Captiva Island Inn reopens 4 years after Hurricane Ian

Almost four years to the day after Hurricane Ian deluged and ruined the designated historic Captiva Island Inn’s 10 cottages Sept. 28, 2022, five of the 10 units have been rebuilt and are ready for their first guests. 

Sandy Stilwell Youngquist said she spent about $6 million on the construction project to bring the 10 units back to life. She said she was still negotiating with insurance companies on getting reimbursed for the losses of the original cottages, but she remains hopeful of getting about half her investment back. 

The first five rooms will open to guests Sept. 18, coinciding with the Island Hopper Songwriter Fest, which includes two adjacent Stilwell Youngquist-owned restaurants as venues, Keylime Bistro and RC Otter’s Island Eats. She also owns Latte Da, Sunshine Seafood Cafe and Wine Bar and Cantina Captiva. 

“It’s been a long four years,” Stilwell Youngquist said. 

Gone are the 10 names of the original cottages, which were razed. Instead, there are two names: Jasmine Suites for the five units on the north side of 11508 Andy Rosse Lane and Hibiscus Suites for the five units on the south side. 

They have color schemes of pink, yellow, light purple, light green and light blue. 

“It’s been something,” Stilwell Youngquist said of bringing her inn back to life following the difficult decision to take down the preexisting wood-frame cottages. “I have tears coming down my eyes. We’ve been through it all. And with the anniversary, it’s perfect timing to reopen. 

“I love it. It’s so beautiful. It’s so much more comfortable than the other ones were. You have larger kitchens, more luxurious bathrooms, etc., because the way they made cottages way back, 60-70 years ago, there were little tiny bathrooms. This is the kind of place I would want to stay.” 

Stevens Construction built the new rooms, elevating them 10 feet above ground level. The second half of the reconstruction project should be finished by the end of November. 

MHK Architecture designed it, making the first building L-shaped and the second U-shaped. 

“Due to the existing zoning, it was tough to replace what was there,” said Mark McLean, national director for MHK Architecture. “We did it with one continuous building and changed the colors, just to give it that cottagey feel. 

“We vaulted all the ceilings. We wanted the light to come in. So, we worked on vaulting the ceilings and giving those small units a much bigger feel.” 

The open spaces in front of each of the two buildings will be left vacant to accommodate the below-ground septic tanks. 

“Architecturally, we put five units in a single building,” McLean said. “Through the development of the design and the color scheme, it still gives it from the distance the appearance of separate cottages. If you’re across the street or coming up from the south end at the Green Flash, it doesn’t necessarily loom over you as one unit.” 

Rates for the new units range from $240 to $284 per night in the offseason and up to $800 per night during peak tourist season, January through March, Stilwell Youngquist said. 

“Two of the five new rooms are already booked,” Stilwell Youngquist said of the first weekend. “Out of all the bad, something good has come out of it. And I’m really thrilled.”