Happy New Year, everyone!
We wanted to take this moment to update all of our friends and loyal guests and to let them know that we are still working diligently on our rebuild plans.
For Sanibel properties like the Blue Dolphin, which require a complete and from-scratch rebuild due to Hurricane Ian, there are so many pieces that need to come together before we are able to begin the actual on-site work of building.
And, with the huge number of significantly damaged buildings in Southwest Florida; there are backlogs everywhere, everyone needs to wait their turn, and nothing is happening as quickly as we’d prefer.
As we’re sure many of you are aware, the process is not as simple as just rebuilding the exact same buildings that were standing there before the storm. Every Sanibel business that needs to rebuild has no choice but to conform to the island’s updated (and much more stringent) building codes. As you could imagine, these Sanibel building codes have changed quite a bit since the Blue Dolphin was originally built in 1958.
We’re still navigating the world of insurance claims, architects, engineers, general contractors, interior designers, town permitting and approvals, and the list goes on.
We know all of you are curious as to when the Blue Dolphin will reopen.
Since we are dependent on the timelines and activities of so many third parties, we are not yet able to confidently announce any absolute reopening date.
But for now, we can share that we’re aiming for a re-opening in the first half of 2025 (date updated 3.31.23).
We are definitely making significant behind-the-scenes progress and will share many more exciting details as our plans continue to firm up.
We’re looking forward to sharing building and room renders (once they are finalized) to show you how we have re-imagined the form factors of the Blue Dolphin in our current era of hurricane-resistant design and building codes.
We’ll also begin sharing the Blue Dolphin Rebuild Journey in very visual ways, with plenty of photos and videos, once we finally break ground for the new buildings.
When you cross the Sanibel Causeway these days, there’s a piece of storm debris just as you arrive onto the island (near the Sanibel Chamber of Commerce Vistor Center) upon which someone has spray-painted a message reading: “Be like a palm that bends in the storm and survives.”
We look forward to showing everyone how we are surviving. How we’ve risen against the challenges inflicted upon us by Hurricane Ian and how we are breathing new life, and new opportunities to create enduring Sanibel Island memories, into the Blue Dolphin.
We look forward to restoring and improving this secluded, boutique inn privately tucked away on a pristine stretch of Sanibel Island coastline.
Swaying coconut palms. Sand. Shells. Surf. The rhythm of nature. The perfect location. The Sanibel experience.
We’re putting the pieces back together. And we definitely look forward to being able to welcome you all back to enjoy the timeless hospitality at our all new Blue Dolphin tropical hideaway as soon as it’s humanly possible!
With love,
The Team at the Blue Dolphin
Be sure to connect with us on Instagram and Facebook (and check back every so often on our “News” page) to follow our progress!
