On Tuesday, Jan. 31, the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce celebrated with ribbon-cuttings two more businesses that have recovered and opened after Hurricane Ian: Periwinkle Trailer Park at 1119 Periwinkle Way on Sanibel and island-based  Flip Side Eco Charter.

 

Periwinkle Park suffered considerable damage, with 40 percent of its units destroyed and removed, plus 20 percent of its utilities and 75 percent electric service required rebuilding, said general manager David Muench. A family-operated business since 1964, Periwinkle Park serves as a community for full-time residents and offers 80 spaces for campers who wish to stay at a location convenient to stores, restaurants, and the beach.

 

“Periwinkle Trailer Park is an island fixture that has made happy memories for thousands through the years,” said John Lai, chamber president and CEO. “We welcome the Muench family and its team back to world of functional on Sanibel Island.”

 

“The Chamber as always, has been the leading distributor of business information for our island and is essentially the hub between the island residents, tourists, local businesses, and attractions,” said Muench. “We are so glad to have the chamber of commerce getting the word out about our fabulous recovery.”

Captain Jenni Linn Maughan spent much of her youth exploring the waters of Sanibel and Captiva islands and later worked for a local charter company doing tours geared toward the environment. She bought her own boat in 2018, an Andros Tarpon 26, which survived Hurricane Ian. After the storm, she put it into service helping others with their recovery and decided to start her own charter company, Flip Side Eco Charter, when her employer was undecided about the future.

 

“I was blessed I had no damage to the Andros and was back on the water rescuing people from the islands a day after the hurricane,” said Maughan. “I am very lucky I have made some wonderful friends who are boat captains and helped me find a launch, and we all pitched in to help whether it was delivering supplies or doing rescues. I would love to give my eco tours with a hurricane twist — let people know how the area was affected, from the waters to the vegetation and the animals.”

 

She, along with her first mate, rescue dog Aude, gives her charters a personal touch, tailoring them to the interests of her clients, experiencing everything from shelling Cayo Costa and snorkeling sand bars and grass flats to sighting dolphins, manatee, and other creatures and having lunch on the upper islands.

 

“We welcome Capt. Jenni, who knows these waters like the back of her hand and has a big heart for the environment and the people she informs about it,” said Lai. “We wish her the best of luck with her latest endeavor.”

 

“The Chamber has been amazing promoting businesses that have reopened, and they are a godsend for the vacationers coming on the island, with their wealth of information and knowledge,” said Maughan. “The chamber is a wonderful source of everything to do and see in our local community.”

 

ABOUT SANIBEL & CAPTIVA ISLANDS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

The Sanibel & Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to promoting the prosperity of its members and preserving the quality of life of our community. The Chamber plays a key role in facilitating communication and cooperation between business, residents and government to enhance the economic health of the islands. The chamber website receives more than 1.3 million website visits per year. For more information about the chamber, visit sanibel-captiva.org or contact John Lai, president and CEO, at 239-472-2348 or [email protected].