On September 28, exactly three years after Hurricane Ian devastated Sanibel Island, the Shalimar Beach Resort reopened its doors at 2823 West Gulf Drive. The property, completely rebuilt to modern hurricane codes, now welcomes guests back to its 33 redesigned rooms across seven buildings — marking the first new hotel to open on Sanibel since 1984.
A Legacy Rebuilt
Originally constructed in 1959, the Shalimar’s wood-frame cottages were swept away by Ian’s storm surge in 2022. Today, the resort stands stronger than ever. Owner Sean Niesel, whose grandparents first bought the property decades ago, reflected on the journey:
“We made it. We hope, we pray we don’t get another Hurricane Ian. But if we were to, this place can survive a Hurricane Ian, and we’d just be doing landscape and cleanup.”
The rebuilt property now includes 21 hotel rooms, 10 one-bedroom villas, and two two-bedroom villas, totaling more than 52,000 square feet. Each unit features a kitchenette with a full-size microwave, refrigerator, and stove — a modern upgrade designed with extended stays in mind.
Strengthening Sanibel’s Recovery
Shalimar’s reopening is a milestone for Sanibel’s tourism recovery. Since Ian, about 84.5% of hotel rooms in Lee County have returned, but Sanibel lags behind at 56.4%. With Shalimar’s 33 units coming online, that rate ticks upward to 58.4%, raising the island’s available rooms from 917 to 950 out of 1,626.
Resilience and Dedication
For longtime General Manager Romas Vaickus, who has worked at the Shalimar since 1997, the resort’s reopening is deeply personal. In the aftermath of Ian, he expected to lose his position. Instead, Niesel not only kept him on but continued his salary during the rebuilding process.
“I agreed to stay with Sean and help him to rebuild,” Vaickus said.
From there, a team assembled to bring the Shalimar back: architect Joyce Owens of Studio AJO, R.S. Landscaping, and Stevens Construction, which stepped in to keep the project under budget despite rising costs.
“This is our first resort build, and the first to meet Sanibel Island Resort Housing Development District Standards,” said Dan Adams, Executive Vice President of Stevens Construction. The project involved 559 concrete pilings, 3,000 cubic yards of concrete, 69,000 concrete blocks, and 35 subcontractors.
Adams credited Construction Superintendent Tom Porter, who managed the build while repairing his own hurricane-damaged home.
A New Chapter for Sanibel Hospitality
To about 50 community members, officials, and friends gathered for the reopening, Niesel summed up the day’s significance:
“It’s a surreal day for us, but also a really humbling one.”
With Shalimar Beach Resort officially welcoming back guests, Sanibel takes another important step forward in its recovery, blending resilience, innovation, and community spirit into the next chapter of the island’s hospitality story.
