A Lifelong Passion for Marinas
From a young age, Tony Sloan’s life was intertwined with the water, beginning with his work as a teenager at Grider Hill, the marina his parents, Bruce and Lola Gay (Ross) Sloan, had earlier established on Lake Cumberland in Kentucky. This youthful experience shaped a lifelong passion that led him to become a key figure in the marina industry in both Kentucky and Tennessee.
Tony was not just a businessman but a dedicated member of his community and a man of strong faith. A lifelong member of Albany (Kentucky) First Christian Disciples of Christ, he was deeply rooted in his Christian values and carried these principles into both his personal and professional life. Tony’s devotion to family was evident in his loving commitment to Lola Dyer Sloan (Bettye), whom he married on June 10, 1963. Together they shared nearly six decades, parting only with his death on April 1, 2025, at the age of 88.
In 1974 Tony bought Conley Bottom Marina, which he sold in 2018 after developing it into one of the largest marinas on Lake Cumberland. In 2007, after more than 60 years in the marina business, Tony and his family made the decision to sell Grider Hill. Yet, Tony’s love for the water and the marina life didn’t end there.
In 1993, he and Bettye partnered with Tom and Angela Allen to purchase Sunset Dock on Dale Hollow Lake in Byrdstown, Tennessee. Over time, this venture has grown into what is now known as Sunset Marina and Resort, one of the most beautiful and accommodating marinas in the Southeast.
Perhaps Tony’s greatest professional legacy came with his dream for Rowena Landing South on Lake Cumberland. He had long been familiar with the Army Corps’ Master Plan for the area and foresaw the potential for a marina to be developed at Rowena.
When the need for marina relocation arose in 2007 due to the Wolf Creek Dam emergency repairs, Tony and Tom Allen seized the opportunity. What followed was a decade-long process of perseverance and determination as they navigated the arduous application and review process. Their efforts paid off on July 5, 2017, when they were awarded a 407-acre lease site for Marina @ Rowena, LLC.
When Marina @ Rowena launched in 2017, it marked the first new commercial marina development on Lake Cumberland in more than 60 years – a true testament to Tony’s vision, hard work and love for the region. Tony entrusted its management to David Dyson.
Tony’s life was shaped by his work but even more so by his relationships with the people he loved. His legacy will live on in the countless lives he touched, through both his work and his devotion to family and faith.
As we remember Tony, we honor a man whose impact on the local community and the marina industry is immeasurable. His story is one of dedication, vision and perseverance, a story that will continue to inspire for years to come.
