Cape Coral Mayor John Gunter hopes to have Yacht Club beach reopened at summer's end

Luis Zambrano, Fort Myers News-Press
·2 min read
Beachgoers enjoy the Cape Coral Yacht Club in this Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022, file photo -- fewer than eight months before Hurricane Ian.
Beachgoers enjoy the Cape Coral Yacht Club in this Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022, file photo -- fewer than eight months before Hurricane Ian.

The Yacht Club and its facilities and beach have been closed and fenced off for more than eight months, leaving residents wondering when they might able to frolic in the waters and watch the sun set.

As Cape Coral ponders massive changes to its Yacht Club facilities, Mayor John Gunter is pushing to open the beach area to the public by September.

"I hope by September or so, (which) would be my preference to try to get it open," Gunter said.

The Cape Coral Yacht was host to a monthly Sunset Celebration prior to Hurricane Ian, which hit Cape Coral on Sept. 28, 2022.
The Cape Coral Yacht was host to a monthly Sunset Celebration prior to Hurricane Ian, which hit Cape Coral on Sept. 28, 2022.

Here's what we know:

Ian background

The Cape Coral Yacht Club Community Park was hit hard when Hurricane Ian, a Category 5 storm, made landfall on Sept. 28.

In addition, The Boathouse restaurant's building incurred massive damage with the building's roof collapsing. The restaurant is expected to open soon.

Planned renovations were put on hold and the park and its facilities closed as the city and its residents went through recovery.

Cape Coral Yacht Club closed Cape Coral Yacht Club damaged, and renovations are on hold

Council decides future of Yacht Club What's the future of Cape Coral's Yacht Club? Council ponders massive project

In January, the Cape Coral council met and decided to take a "clean slate" approach to renovate the heavily damaged facilities.

The changes could include a new two-story ballroom, removing the tennis courts, and rearranging the area to accommodate a parking garage and restaurant.

Plans for razing the main buildings were announced in May, and despite opposition from community members, are still ongoing. Though, the city will make efforts to preserve parts of the original ballroom building.

The damaged front of the main yacht club building.
The damaged front of the main yacht club building.

What needs to be done?

Florida Division of Emergency Management and Florida and Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission has been using the area to crush boats, according to spokesperson Melissa Mickey.

Mickey said the beach is a safety hazard.

"Currently there is no electric, no bathrooms and we need to ensure the shoreline area is clear of debris hazards," wrote Mickey in an email response.

The mayor's plan

Gunter said the Florida Division of Emergency Management and Florida and Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission will be at the Yacht Club area until August, so the city will work toward reopening.

"First, develop a plan to at least get it cleaned up and get it open where it's safe," Gunter said.

He said the city will clear debris in the waterway, so it doesn't pose a danger to swimmers.

Once plans for the Yacht Club resume, Gunter will work on keeping the beach open through implementing phases for the project.

"I think we could probably petition off the northern part of the Yacht Club, do those improvements, and in the meantime, get the beach back open," Gunter said.

Expansion of the beach and or renourishment are expected to occur at a later date once the project starts.

Luis Zambrano is a Watchdog/Cape Coral reporter for The News-Press and the Naples Daily News. You can reach Luis at Lzambrano@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @Lz2official.

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Cape Coral Yacht Club: Mayor pushes for September beach opening