Bridge installation brings Margaritaville Beach Resort closer to completion

A pedestrian bridge for the upcoming Margaritaville Beach Resort was installed late Thursday night, bringing the much-anticipated attraction in Fort Myers Beach closer to completion, but mixed feelings remain about the resort.

The Margaritaville Resort is expected to bring more people to Fort Myers Beach, which means more traffic. The new bridge was installed, so people can get across the street safely. Town officials are also hoping for an economic windfall.

Once complete, the Margaritaville Beach Resort will take up more than six acres and will have 254 hotel rooms, a beach club and restaurants. Those who come to Fort Myers Beach, or live there, can see pros and cons to this development. People there who spoke to WINK News say they think the look and feel of the beach town is about to change.

One man says he is OK with the resort coming as long as it doesn’t take away from the existing businesses.

“It’s always been, in my experience, like, mom-and-pop shops, small businesses, stuff like that, no large corporate entities,” said the man, who didn’t wish to be named. “Although, you know, with that coming in, like I said, it may be a good thing, because it’ll attract more business to the area.”

The Margaritaville Beach Resort will surely also mean more crowded beaches as well as roads, in addition to any economic gain. That eventuality was the source of many mixed feelings neighbors voiced to WINK.

“It’s going to be a zoo,” said North Fort Myers resident Linda Walccyk. “It’s going to be wall-to-wall people, the traffic will be unbearable. I mean, it’s unbearable now. Especially in high season? Forget it. Nobody’s going to come down here.”

“I think it’s a great idea,” said Cape Coral resident Jim Nielsen. “A lot of the buildings that were in that area that were torn down needed to be redone, anyway, so I think it’s going to bring in some good customers and lots more business for the locals. And that’s always good.”

The Margaritaville Beach Resort is scheduled to open in 2023.