Experience Premier Boating and Lakeside Leisure at Sun Life Marinas - Elm Hill Marina in Nashville, Tennessee
Written and verified by the Rallyvite editorial team using publicly available data and the business’s official website. Last updated: 05 Dec 2025 19:51
TL;DR: Sun Life Marinas - Elm Hill Marina Jet Skiing is One of the Best Group Outing Venues near Nashville
Sun Life Marinas - Elm Hill Marina, located just outside Nashville on the scenic Percy Priest Lake, is a premier destination for boating enthusiasts and friends looking to enjoy memorable water-based activities together. The marina offers over 800 wet slips with convenient water and electric hook-ups, catering to both short-term visitors and long-term boat owners. This extensive boat storage capacity makes it easy for friends to bring their vessels or rent one on site. The marina’s fleet includes luxurious pontoon boats ranging from 24 to 30 feet, complete with features such as swim ladders, gas grills, upper decks, and slides, providing ample space and comfort for social outings. Notably, the larger pontoon boats include bathrooms, enhancing the convenience for guests spending extended time on the lake.
Beyond boating, Elm Hill Marina features the Shipwreck Cove Restaurant, a casual lakeside dining spot offering lunch and dinner menus along with live entertainment on weekends, making it a great meetup option even after a day on the water. Additional amenities include a fuel dock, propan exchange, live bait, fishing license sales, wireless internet, and a boat launch ramp, ensuring a comprehensive experience for boating and fishing enthusiasts. The marina is well-managed by a knowledgeable and friendly team committed to exceptional service, fostering a welcoming community atmosphere perfect for friend gatherings and family outings alike.
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What people think of Sun Life Marinas - Elm Hill Marina, based on reviews
As of recent, Sun Life Marinas - Elm Hill Marina holds a 4.4-star rating based on 212 reviews.
User reviews for Sun Life Marinas - Elm Hill Marina consistently highlight the excellent boating facilities and friendly, professional staff. Many reviewers appreciate the variety of pontoon boats available for rent, noting their cleanliness, spaciousness, and amenities like grills and slides that enhance group outings. Positive feedback often mentions the convenience of the slip rentals with adequate water and power hook-ups, as well as the well-kept launch ramp and safe parking for trailer boats. The Shipwreck Cove Restaurant receives praise for its casual atmosphere, good food, and enjoyable live music during weekends, making it a favored spot for relaxing after boating activities.
On the downside, some users have noted occasional busy periods where scheduling boat rentals requires advance planning due to high demand. A few reviews mention that the fuel dock can sometimes have queues, especially on weekends, and that slip availability might be limited during peak seasons. Additionally, some patrons would like to see expanded dining menu options and longer restaurant hours.
Overall, the reviews depict Elm Hill Marina as a well-loved marina providing solid services and a lively, friendly environment. The positive experiences with boat rentals, facilities, and customer service overshadow the minor inconveniences, confirming it as an excellent location for friends and families to meet, enjoy the water, and make lasting memories.
How to reach Sun Life Marinas - Elm Hill Marina
3361 Bell Rd, Nashville, TN 37214, USA
FAQ about Sun Life Marinas - Elm Hill Marina, your new favorite meetup place for groups in Nashville, Tennessee
This marina stands out as an exceptional destination for social gatherings due to its stunning location on Percy Priest Lake, just outside Nashville. The atmosphere here is perfect for groups seeking both relaxation and adventure, offering a blend of scenic beauty and vibrant water-based activities. Friends can enjoy the fresh air, the peaceful lake views, and the sense of community that the marina fosters. Its family-friendly environment, combined with quality amenities and friendly staff, makes arranging a meetup effortless and enjoyable. Whether you want a day filled with water sports, a leisurely boat ride, or simply a place to dock and enjoy good food and company, Elm Hill Marina has it all. Hosting a get-together here means stepping into a versatile outdoor playground where both memorable fun and meaningful conversations can flourish. This setting caters well to groups looking for a shared experience that will strengthen bonds and create lasting memories, whether it’s a casual outing or a special occasion.
