Fontainebleau Miami Beach to Add Market-First Family-Friendly Pool Deck
The redevelopment plans include 11 water slides—one towering 120 feet—plus new pools, dining upgrades, and potential limited public access.
Photo: Courtesy of Fontainebleau Miami Beach
Fontainebleau Development has announced a sweeping redevelopment of the outdoor pool deck at Fontainebleau Miami Beach—one of the largest hospitality investments in South Florida in recent years—set to break ground in early 2026. The transformation will introduce a lineup of water slides, family attractions, and upgraded poolside amenities unlike anything currently on offer in Miami Beach, positioning the landmark property to capture a broader slice of the high-end leisure market.
According to renderings and local reporting, the new facilities will include 11 water slides, one reaching 120 feet in height, a scale that’s rarely seen at beachfront resorts. Plans also call for multiple pools and water features, elevated food and beverage concepts, and enhanced entertainment programming that extends Fontainebleau’s draw beyond its nightlife and conference clientele. La Côte Restaurant and three signature bars will see expanded menus and refreshed spaces to serve the upgraded deck.
While Miami has no shortage of beachfront hotels, few large-scale resorts in the market have invested heavily in family-oriented infrastructure at the ultra-luxury level. The redevelopment effectively creates a new product segment: a Miami Beach property capable of offering both the brand’s signature glamour and a robust, built-in slate of activities for multigenerational groups. For high-net-worth families accustomed to the full-scale waterparks and family suites of Caribbean or Orlando resorts, this could fill a notable gap in the destination’s inventory.
The economic implications are significant, too. Fontainebleau Development projects that hundreds of full- and part-time jobs will be created across construction, hospitality, and guest services. For the tourism ecosystem, the introduction of a marquee family attraction has potential knock-on effects: extended stays, increased spending at restaurants and in retail, and a broader range of feeder markets. The expansion may also help Miami Beach compete more directly with other warm-weather luxury hubs during peak school holiday periods.
Plans for the redevelopment have been submitted to the Historic Preservation Board, marking a key step in the approval process. While the attraction is designed primarily for resort guests, there is potential for limited public access—an uncommon move for a luxury Miami Beach property that could broaden community engagement.
“Fontainebleau Development has long been recognized for creating destinations that not only define luxury and experience but also uplift the communities they serve,” said Brett Mufson, president of Fontainebleau Development. “This expansion exemplifies that philosophy—melding visionary design with strategic investment. It will generate hundreds of jobs, invigorate the local economy, and offer an entirely new dimension of family-friendly hospitality in Miami Beach.”
Construction is slated to begin in early 2026, with completion dates to be announced. Once open, the reimagined pool deck will offer a rare combination in Miami Beach: the cachet of a legendary luxury brand and the scale of attractions typically found in stand-alone family resorts.
