Ritz-Carlton eyes Ballroom Terrace project on Amelia Island

The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island is bringing a project called "Ballroom Terrace" before Nassau County's development review process, according to a county agenda published Sept. 4.

Pre-application marks earliest step in county review

The item appears as a pre-application on the Nassau County Development Review Committee (DRC) agenda for Sept. 8. The meeting starts at 9 a.m. at the James S. Page Governmental Complex in Yulee. A pre-application is the earliest step in the county's development review, before any formal site plan is filed.

Scope of project remains unclear

The agenda does not describe the project's scope, cost or timeline. It is unclear whether "Ballroom Terrace" refers to a new structure, an outdoor addition next to an existing ballroom or a renovation of current space.

The resort, managed by General Manager Greg Cook, has not issued a public statement about the proposal.

Resort has nearly 450 rooms, 114,000 square feet of event space

The 446-room property at 4750 Amelia Island Parkway opened in 1998 and is owned by Host Hotels & Resorts, according to the company's 2025 annual filing. A trade publication, ConventionSouth, listed the resort's indoor and outdoor event space at roughly 114,000 square feet in its April 2026 guide.

Resort's role in local tourism extends to county-backed events

The Ritz-Carlton remains a significant part of Nassau County's tourism infrastructure. The Nassau County Board of County Commissioners' July 15 agenda included a $65,000 Tourist Development Tax sponsorship agreement with the resort to host the 2026 Amelia Island Cookout.