Maddie Herron
•9/4/2026
NAPLES, Fla. (WINK)—Vanderbilt Beach is now home to Southwest Florida's only lifeguard watch tower south of Sarasota.
WINK News attended the opening ceremony for the new tower, which North Collier Fire officials say will improve emergency response times on the beach. The tower was placed in service ahead of the Labor Day weekend.
"We dedicate North Collier Fire Ocean Rescue Tower 29 and prepare to place it in service ahead of what will definitely be a very busy Labor Day weekend," said Heather Mazurkiewicz, public information officer for North Collier Fire.
The bright yellow tower stands tall on Vanderbilt Beach, serving as a communication hub for first responders. When an emergency occurs, lifeguards can now coordinate responses by air, water or land more quickly than before.
North Collier Fire District has more than 125 certified lifeguards. The tower allows them to spot emergencies faster and get beachgoers the help they need.
"It's just a huge monumental moment for Collier County because again, we haven't had lifeguards on the beaches since like the 50s or 60s," said Kelly Heinemeyer, a lifeguard leader with North Collier Ocean Rescue.
Heinemeyer said rip currents are a real danger in Naples. Heat exhaustion has been responsible for many beach emergencies, as people often forget to drink water. Lost children are also a frequent concern for the ocean rescue team.
North Collier Fire officials said their ocean rescue program isn't stopping at Vanderbilt Beach. The team is already looking at 11 other locations to install similar towers.
