After years of waiting and watching an iconic waterfront site sit dormant, Cape Coral residents are celebrating a major step forward: the long-awaited redevelopment of the historic Yacht Club is officially underway.
On Thursday, the city of Cape Coral announced it has received the final permit needed from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, clearing the path to begin reconstruction of the beloved site, which was severely damaged by Hurricane Ian.
"It's about time," said Cape Coral resident Sarah Rodriguez. “We love coming here, but we’ve kind of stayed away because it’s like, what’s going on? My kid used to swim in the pool over there, and now it’s just a skeleton.”
The current site is still open for beachgoers to relax and dig in the sand, but for many, the memories tied to the Yacht Club run deeper than a day at the shore.
“There was a playground here. I hope they put it back,” said Barbara Klare, a local realtor. “There was the fishing pier — a gorgeous, long pier. Just to take a walk and enjoy the sunset — it was amazing.”
Plans for the new Yacht Club include a resort-style pool, a modern clubhouse for events, a large parking garage, an updated pier, and new boat slips. It’s a sweeping transformation residents say is long overdue.
“The new plans are exceptional,” Klare added. “The Yacht Club was always the pinnacle of Cape Coral.”
The site has sat largely untouched since Hurricane Ian struck nearly three years ago, and the final permit signals the beginning of a new chapter.
“Just wipe all the bad memories away,” said Carl Pasquarosa, another resident. “Fresh construction, water views — it’s going to be a great enhancement.”
Next, the city will begin accepting bids for construction. Officials have not yet announced a start date for the project, but residents remain hopeful the transformation will bring life and memories back to the iconic waterfront.
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