In 2022, Fort Myers Beach suffered a direct hit by Hurricane Ian. A community dependent upon tourism for its economy saw entire hotels, resorts, homes, and recreational facilities destroyed and washed away within hours. Now, in 2024, the area is seeing a return to its beach community roots.

One resort in particular, the Pink Shell, has been resilient in its efforts to get back to business, after its entire dock and ground floor were destroyed. That resilience paid off—it took only five months to re-open and welcome annual guests back to the property. With RVi’s rapid design production and onsite assistance with construction, the Pink Shell was able to redesign its outdoor area with newly connected pool decks, a new lawn and patio for weddings and events, and more accessibility between pools for guests of all abilities. RVi Vice President Ryan Seacrist, Director of Planning Fred Drovdlic, and Project Manager Laurah Walker have been working on the Pink Shell project since the very beginning.

After connecting with the Pink Shell, Drovdlic and his team put together a grand development plan to work through the zoning required along the beachfront. The team then submitted the plan to the town and went on a presentation tour with the neighbors. The responsiveness and attention to detail built a strong sense of trust between Drovdlic’s team and the client, allowing the plans to be turned over to landscape architects. It was at this point that Laurah Walker became an essential figure in the project’s progress.

“Our clients at the Pink Shell had a few goals in mind when we launched this project,” explained Walker. “These goals included renovating the outdoor spaces of the three existing resort buildings to connect all pool decks; adding an additional 870-square-foot pool and two hot tubs; and maximizing deck space for guests to enjoy lounging in the sun or under the shade of the cabanas. Additionally, they wanted to offer commemorative bricks to return guests as a way to raise funds for the redesign and a chance for guests to leave their mark on the resort.”

With these goals in mind, Walker got to work designing the beachfront pool decks. The team stayed in near-constant contact with the contractor to ensure any questions were quickly answered and the project was able to move along at the client’s desired speed. Because things were moving so fast, Walker found herself making tweaks in the field and frequently visiting the site to review any updates firsthand.

The resort stands out from competitors as its ideal resident is a family, so the need for bars was small whereas the desire for kid-friendly spaces and multi-generational spaces was great. The Pink Shell also literally stands out among the competition by being the tallest resort still standing after the hurricane.

The redesign of the property went from a splashy, kid-friendly theme completely separated from an adult-only pool, to something more in line with a more spa-like feel that is still open to families. “The client wanted an adult space with some privacy, and we were able to deliver that for them, even with a tight timeframe and actively moving parts,” said Walker.

This project was particularly personal for Walker, as locals from the community own the resort. She stated, “In a lot of ways, it still looks like the hurricane just hit, so being able to work on this project and help locals get back on their feet and return to some sense of normalcy felt good. It brought a sense of purpose to the work and felt fulfilling to help the client improve their property rather than just return to what they had.”

The project is still ongoing, but the success of the work is opening doors for RVi. “As the community is rebuilding and reuniting, we are seeing more developments coming down the pipeline to revitalize the community through resorts and hotels,” Walker commented. “It is a fantastic opportunity for us to get in on the ground efforts to support rebuilds, and actively incorporate ourselves into the redesign of the area. We are passionate about being a liaison between the community and the hoteliers interested in investing dollars here.”

RVi continues to work with the Pink Shell to develop and bring its amenities into a new phase of life for the resort. The RVi office in Fort Myers and its teams’ neighborhoods were also affected by the hurricane, so we understand the weight of that sadness and the sorrow of seeing the community swept away. As we anticipate the city bouncing back from the effects of Hurricane Ian, we also look forward to being a part of that process. Drovdlic, Seacrist, Walker, and RVi are excited about the opportunities to bring new developments into the area, design inspiring spaces, and infuse vitality back to the tourist destination.