continue every Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., relocating to the surface parking lot adjacent to the parking structure.
Once construction is complete, the Wharf will retain its waterfront setting but look markedly different from the cluster of buildings familiar to generations of visitors.
“Phase 4 of the commercial core will include 20,000 square feet of reimagined waterfront structures on the Wharf, home to eight brand-new tenants and as many as four returning tenants,” Dana Point Harbor Partners said.
The buildings will be accompanied by landscaped public areas, seating and spaces designed to encourage visitors to spend more time along the waterfront.
The partnership said the new Wharf will include “thoughtfully crafted parkscapes, inviting soft-seating areas, dynamic public art and enhanced spaces for community event programming.”
Those additions are part of a broader effort to transform the commercial core from a collection of aging buildings into a more connected waterfront district with new restaurants, retail stores, gathering areas and pedestrian routes.
According to Ward, completing the commercial core represents one of the final major milestones in preparing Dana Point Harbor ahead of the 2028 Olympic Games.
“Commencement of Phase 4 is the most critical step in delivering a complete landside experience ahead of the LA28 Summer Olympics,” Ward said. “The concurrent schedules are designed to bring everything to life not only for a cohesive opening, but for an unparalleled experience that many future generations will enjoy.”
Dana Point Harbor Partners said the remaining commercial work is scheduled to finish as a coordinated project rather than opening each building separately over an extended period.
“The entire project is planned to complete concurrently, with new storefront openings scheduled ahead of the LA28 Summer Olympics,” the partnership said.
The Commercial Core Revitalization encompasses approximately 120,000 square feet of waterfront redevelopment spread across five construction phases. Once complete, it will include 12 multi-tenant buildings featuring restaurants, retail shops, expanded boardwalks, public plazas and improved pedestrian connections.
The first two phases, completed in 2025, delivered the new 984-space parking structure, upgraded utility infrastructure and an expanded Harbor Way entrance.
Meanwhile, work continues on the marina itself. The Marina at Dana Point recently began Phase 12 of its 15-phase dock replacement project and has surpassed two-thirds completion. Marina improvements remain scheduled for completion by the end of 2027.
Dana Point Harbor Partners said the new docks and related improvements are intended to address infrastructure that dates to the harbor’s original development in the late 1960s.
“Boater facilities and amenities include brand-new docks engineered for a 70-plus-year lifespan, security cameras, Wi-Fi, themed lighting, 30- and 50-amp power, individually metered utilities and new boater restrooms,” the partnership said.
The completed harbor will also include guest slips for visiting vessels.
“At project completion, brand-new guest docks for visiting boaters will also be available,” Dana Point Harbor Partners said.
Additional public docks are planned near the hotel and the Wharf, expanding access for smaller vessels such as kayaks and paddleboards. The partnership said those facilities will increase opportunities for the public to reach the water without owning or operating a larger vessel.
Changes beneath the surface are also a major component of the project.
“Improvements to overall water quality, along with infrastructure updates, including all new utilities, fire safety, electrical and ADA standards, are major benefits of revitalizing a marina originally built to late-1960s standards,” Dana Point Harbor Partners said.
In-slip pump-out systems have also been installed at slips measuring 30 feet or longer, providing boaters with a more convenient way to manage waste and helping reduce the potential for illegal or accidental discharges into harbor waters.
The landside redevelopment is expected to create additional options for boaters returning from a day offshore or visiting Dana Point from another harbor.
“The landside revitalization will provide a much more diverse offering of food and beverage experiences,” Dana Point Harbor Partners said. “Boaters may dock and dine overlooking the marina on one of many new waterfront patios, or take meals onboard.”
The Dana Point Marina Inn will remain open through the end of 2026 and is already accepting reservations for this year’s Boat Parade of Lights, scheduled for Dec. 11 through 13.
Beyond construction, dock improvements and new storefronts, the partnership said the revitalized harbor will continue supporting programs that introduce children to boating and the marine environment.
The Marina at Dana Point’s underserved youth program hosts more than 30 events and serves over 1,000 participants across Orange County. The program works with Title I schools, Indigenous tribes and nonprofit organizations including Big Brothers Big Sisters, Boys & Girls Clubs and the Sandy Feet Initiative.
“Participants may learn how to swim or sail, experience whale watching for the first time, master kayaking or stand-up paddling, and train to be good ocean stewards,” Dana Point Harbor Partners said.
For many local boaters, however, the coming months will be less about what lies ahead and more about saying goodbye to places that have become part of their own traditions.
Whether it’s one last meal at Wind & Sea, a final drink at Turk’s or another stroll through the Wharf before construction fencing goes up, the remaining months offer what may be the final opportunity to experience one of Dana Point Harbor’s most recognizable gathering places in its original form.
The buildings may change, but Dana Point Harbor Partners said the long-term goal is to preserve the harbor as a place where people continue to launch boats, board fishing trips, meet friends, introduce children to the ocean and gather along the waterfront for generations to come.