The marina offers a diverse selection that appeals to all sorts of interests within a group. Notably, their pontoon boat rentals, including party barges and tri-toon boats, provide ample space for everyone to relax and interact on the water. These boats are equipped with features like slides, grills, storage, and bathrooms, making it easy to spend the whole day cruising, swimming, or having a picnic on board. For those who love thrill and water sports, the marina provides premium jet ski slips and watercraft access, allowing spontaneous rides and high-energy fun. Fishing enthusiasts can find peaceful spots to cast lines and try catching bass, catfish, and sunfish typical of Percy Priest Lake. After hours of activity, groups can dock right at Elm Hill Marina and enjoy delicious meals at the on-site restaurant, Shipwreck Cove, which offers family-friendly dining with great views. The marina also has a fuel dock and a ship’s store, giving guests convenience and everything needed to make their day hassle-free.
The spacious marina layout and its comprehensive facilities are designed to accommodate groups large or small. The availability of over 800 wet slips with secure dock areas ensures enough room for multiple boats if the group arrives in separate vessels. Rentals like party barges promote social interaction because they can host large numbers comfortably, providing communal seating and amenities on board that support mingling, games, and group meals. The marina’s customer service team is experienced and enthusiastic, offering everything from reservation assistance to safety briefings, which allows the host to focus on enjoying the day with friends rather than logistics. The restaurant on-site is another advantage, providing a convenient, scenic spot to meet for meals without needing to leave the marina, ideal for groups that enjoy eating and relaxing between water activities. Additionally, the marina’s location on Percy Priest Lake offers access to multiple exciting destinations such as Party Cove and Gilligan’s Island, combining social hotspots and quieter natural escapes to suit everyone’s mood and preference.
Nestled on the serene shores of Percy Priest Lake, Elm Hill offers stunning natural surroundings that add to the atmosphere of any group event. The lake’s calm waters and scenic views create a perfect backdrop for photography, relaxation, and casual socializing. It's conveniently close to Nashville, making it accessible for local groups or visitors wanting a retreat from the city’s bustle without long travel times. Nearby attractions include parks and trails like the Jones Mill Mountain Bike Trail and the chance to explore "Gilligan’s Island," which adds a unique adventure element for kids and adults alike. The lake’s diversity in boating spots means that groups can plan varied itineraries — from lively gatherings at Party Cove to peaceful fishing sessions or nature watching near the confluence with the Stones River. This mix ensures the location welcomes different group dynamics and styles, be it high-energy fun or calm and quiet bonding time.
Their wide array of services supports a full-day experience for groups coming together. The boat rental fleet includes modern pontoon boats with amenities centered around comfort and entertainment, such as slides for kids and onboard grills for cookouts. The marina also features premium jet ski slips with easy launch and retrieval, fresh water rinse stations, and secure storage—ideal for groups wanting to combine different styles of water fun. The on-site restaurant, Shipwreck Cove, is family-friendly and offers a menu that suits varied tastes, ensuring that everyone can enjoy good food without leaving the premises. In addition, the fully-stocked ship’s store supplies essentials like sunscreen or snacks, so guests can prepare or replenish without hassle. These combined services remove much of the common stress linked to group outings, allowing everyone to focus on relaxation and social enjoyment.
Positive reviews highlight the welcoming community atmosphere and the professional yet friendly staff who consistently enhance guest experiences. Patrons appreciate the maintenance and cleanliness of the marina facilities, along with the variety of boats and equipment available for rent. Repeat visitors often mention how easy it is to book a boat and how the marina’s team provides helpful tips to ensure safety and enjoyment on the water. The familial vibe at Shipwreck Cove restaurant adds to the sense of comfort and belonging, creating a warm environment suitable for celebrations or casual catch-ups. These testimonials reinforce that Elm Hill Marina is more than just a place to dock boats—it's a space where friendships deepen, and families craft treasured memories.
Its combination of beautiful lakeside scenery, comprehensive amenities, variety of boat rentals, and engaging activities like water sports, fishing, and lakeside dining, makes it uniquely suited for creating memorable gatherings with friends and family. The marina’s focus on comfort, convenience, and community ensures that any group event will be a success, whether it’s a lively party or a serene day on the water.