Photo by Ocean’s Reach guest Sid Ely

Thanksgiving is right around the corner and our hearts are grateful for so much this year!  We’re thankful for those who have helped us heal and rebuild after Hurricane Ian, as well as those who continue to send in support from afar, reminding us just how special Sanibel Island is for so many.  Most especially, we’re grateful that, after all this time, we’ll soon be able to welcome you back to Ocean’s Reach!

We wanted to reach out to our upcoming guests – particularly those who will be visiting in December and January – to let you know that things may look a bit different since your last visit.

We’ve had a few setbacks in our recovery efforts from Hurricane Ian – Debby, Helene and Milton are no longer on our Favorite Names list – so we’re not quite as far along as we had hoped to be.

For those visiting us soon, here is what you can expect at Ocean’s Reach:

• The storms in September and October wiped out all the new greenery we had planted. We will have the landscaping replaced in time to welcome visitors, but it will not be as lush and as mature as we had hoped.  Of course, give Mother Nature a little time and the foliage and flora at Ocean’s Reach will once again soon look spectacular!

• Not all condos at the resort have been completed. The one-two punch of Hurricanes Helene and Milton this fall created contractor delays and foiled our efforts to have all units ready upon re-opening.  This means you will likely see workmen tending to final details while you’re here.  We do not anticipate that their work will be noisy or intrusive, but we want to prepare you for their presence.  There will be quite a few vendor vehicles in the parking lot.

• Supply chain issues have also been challenging. Regretfully, our elevators are still undergoing repairs and are likely to be unavailable in the short term.  We’ve already reached out to guests who are staying in units higher than the second floor, giving them the option to move if needed.

• Our beachside pool and tennis / pickleball court will be open. Some of our other amenities, such as The Grove dining area, outdoor games and shell cleaning station, took on more damage with the recent storms and will require additional time to repair.  We’re doing our best to make sure that time will be sooner rather than later!

• Hurricane Season officially wraps up at the end of November, and it can’t come soon enough for us! Our poor office flooded during each of the three major storms this year, but as of this writing, we’re on track to complete our (third) office rebuild and look forward to welcoming you back in person.  Be sure to stop in and say hello!

You’ll also find that Sanibel Island is showing signs of recovery and progress:

• One of the biggest changes you’ll see is right when you arrive to the island. The Sanibel Causeway, once a scenic drive where you could enjoy dipping your toes into San Carlos Bay and picnicking on its beaches, is now a huge construction site as work continues to rebuild the bridge.  (You may recall that Hurricane Ian hammered the Causeway until it broke in five places, necessitating a comprehensive overhaul.)  It’s currently not too pretty, but it is safe.  Just drive carefully and expect lots of trucks, workers and occasional lane closures.

• Buildings are in various stages of recovery.  Many have been completely renovated, others are well into reconstruction, and then there are buildings where it looks as if work has not yet even started.  Overall, you will notice that islanders have accomplished a tremendous amount since Ian’s complete devastation, but there are still “rough patches” you will observe during your visit.

• Most of the island’s small businesses have re-opened. At last count, the list from our local chamber of commerce includes 125 re-opened restaurants, shops and attractions, and the number is growing every day!  Some businesses are still rebuilding (Bailey’s is planning an exciting new complex) … some have relocated (check out the new location for The Lighthouse Café) … and still others have re-imagined new experiences (the new Wickie’s restaurant is the creation of the folks behind The Island Cow and Mad Hatter’s.)  Many businesses have taken the opportunity to add improvements during their renovations, so you’ll be able to enjoy new looks and new offerings at several of your old favorites.

• All of Sanibel’s public beaches are open. While they may look different (some storms deposited sand; others took sand away), they are still beautiful, shell-strewn and oh-so-wonderfully relaxing!  Beach renourishment efforts throughout the year that were designed to strengthen and protect the island’s shorelines seem to have worked, as erosion from the recent storms was not as significant as it could have been.  Work continues in some areas, such as Lighthouse Beach, and beach goers are reminded to be cautious as debris could still be buried in the sand following this year’s storms.

Although some things will look a little different, one thing has definitely not changed:  Just steps outside your Ocean’s Reach condo, you’ll once again be able to enjoy one of the world’s most spectacular beaches!  And with it, gentle rolling waves, gorgeous seashells, breathtaking sunsets, and the chance to experience it all with those you love most.

As our local chamber of commerce is fond of saying – and we agree – Sanibel is “not perfect, but still paradise.”

We can’t wait to welcome you soon!

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