It puts smiles on our faces to know (and hear from) so many of you who are curious and excited about the remodeling project we’re scheduling at The Blue Dolphin on Sanibel Island.

There have been a lot of questions (and plenty of online chatter) about our impending Blue Dolphin renovations. That’s why we wanted to take a few moments to provide everyone with an official answer and a few extra details regarding the timeline, the process, and our plans.

Here’s what we can share with you right now:

Our end goal is to make good on our promise to deliver an authentic Sanibel getaway experience where you’ll discover the best of “Old Florida” with all of the modern comforts and conveniences (plus a few beachfront-chic luxury additions).

Any of you who are familiar with the Blue Dolphin and have visited over the past 30 days will likely have noticed that we have already started making some changes on the property. A new website. New reservation software. An increased attention-to-detail emphasis on cleanliness and housekeeping protocols (including deep cleans of all rooms), plus we now offer room housekeeping refreshes (upon request). A bicycle maintenance program. An initial tidying up of the landscaping. Fixing several property features which were in need of immediate care. Plus the addition of our new patio loungers, new beach umbrellas, and new beach towels.

The feedback on these minor changes has been overwhelmingly positive.

The more substantial Blue Dolphin renovation work is still pending and will be completed in 2 phases.

PHASE 1: The first phase is scheduled to occur between September 12 through mid-October 2022. In addition to several ongoing building maintenance projects, painting, and property landscaping upgrades; the SEPT-OCT Blue Dolphin renovations will consist of a total replacement and redesign of all interior design elements in the guest rooms and suites. This will include all of the furnishings, linens, beds, supplies, and and kitchen equipment in each of our units. We will also be replacing all windows and doors in all of the Blue Dolphin guest rooms and suites. The window and door work will be scheduled (and completed) in an orderly fashion, and by individual building, so it will not disrupt anyone’s stay with us. The improvements we are putting in place during Phase 1 of our renovations will drastically improve the guest experience at The Blue Dolphin.

PHASE 2: The second (and much larger scale) renovation phase is scheduled to occur during the summer months of 2023. This work will consist of a complete and extensive gut renovation of all guest accommodations along with multiple other property upgrades.

We will share additional dates and details as they become available.

We can’t wait to show you the exceedingly positive updates we’re bringing to this landmark Sanibel lodging property – and we’ll definitely be sharing plenty of vibrant photos and videos throughout the entire Blue Dolphin renovations process!

Be sure to connect with us on Instagram and Facebook (and check back every so often on our “News” page) to follow our progress!

IMAGES FROM THE BLUE DOLPHIN

Instagram

Lots of new sand on the beach at the Blue Dolphin as a result of the recent Sanibel Beach Renourishment Project. We are still working daily (and tirelessly) on the Blue Dolphin rebuild - and hope to have some significant updates we can share with you soon. Thank you so much for your patience! Stay tuned! -- Charlene
Our team at the Blue Dolphin on Sanibel Island just wanted to quickly check in with everyone to let you know we’re still diligently working on our post-Hurricane rebuild -- PLUS to share some video we took on our shell-strewn stretch of beach just a few days ago! To learn more, and follow our rebuild journey, visit our website at: bluedolphinsanibel.com (link in bio) #sanibel #sanibelisland #swfl
11/21/23 UPDATE: The NEW Blue Dolphin: Our Current Set of Renderings With Thanksgiving right around the corner, all of us on the Blue Dolphin team are thrilled to give you, our friends and valued guests, an exclusive peek into the incredible strides we've been making since Hurricane Ian left its mark on our beloved Sanibel Island. We know how many of you treasure the vivid and enduring memories you hold of time spent at the Blue Dolphin. We are honored that the responsibility of ushering this iconic (circa 1958) property through its post Hurricane Ian evolution has fallen to us. Navigating this transition is a passion, towards which we are mindfully allocating our best efforts and a significant depth of resources. Your support fuels our determination TO LEARN MORE AND SEE OUR CURRENT RENDERINGS OF WHAT THE NEWLY-REBUILT BLUE DOLPHIN WILL LOOK LIKE VISIT: bluedolphinsanibel.com (link in bio) #sanibel #sanibelisland #swfl #bluedolphinsanibel
8.31.23 UPDATE: Blue Dolphin Rebuilding Journey Thanks to all of you who have recently reached out to tell us you've been thinking about The Blue Dolphin! Some of you have asked how we fared as Hurricane Idalia brushed by Sanibel. We're happy to report that we are all well and the impact to our island community was minimal. Many others have checked in with us to ask how the Blue Dolphin rebuild is coming along: We're happy to inform everyone that we'll have additional updates on our rebuild journey to share with you soon. Progress is being made every day against the process of completely rebuilding a circa 1958 property (located in what has since been zoned a residential neighborhood) to new (and very different) building codes and design/resilience standards. As everyone going through similar circumstances on Sanibel is experiencing, the multiple rounds civil engineering / surveying / architecture / permitting / bidding all run on their own independent timelines. We're doing the only things we can do to push through it. Answer every email and phone call. Attend every meeting. Respond to every question. Hire every professional we need to help us. Push for every answer. Make every necessary decision. Continue to put one foot in front of the other every single day. We are very close to being able to share some detailed renderings of what the newly-rebuilt Blue Dolphin will look like - and we definitely will, just as soon as we have received all final approvals. We are also excited to share the upcoming construction process with you in very visual ways - with lots of photos and videos! READ MORE AT: bluedolphinsanibel.com (link in bio) #sanibel #swfl #sanibelisland #bluedolphinsanibel