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Shelter Bay / Sherman History

Shelter Bay Marina is located on the site of Fort Sherman, a former US military base. In 1999 the United States Army turned over base to the Panamanian government. An opportunity for development and expansion of maritime facilities became available, and Shelter Bay Marina was made a reality.

Fort Sherman was constructed in 1910 to provide robust defensive batteries for protecting the Gatun Locks of the Panama Canal. In 1917, a small, well protected bay, was dredged to accommodate mine layers and the ferry that operated between the fort and the then bustling city of Colon. Later, after the Second World War, the mission was changed to provide jungle training for the US military services. While you might wonder if a military base is the best way to protect this natural environment, in this case it was the jungle environment that was most important for providing the required training. As a result Fort Sherman and the nearby Chagres River remain untouched and provide some of the best canopy jungle and wildlife tourism in Panama.