Crews demolish the Cape Coral Yacht Club Beach pavilion

A place full of memories for so many people in Cape Coral is now reduced to rubble. Demolition began on Monday morning on the Yacht Club Beach pavilion. The structure stood there since the 1960s, but the city closed it last year because of costly repairs.

What used to be a place for events, shopping and shade from the sun for many is now a pile of debris. Vincent Buenfil said he used to come there in the summer for the “art and different events that they hold inside.” A second man, Ed White, told WINK News that it was a great spot during the summer to “get the shade in the morning from the pavilion.”

A small crowd gathered to watch the demolition. Some people told us they did not know the end of an era was upon them.

“I was on my morning bike ride and I came by and was surprised to see the building being torn down,” said Jeff Chitwood, who lives in Cape Coral. “I don’t know why.”

The demolition will cost the City of Cape Coral $15,000. But the city said that it is less expensive than what it would cost for repairs. Once the pavilion is gone, the city plans to expand the beach.

The demolition means the Yacht Club Beach will stay closed all this week, but other amenities at the park will be open to the public. The city said you could expect all of the debris to be cleaned up and for the beach to be reopened by next week.

“Good while it lasted,” said Chris Camp, principal Engineer for the City of Cape Coral. “But we’re a growing city and we’re all about making progress for the future. And this is part of the sacrifice.”

“I’ll withhold judgment,” Chitwood said. “I’d be happy to see when they get done.”