Construction begins on $20 million Cape Coral food truck park, marina

A combined marina and food truck entertainment complex is set to open in Cape Coral late next year.

The facility will be called Slipaway Food Truck Court & Marina and will sit on 3.1 acres at 1811 Cape Coral Parkway E. at the Cape Coral Bridge.

The owners of the project held a ceremonial groundbreaking Thursday for the project with an estimated construction cost of $20 million.

When complete, the complex will include 10 food trucks, 30 boat slips, 154 seats at a central bar, six pavilions with an additional 144 seats, 1,370 feet of pathways and boardwalks and 120 parking spots.

There also will be a fuel dock and ship store.

While the pairing of two unusual concepts under one roof — so to speak — gets much of the attention, the owners behind the project envision a complex that will be a “hotspot for festivals and events, waterside dining and entertainment.”

They believe that its proximity to the Caloosahatchee River and the large number of parking spaces will make it an attractive and easily accessible destination.

One of the owners, Gary Aubuchon, says the concept brings together the waterfront experiences residents and tourists want while “supporting our thriving food truck community.”

As for the food trucks, the online application site has already opened and Slipaway’s owners will consider both established trucks and new concepts.