Margaritaville ushers in new era on Fort Myers Beach
Workers were still putting the final coats of paint on the walls Thursday morning as a new $200 million resort that has been years in the making — and had to go through much adversity before completion — opened to the public on Fort Myers Beach.
Margaritaville Beach Resort was opened to much fanfare with hundreds, including local dignitaries, on hand for a ribbon cutting that represents a new beginning for a town still recovering from Hurricane Ian.
Margaritaville was open to the media Thursday morning so resort personnel could show off everything they had done to climax a nine-year quest that included zoning issues, initially angry residents, lawsuits, a pandemic and the worst storm to ever hit the area.
Tom Torgerson, Co-CEO of TPI Hospitality, which owns Margaritaville, said he expects the sprawling resort to become the go-to place for entertainment in Southwest Florida. The resort’s location straddling both sides of Estero Boulevard fits perfectly with the brand.
“Some people refer to this as an aircraft carrier, or a cruise ship on land. I like to refer to it as an entertainment complex with a lodging component,” Torgerson said. “This resort was designed for the environment it’s in. We’re in the tropics down here, so the majority of the entertainment and relaxation areas are outdoors.”
Torgerson got emotional at times, as he lives two blocks away and was on Fort Myers during the storm that overwashed the island, leaving devastating destruction in its path.
To him, Margaritaville represents what Fort Myers Beach can become.
“People lost so much, financially, personally, everyone suffered in different ways,” Torgerson said. “It’s a symbol of the future and what’s going to come. It’s a shining light that gives hope.”
Many who came to the ribbon-cutting agreed, including Jacki Liszak, president of the Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce.
“What a beautiful day to celebrate. The resort looks amazing, bright, colorful and cheerful. It’s been a great week on the island,” Liszak said. “This is an emotional lift for the island. We have great times and great vibes ahead. it gives us a boost as we continue to recover.”
Margaritaville CEO John Cohlan said he wished that his late business partner, Margaritaville co-founder Jimmy Buffett, could be here to see this.
“This is the miracle of Margaritaville. Overcoming adversity and being persistent, it’s a beautiful story,” Cohlan said. “There are all kinds of hurricanes in life, but what Jimmy stood for was to look forward to a better day. It’s what Margaritaville is all about, bringing people together in the effort to celebrate life and have a good time.”
Lee County Commissioner Ray Sandelli and Fort Myers Beach mayor Dan Allers also expressed joy.
“This incredible addition to our community took the hard work of people with a shared vision. There was no lack of challenges. Persistence and commitment brought us here,” Sandelli said.
“This place means that 350 to 400 people are back to work, many of whom live here or visit. You seen them smile and you can’t beat that,” Allers said. “This is something we never thought would be developed, but when you sit down with people and have good communications, these things can happen.”
The roots of this project grew out of the aftermath of Hurricane Charley in 2004. It took seven tries before Margaritaville was planned. However, residents weren’t too keen on the idea when it was first proposed in 2014.
“The zoning alone took three years. The initial concept wasn’t well received so we took 10 steps back. We had focus groups throughout 2016 where we came up with the concept of this resort,” Torgerson said.
The Town Council approved the plan in 2018 and approached Margaritaville about the plan, but that’s when the lawsuits hit and that took another two years, Torgerson said. That was followed by the pandemic, a need to further finance the project, and Ian.
Located at 251 Crescent St., the newest Margaritaville Beach Resort sits on 7.25 acres along Fort Myers Beach with direct beach access and views of the Gulf of Mexico.
The property features 254 guest rooms and six restaurants, including signature concepts such as JWB Grill, License to Chill Bar & Grill, and 5 o’Clock Somewhere Bar & Grill.
All restaurants, as well as the 43,000-square-foot Sunset Terrace, are open to the public. The property offers food and beverage service across 19,000 square feet of sandy beach overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. Valet parking is available for guests and the public at a daily rate.
Not everything is open as of yet.
The Fins Up! Beach Club is expected to open in mid-January.