Allegiant pushes back the opening date for the Sunseeker Resort

When it is finished, the Allegiant Travel Company’s Sunseeker Resort will be the crown jewel of Charlotte Harbor. But now, the doors to a new luxury destination may not open as soon as initially planned.

A lot is going on behind the walls at the Sunseeker Resort Charlotte Harbor construction site. Gene Johanson, a local resident, said in the last several months, he has seen significant progress. While Allegiant will have its “brand-new marquee destination” accepting bookings by the end of the year, the leisure travel company is pushing back the opening date for its resort.

Now, it is on track to open in the second quarter of 2021, rather than late 2020. Allegiant said weather, permitting and material availability affect the timeline of the project. But it is hard to see that delay from nearby U.S. 41. “There’s just a lot more activity,” Johanson said. “More equipment. A lot of cranes there right now.”

You can see those cranes from Pioneers Pizza, which is one mile north on Tamiami Trail. Rick Barone, the owner of Pioneers Pizza, said he is counting down the days till Sunseeker’s opening. “Anything that’s attracting more people and more people to the community,” he said, “gives me an opportunity to sell more product.”

But, Barone understands many projects come with obstacles, which cause delays. “I’m sure it’s in their best interest as allegiant,” Barone said, “to get that thing open as quickly as possible.”

Barone is among the several businesses and tourists planning for a significant addition along Charlotte Harbor. But we will have to wait a little longer. “It’s always been kind of a sleepy little community and that’s going to change, I think,” Johanson said.