Brian McCarthy plans to build a $22 million indoor boat and recreational vehicle storage facility on Butler Avenue in Sarasota, according to the Business Observer’s report

The project, called Gold Key Boathouse, would have about 350 storage spaces on a nearly 4-acre site off U.S. 301, about 3 miles north of downtown. Construction is expected to begin in early 2027 and take 10 to 12 months, the Business Observer reported.

At least 75% of the spaces would be for boats. The ground floor would include 87 recreational vehicle spaces and 60 trailer-only rack spaces. The facility would rise 65 feet, a height McCarthy said is essential to the project’s economics.

McCarthy, 81, told the Business Observer he is under contract to buy the parcels for about $3 million. He said the project’s use and height have been approved for the site, but he plans to complete the permit process after closing on the land.

McCarthy co-founded The Pickleball Club in 2019, with plans for 15 indoor centers in Florida. Two locations opened, in Lakewood Ranch and Port St. Lucie, before the company shut down in December 2024, according to the Business Observer.

McCarthy told the Business Observer that debt from land purchases and rapid expansion contributed to the pickleball venture’s failure. He said he is seeking at least $5 million in investors for Gold Key and has invested $1 million of his own money.

McCarthy served in the U.S. Navy and later earned an MBA from Harvard, according to the Business Observer. He said he developed self-storage units in California and worked on a redevelopment project at Bird Key Yacht Club in Sarasota. He said high waterfront development costs led him to pursue an inland site.

Gold Key plans to offer 24-hour access through an app that would let customers schedule boat and trailer pickup. McCarthy told the Business Observer the Sarasota site is about 10 minutes from the nearest public boat ramp, with 18 more ramps within a 45-minute drive. The facility is projected to employ about 10 people when it opens.

McCarthy said he hopes to build at least 10 Gold Key locations in Florida. A forklift for the Sarasota site is expected to cost $850,000 to $1 million, he told the Business Observer.