>> FROM YOUR CAPE CORAL NEWS TEAM. THE YACHT CLUB COME BACK IS UNDERWAY. CREWS ARE TAKING DOWN THE DAX RIGHT NOW. GULF COAST NEWS REPORTER JALEN BARRON IS LIVE AT 5 FINDING OUT WHEN YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO ENJOY THE AREA AGAIN. >> PIECES FROM THE DOCK THAT WERE DESTROYED IN HURRICANE IAN. YOU CAN SEE IT ACTUALLY HERE BEHIND ME ARE STARTING TO BE REMOVED IN THE CITY WILL START TO REPLACE THE SEAWALLS. >> A SHAME NOT JUST HERE, BUT ALL OF THE AREAS THAT WE USE TO ENJOY THAT NOT GOTTEN AROUND GETTING FIXED YET. THE CAPE CORAL YACHT CLUB WAS A POPULAR SPOT FOR MANY, BUT AFTER HURRICANE IAN DESTROYED IT, BITS AND PIECES WERE THE ONLY THING LEFT BEHIND. NOW, MACHINES ARE RIPPING APART THE BOAT DOCKS TO CLEAR THE WATER AND ENTER THE FIRST PHASE TO BRING IT BACK TO LIFE. >> WE’RE USED TO COMING DOWN TO THE CAPE CAPE CORAL YACHT CLUB TO SPEND SOME TIME, USUALLY WITH OUR GRANDKIDS. IT’S A NICE CLEAN, BE. IT SURE WAS REALLY NICE WHEN THE BOARD HOUSE WAS HERE. I KNOW YOU PUT YOUR OPINION DID COME THROUGH AND READ AND WREAK HAVOC ON IT. AND WE’RE LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING BACK. >> THE CITY IS STILL WAITING ON THE PERMIT TO REBUILD THE YACHT CLUB. PIERRE, PEOPLE ALSO WANT TO KNOW THE STATUS OF THE BOATHOUSE RESTAURANT THAT BURNED DOWN IN 2020 FOR MIKE VICK. WE CAN WITH THE CURRENT GROUP SAYS HE MET WITH THE ARCHITECTS THIS MORNING ABOUT THE NEW BUILDING. HE SAID THE KITCHEN WILL BE TWICE THE SIZE, BUT PEOPLE THAT COME TO THE BEACH OFTEN TELL ME. >> THEY ARE READY FOR THE CONSTRUCTION TO BE COMPLETE. >> I HOPE IT’S THAT WAS LIKE ONE OF MY MAIN CONCERNS. WE GET BACK ON REALLY WANT TO COME TO THE BEACH TO MOST OF THE CONSTRUCTION. SO LIKE QUIET, PEACEFUL, JUST LIKE THAT TO THE FAMILIES AND JUST HAVE FUN. >> PEOPLE I SPOKE TO ALONG THE BEACH TELL ME THAT THEY HOPE THIS NEW CONSTRUCTION WILL BE A SPEEDY PROJECAND THEY LOOK FORWARD TO THE BOAT HOUSE. SPEAKING UP
Cape Coral residents await completion of yacht club renovations
Updated: 7:46 PM EST Jan 26, 2026
Crews are preparing to replace the docks and seawalls at the Cape Coral Yacht Club, leaving residents and visitors eager for the project’s completion so they can start making new memories.People along the beach expressed their anticipation for the construction to be finished, allowing them to enjoy the boathouse and other amenities once again.Christina Dillan said, “So having a fun place to go eat. Make the stay a little bit longer. Be able to stay down here all day. It would be fun.”Julie and Mike Vilt, who visit Cape Coral from Illinois for three months each year, arrived hoping the boathouse would be open, only to be disappointed.”Oh, yes. Oh, I can’t wait for it to come in. Really, we were just heartbroken,” Julie Vilt said.Machines have been working to clear the remnants left in the water by Hurricane Ian, and reconstruction of the seawalls is underway. Beachgoers are eager for the construction noise to end.”I don’t really want to come to the beach and listen to construction, so I’d like it quiet, peaceful, just like that. See, the families and just have fun,” Julie Vilt said.The city is still waiting on the permit to rebuild the yacht club pier. Mike McGuigan with the Kearns Group mentioned meeting with architects about the new building, noting that the kitchen will be twice the size.David Newell, a Cape Coral resident, said, “It’s a shame, not just here but all of the areas that we used to enjoy that have not gotten around getting fixed yet. It takes time to build a pier, but I mean, it’s been two years, and some of the stuff — it just looks like it’s been cleaned up. When is the real impact of change going to start being noticeable? It’s sad.”There is still no date for when construction will start on the boathouse, and the city is reviewing final designs for the new community center.DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.
CAPE CORAL, Fla. —
Crews are preparing to replace the docks and seawalls at the Cape Coral Yacht Club, leaving residents and visitors eager for the project’s completion so they can start making new memories.
People along the beach expressed their anticipation for the construction to be finished, allowing them to enjoy the boathouse and other amenities once again.
Christina Dillan said, “So having a fun place to go eat. Make the stay a little bit longer. Be able to stay down here all day. It would be fun.”
Julie and Mike Vilt, who visit Cape Coral from Illinois for three months each year, arrived hoping the boathouse would be open, only to be disappointed.
“Oh, yes. Oh, I can’t wait for it to come in. Really, we were just heartbroken,” Julie Vilt said.
Machines have been working to clear the remnants left in the water by Hurricane Ian, and reconstruction of the seawalls is underway. Beachgoers are eager for the construction noise to end.
“I don’t really want to come to the beach and listen to construction, so I’d like it quiet, peaceful, just like that. See, the families and just have fun,” Julie Vilt said.
The city is still waiting on the permit to rebuild the yacht club pier. Mike McGuigan with the Kearns Group mentioned meeting with architects about the new building, noting that the kitchen will be twice the size.
David Newell, a Cape Coral resident, said, “It’s a shame, not just here but all of the areas that we used to enjoy that have not gotten around getting fixed yet. It takes time to build a pier, but I mean, it’s been two years, and some of the stuff — it just looks like it’s been cleaned up. When is the real impact of change going to start being noticeable? It’s sad.”
There is still no date for when construction will start on the boathouse, and the city is reviewing final designs for the new community center.
DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.