Dart's 30-year history in the Cayman Islands is a continuation of a story that started in 1937 with a small family business in the American Midwest. Over the next 50 years that small business grew into a global industry leader. Building on generations of entrepreneurial success, Ken Dart's investments now extend around the world.
1930s
Dart family background
Dart is a family company with its roots in engineering and manufacturing. The story began in Mason, Michigan, where Ken Dart’s grandfather, William F. Dart, set up a small machine shop producing identification tags for the armed services.
1950s–1960s
Dart Container Corporation
In the 1950s, the company began to experiment with expandable polystyrene. Led by Ken’s father, William A. Dart, Dart Container Corporation became one of the 20th century’s great success stories. The innovative design of a new polystyrene foam cup that could retain heat and was cost-effective to produce coincided with the birth of the fast food industry which created unprecedented market demand for disposable food containers. Over the past 60 years, Dart Container products have become a staple in the food service industry. The company continues to innovate, exploring new technologies and scientific solutions that could improve the product. Brothers Ken and Bob Dart are the third generation of the Dart family.
1986
Ken Dart joins Dart Container
After graduating from college, Ken joined the family business as Vice President of Engineering.
1980s
Ken Dart first visits Grand Cayman
A frequent traveller, Ken Dart immediately recognised the Cayman Islands as a place of natural beauty and as an international financial centre conducive to his business and investment activities.
1994
Purchase of West Indian Club
The West Indian Club boasts spectacular gardens that reflect Ken Dart's passion for trees and horticulture.
1994
Mark VanDevelde joins Dart
Dart’s first Cayman-based employee, Mark was initially hired to set up the family office. Today he is the group’s CEO.
1995
Coral Caymanian
The purchase of this Seven Mile Beach hotel and its accompanying 236 acres formed the basis for what would become Camana Bay.
1996
Dart Nursery
Established long before any building began, the Nursery’s 26 acres was once the largest collection of tropical plants in the Caribbean. The use of native and indigenous plants grown at the Nursery has become a signature of Dart projects.
1996-2005
Planning a new town
Camana Bay was almost 10 years in the planning. It involved an environmental impact assessment, coastal engineering for canals, traffic studies and multiple planning applications. Led by Jim Lammers, Dart Realty’s Managing Director for eight years, the masterplan team included internationally acclaimed architects Moore Ruble Yudell and landscape architects Olin.
2001
Scholars Park
The Growing Communities partnership with Government created a community park in each district of Grand Cayman, starting with Scholars Park in West Bay.
2003
Leadership growth
Cameron Graham joined Dart Realty as
VP Construction and Jackie Doak as VP Leasing.
2004
Hurricane Ivan
Following catastrophic damage caused by the Category 4 storm, the Dart Foundation funded numerous initiatives including a $1m donation to the National Recovery Fund.
2004
Island Companies
Dart's first venture into retail was following an investment in Island Companies, a well-established local business with a number of premium brand jewellery and watch stores in George Town.
2005
Dart Family Park
In addition to beautiful landscaping and children’s play areas found in all district parks, the George Town park has an amphitheatre by the sea and is home to the National Trust’s Visitor Centre.
2005
Camana Bay breaks ground
Unlike most real estate developments, Camana Bay broke the mold by building its Town Centre ahead of its residential neighbourhoods.
2005
Regatta Office Park
Originally called SafeHaven, these six office buildings were purchased and renovated post-Ivan as Cayman’s first business park.
2005
George Town renovations
Two buildings on the waterfront were given a major facelift and reopened as the Flagship Building and Island Plaza.
2006
Keeping pace
Dart's expanding portfolio was matched by a growing workforce as the employee count reached 100, many of whom are still with the company today.
2006
Cayman International School
Cayman International School moved into its new campus at Camana Bay, becoming the cornerstone of the new community. Catering to students ages 2 to 18, CIS follows the U.S. curriculum and offers the International Baccalaureate programme at high school.
