Plans to sell the closed Lantana resort in Sandys took a step closer this week when entrepreneurs hoping to develop the site applied to form a company.

American businessman Don Burkett of Burkett Associates is planning to buy the site and transform it into a spa, marina, hotel and conference site.

This week, Mr. Burkett and fellow Americans Laird Campbell Bunch, Judith Mary Shoemaker and David Joel Wilks, applied to incorporate a new Bermuda company called Lantana Resort Ltd.

Speaking from the United States last night, Mr. Burkett told The Royal Gazette: “You can take this as a good sign.

“I don't think we'd be doing it (setting up the company) if we didn't plan to do it (buy Lantana).”

Mr. Burkett said earlier this month that he is still “very, very” excited about the property, which has been closed since 1998, and hoped to complete the purchase from owner Paul Young by the end of this year.”