PORT WENTWORTH, Ga. – Tuesday marked a significant milestone for Port Wentworth’s largest investment to date.

The final beam was placed atop the multi-million-dollar Ice Cove and amphitheater, which is on track for completion in less than a year.

“We’re thrilled to mark this achievement, considering this area was just wooded land two years ago,” commented Port Wentworth City Manager Steve Davis enthusiastically.

What once was a forest, located behind I-95 off Meinhard Road, has transformed dramatically.

In celebration of this progress, the City of Port Wentworth and the Savannah Ghost Pirates held a commemorative event. City officials and team members marked an “X” and buried a treasure, intended to act as a time capsule for future generations.

Beyond being a source of entertainment, the facility aims to be a strategic asset for Savannah’s professional hockey team, enhancing their ability to attract talented players.

“We’re trying to do a lot for the community but we’re also trying to win,” John Thompson, Ghost Pirates vice president, told News 3, “Compared to the other teams- I’ll say they don’t like us very much because we’re raising the bar, but I’ll say we’re raising the beam.”

It is also keeping current players happy.

“Their reaction is: ‘Can we have it open tomorrow?’” said Thompson, “Again, you don’t get this at this type of level.”

The high-profile project has not been without controversy.

It originally got pushback from some of the public after learned there was no formal vote from city council to greenlight it prior to the April 2023 announcement.

However, the city manager previously told us city council was always unanimously on board, and Tuesday said the support has been tremendous.

“Of course you’re gonna have your detractors out there, but the support way outweighs that,” said David.

The facility is anticipated to open in August 2026.