2006
Blackbeard's and Cayman Distributors Group
Active Capital, Dart's portfolio of retail businesses, expanded to include Blackbeard's liquor stores and Cayman Distributors beverage wholesalers.
2007
Camana Bay Opens
Anchor office tenants were accounting firm EY and Cayman National Bank, with the bookstore, cinema and Abacus restaurant opening shortly afterwards.
2008
Decco
Decco was formed to manage construction and design for Dart projects in Cayman and overseas, led by Cameron Graham.
2010
Governor's Award
Camana Bay’s Town Centre was recognised for innovation and sustainability in the first annual Governor’s Award for Design and Construction Excellence.
2011
Expanding portfolio
Dart acquired a significant real estate portfolio which included the former Courtyard Marriott Hotel, which had been closed since 2008, and the Cayman Islands Yacht Club.
2011
For Cayman Investment Alliance
Dart signed an economic stimulus package with Government that included investment in infrastructure and community programmes and redirecting West Bay Road to redevelop the old Courtyard Marriott. Also known as the National Roads Authority (NRA) Agreement, three subsequent amendments reshaped the deal and committed Dart to an additional $400 million in future investment in the Cayman Islands.
2012
Minds Inspired
Dart’s first scholarship programme was launched for high school students with a focus on STEM subjects. It later expanded to add university scholarships, summer work experience placements and enrichment activities in Cayman and overseas.
2012
Dart Auditorium at the National Gallery
Long-time supporters of the National Gallery of the Cayman Islands, the Dart family donated funds for a state-of-the-art lecture room to support education in the arts.
2012
Catboat Club restored
Dart contributed funding and technical expertise to help rebuild one of Cayman’s most important heritage institutions.
2013
Active Investments
Alasdair Foster joins Dart as Vice President of Active Investments to manage a portfolio of businesses operating in a number of industries including retail and hospitality.
2013
West Bay highway extension
As part of the NRA Agreement, Dart completed the extension of Esterley-Tibbetts Highway, expanding the road from two lanes to four from Batabano in West Bay to Camana Bay.
2013
Plans for a new hotel
Recognising the limitations imposed by an existing structure, Dart decided to demolish the former Courtyard Marriott Hotel and began designs afresh for a new resort that would become Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa.
2014
North Sound Golf Club
Dart invested in Dragon Bay lands which included Cayman’s only 18-hole golf course, the North Sound Golf Club.
2015
CAIS and Legends Tennis
In partnership with KPMG, Dart launched the Cayman Alternative Investment Summit (CAIS), inviting headline speakers such as George Bush and Tony Blair. In conjunction with the conference, Dart hosts the annual Legends tennis event, featuring former World #1 Champions and Tennis Hall of Famers.
2016
Former Hyatt properties acquired
Once a Grand Cayman landmark, the former Hyatt Regency had never fully reopened since Hurricane Ivan. The property, including the Britannia Golf Course and the Grand Cayman Beach Suites, now forms the northern boundary of Camana Bay.
2016
Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa
Cayman’s first new hotel in a decade and Kimpton’s first outside of the U.S. opened with a sunset worthy of its name. The AAA Five Diamond resort’s pool, spa and restaurants are also available to owners of The Residences at Seafire.
February 2017
Cayman HospiceCare
Dart donated land for Cayman’s first dedicated hospice facility. The new building was funded in part by Dart employee Derek Haines who raised over $1.4 million by running six marathons in one year.
May 2017
Cayman's first underpass
The Esterley-Tibbetts Highway expansion continues with the opening of an underpass through Camana Bay. Over it is a pathway, known as the Rise, which allows pedestrians to walk from the Town Centre towards the beach without having to cross the highway.
October 2017
The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman
Dart Real Estate expands its tourism portfolio with the acquisition of The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman, the island’s premier luxury resort for more than a decade.
November 2017
Camana Bay’s 10th anniversary
A decade after opening, the town is home to 40 shops and restaurants and a business community of more than 2,000 people. Camana Bay continues to grow, with plans for future office space and a school expansion underway.
