Historic Fort Myers resort sits empty after Hurricane Ian damage, neighbors want answers

FORT MYERS, Fla. (WINK) — A Fort Myers property that once served as an Old Florida oasis now sits damaged and abandoned after Hurricane Ian.

Rock Lake Resort, a five-acre property on Palm Beach Boulevard, was built in the 1940s as a vacation spot. Hurricane Ian's storm surge heavily damaged the resort in 2022.

The property was sold later that year. Since then, it has looked abandoned and unkept, catching the attention of neighbors who pass by daily.

"I would just like to see it restored, the buildings restored, and go ahead and turn it back into those rentals that they used to be," neighbor Bob Swinker said.

WINK News reached out to the City of Fort Myers to find out what's planned for the site. The head of economic development said no plans have been announced yet.

Because the property sits in a flood zone, future development will look very different from the original resort. That's not what Swinker was hoping to hear.

"Right out there, high rise stuff, and they're turning small town USA into some big luxury place, and it's not what it was whenever I came down here 40 something years ago," Swinker said.

WINK News reached out to the new owners of Rock Lake Resort for information about their plans but has not yet received a response.