Editor’s note: This story originally ran in April 2025.
An investment group could boost the Lake Worth Beach economy by $152.6 million annually if the group is successful in building two Hyatt hotels, a tourist attraction and other projects on city-owned land, in addition to transforming the public golf course into a Jack Nicklaus course.
That’s according to an economic study done by the group, led by the Copperline Partners hotel company. Copperline, with offices in West Palm Beach and the Northeast U.S., owns the luxury Brazilian Court hotel in Palm Beach.
The proposed new projects for Lake Worth Beach will provide $59 million in wages and 973 permanent jobs once they are built, according to the report by PFM Financial Advisors in Orlando.
The City of Lake Worth Beach also will benefit to the tune of $2 million annually in new tax revenues, the report said.
More: Group wants Hyatt hotel on Lake Worth Beach land, plus golf course redone by Jack Nicklaus
More: Gulfstream Hotel finally changes hands. What’s next for this historic Lake Worth Beach property?
Investor group sent unsolicited proposal to Lake Worth Beach at start of the 2025
In January, Copperline sent an unsolicited proposal to the city proposing a public-private partnership that it said would bring new life to aged or underused properties in prime city-owned locations.
The projects, which would be built at no cost to city residents, would attract tourist dollars that could be used to make needed road repairs and address other infrastructure needs, the group said.
The projects also would boost area businesses, including restaurants, shops and service providers, the group added.
The redevelopment plan now has a name, HORIZON, which stands for “hotels, ocean access and sustainability, recreation, inclusive spaces and zest for life.” A new website and new renderings describe HORIZON in greater detail.
The website includes a section that answers questions about existing Lake Worth Beach properties. That discussion includes the fate of the historic casino building and whether the beaches and golf course will stay open to the public.
The group says nothing will happen to the casino building, and the beaches and golf course will remain public.
The redevelopment effort bills itself as a “harmonious balance” between recreation and sustainability that will elevate Lake Worth Beach into a destination for residents and visitors.
Details of the Lake Worth Beach plan include new Hyatt hotels plus Jack Nicklaus golf course
Map of proposed development of land around the Lake Worth Beach casino along the beach. Properties include a hotel, a museum, shops and restaurant spaces and a parking garage as well as a park with tennis courts and walking paths.
According to the proposal, the project would include the following:
A $105 million, 250-room Grand Hyatt oceanfront hotel on beach parking lots south of the city’s historic casino building on Ocean Boulevard.
A $95 million, 150-room Hyatt conference center hotel on the city’s municipal golf course.
The Jack Nicklaus redesigned municipal golf course, valued at $22 million.
A new, 5-acre oceanfront park with walking paths on the site of the current casino and beach parking lots.
A $50 million 1,166-space parking garage.
A public launch area for kayaks, canoes, and paddleboarders on the Intracoastal Waterway, across Ocean Boulevard from the city’s beach complex.
New buildings at the beachside complex would hold restaurants, shops, a convention center and even an unnamed “marine-related” tourist attraction.
The city’s shuttered municipal swimming pool at the beach would disappear, and a new pool and recreation center would be built at the city’s Northwest Park, next to the Dave Manzo Fields, on 22nd Avenue North.
The city’s municipal pool at the casino and beach complex has been closed since at least 2016. And the golf course is in need of repair to offset partial flooding caused by the rise in sea levels.
In addition to Copperline, other partners in the proposed venture include Nicklaus’ new design company, 1JN; Hyatt Hotels Worldwide; Fortress Investments of New York; and Stiles Construction of Fort Lauderdale.
In a prepared statement, Nicklaus said he was “honored” to be part of the group and he stressed his longtime roots in Palm Beach County, which he said his family has called home for nearly 60 years.
Nicklaus added: ”Our goal with the redesign of Lake Worth Beach Golf Club is to create a world-class golf experience that’s accessible to everyone — residents, visitors, and future generations alike.”
Lake Worth Beach weighs how to proceed with plans for its land
Close-up rendering of proposed new development along the city of Lake Worth Beach waterfront south of the existing historic casino building.
Since January, the city has been studying how to handle the unsolicited public-private proposal.
It held a workshop in March to go over the process. The City Commission was expected to discuss how to handle unsolicited proposals at a meeting in May.
This proposed public-private partnership would keep the land under city ownership, but the development partners would hold various land leases with the city.
Lake Worth Beach Mayor Betty Resch has said the public’s input will have “a major role” in the city’s consideration of the proposal.
Backers of HORIZON are eager to see city officials advance their plan.
They even commissioned the economic report to demonstrate what they said will be a benefit to the city if they are allowed to revamp city-owned properties into tourism and business destinations.
In addition to a boost from the permanent facilities, the projects’ construction will generate $481.7 million in economic “output,” and create 1,857 jobs, the report said.
Proposal not first time developers have eyed Lake Worth Beach property
Aerial rendering of the proposed new Hyatt hotel and other buildings next to the Lake Worth Beach casino complex.
The HORIZON proposal isn’t the first proposal for redoing land at or around the Lake Worth Beach casino and pool complex.
But historically, city residents have not been fans of real estate development, and prior attempts to build on city-owned land have been shot down.
Times could be changing, however.
With the COVID pandemic migration to Palm Beach County, billions of dollars have poured into the area from investors eager to own or build new residences, restaurants, shops, hotels and more.
West Palm Beach is out of large blocks of land, and investment groups with big money are looking south to Lake Worth Beach for new development possibilities.
In addition, many Lake Worth Beach residents are looking forward to at least some revitalization of the downtown with the renovation of the historic Gulfstream Hotel, which could reopen this year.
The 1925 property is at 1 Lake Ave., across from the Intracoastal Waterway and Bryant Park.
Alexandra Clough is a business writer at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach her at aclough@pbpost.com. X: @acloughpbp. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Nicklaus golf course, Hyatt hotels in Lake Worth may boost economy