On Nov. 16, the SanCap Chamber hosted ribbon-cuttings at three small and historic properties on Sanibel Island: sister properties Palmview Inn and Sandpiper Inn at 706 Donax Street and 720 Donax Street, respectively; and Parrot Nest Cottages at 1237 Anhinga Lane.
“The return of 16 more accommodation units is huge for Sanibel Island,” said John Lai, SanCap Chamber president and CEO. “We especially love seeing the comeback of our small inns and cottages that are so iconic of the charm and warmth Sanibel is known for.”
Rosen Vacations manages Palmview Inn and nearby Sandpiper Inn, which altogether account for 10 cottage and apartment-style units within walking distance of the beach.
“The inns are two of the oldest public accommodations on Sanibel Island still standing following Hurricane Ian,” said manager Catalina Pistol. “Our most central mission in reconstituting the inns was to preserve their historic and vibrant island character.”
The properties date to the 1950s and sustained near total damage from Ian, requiring complete strip-down and refurbishing operations.
“With our nostalgia for historic Sanibel top of mind, we ushered the inns into the 21st century by integrating modern furnishings, floorplans, and technology into these vibrant Sanibel landmarks while retaining as many original features of the property as we possibly could,” said Pistol. “We appreciate the support of the chamber of commerce in promoting the news that we are open and excited to welcome guests again at our beloved inns.”
Built in the 1960s, the six cottages at Parrot Nest lie within walking distance of Lighthouse Beach Park.
“The damage was considerable with 7 feet of water intrusion; however, the cottages are solid concrete and built incredibly well,” said Kim O’Brien, owner of Breakaway Vacation Properties, which manages Parrot Nest and other island accommodations. “Given the destruction of Ian, we held up well.”
Parrot Nest officially opened March 1 and has been operating at 95 percent occupancy. Many guests are repeat visitors along with a young demographic seeking experiences with their vacations.
“Community is everything to Breakaway Vacation Properties,” said O’Brien. “Without the culture and community of the islands there is no depth. The chamber is hands-down amazing. So incredibly supportive and consistently sending people our way to support in our recovery.”
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. Its website, sanibel-captiva.org, receives over 1.3 million 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].
