Shalimar Cottages & Motel, a beachfront motel on Sanibel Island, Florida, was destroyed by Hurricane Ian in September 2022. The motel’s owner, Sean Niesel, has decided to rebuild the motel on the same site. The new motel will have a different look and layout, but it will still have 33 rooms. Niesel hopes to break ground on the new motel in early 2024 and have it completed in time for the 2025-2026 tourist season.
Niesel grew up vacationing at the motel, which was owned by his grandparents. He said he wants to rebuild the motel because he believes it is a beautiful property and he wants it to stay in the family for generations.
The rebuilding of Shalimar Cottages & Motel is one of several signs of recovery for Sanibel Island, which was also damaged by Hurricane Ian. Roughly 35 businesses have reopened on Sanibel and Captiva since the storm, and there are plans to rebuild several other hotels and businesses that were destroyed.
Click here for the entire article
