A significant milestone in Captiva’s recovery was marked on October 15, as owner Sandy Stilwell Youngquist and her team held a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Captiva Island Inn. The beloved property, which was largely destroyed by Hurricane Ian, is beginning a $6 million rebuilding project designed to be more resilient while honoring its historic charm.
The decision to rebuild follows a difficult period after the storm. Stilwell Youngquist, who has owned the inn since 1999, described the devastation as heartbreaking and the choice to demolish the original wood-frame structures as an emotional one.
“When we got to the island after Hurricane Ian and saw the devastation, it was heartbreaking,” Stilwell Youngquist said. “And I’m getting choked up, because that’s how hard it was, to realize we had to tear it down.”
Managed by Stevens Construction with a design by MHK Architecture, the project will restore the inn’s capacity, adding 10 new units across two new buildings for a total of 15 units.
The new design thoughtfully balances modern resiliency with the inn’s historical character. After consulting with the Lee County Historic Preservation Board, architect Carmella Cioffi of MHK Architecture developed a plan that pays homage to the original cottages.
“They required that the new design harken to the old design,” Cioffi explained. “We kept some detailing from the original building — decorative trim, the window styles and the colors, and we incorporated those into the new buildings.”
Stilwell Youngquist plans to bring back the original cottage names and will use five different types of siding to ensure the new buildings retain the “quaint, island look” of separate cottages.
The project is a significant investment in the island’s future, especially as the local economy continues to feel the effects of the storm. “Our economy has really dipped down for tourism,” Stilwell Youngquist noted, expressing hope that recovery and rebuilding efforts will encourage visitors to return.
Construction is expected to take about a year, with a target opening date in late fall 2026. In another sign of progress, Stilwell Youngquist’s ice cream and coffee shop, Latte Da, is on track to reopen on November 1.
