Naples motorsports club plan sparks debate over Florida panther habitat

COLLIER COUNTY, Fla. (WINK)— A Naples company's plan to transform a 542-acre automotive testing facility into a private motorsports club has sparked nearly 10,000 petition signatures and pushback from environmental groups.

Hyperclub LLC filed applications with Collier County and the Army Corps of Engineers this year to redevelop the property into a private sports community featuring car condos, a clubhouse and an updated racetrack. The property, purchased in 2024 for $10 million by Naples Racing Resort, has been used as an automotive testing facility for companies like Ford, Chrysler and Harley-Davidson for 40 years.

Mac and Lisa McCord built their eastern Collier County home in 2019 just a few hundred feet from the proposed development site. The couple chose the location for three specific reasons.

"For the peace, quiet and wildlife," Lisa McCord said. "This was our dream home."

Their vision changed last month when they received a public notice from the Army Corps of Engineers about the proposed work on the adjoining property.

"This would be horrific if this went through," Lisa McCord said. "Horrific because I wouldn't even, we couldn't stay here."

Hyperclub CEO Bruce Bond said the project is not intended to harm wildlife or create noise concerns. More than 70% of the property would remain as natural habitat, according to Bond.

"This has been here for 40 years, it's been fenced, there's been no occurrences and it's actually zoned for what we want to do at that location and it's been doing that for 40 years," Bond said. "So there really is not a risk to the panther or even to other animals in the area."

The South Florida Wildlands Association has organized opposition to the project, including a petition letter approaching 10,000 signatures. Executive Director Matthew Schwartz raised concerns about the impact on endangered Florida panthers.

"The Panther is probably already in a state of what we call baseline jeopardy, meaning on the verge of being at risk of extinction," Schwartz said. "How is the species going to recover if the habitat shrinks every year? How could it possibly recover its population? And that's one of the goals of the Endangered Species Act. So in every way, shape or form, this project and others like it, but especially this one in this location, should not go through."

The McCords said the development would fundamentally change their quality of life.

"Racetracks this caliber and homes, they don't coexist well together," Mac McCord said. "The reason why we bought this property was to enjoy what we have out here. It is absolutely beautiful. It is peaceful in the wildlife. All of that will be gone."

The project remains under review by the Army Corps of Engineers and state and federal agencies before a permit can be approved.