So heartbreaking to see this. I have been here countless times. My parents came here all the time for happy hour up on top for the cheap drinks and food. I was just here a few days before hurricane Ian hit the area visiting my parents. They ended losing everything as well but they are okay which is all that matters. Everyone will come back stronger than ever!!
So very sorry about all the damage. My wife and I enjoyed your resort in May and enjoyed ourselves very much. So sad to see all the damage. Best of luck with your recovery.
So heartbreaking. I don't know why I keep watching all of this devastation. My empath heart is bursting but my curiosity gets the best of me. Praying for those who were lost and for those who lost so much. God bless you all.
Grateful you are with us for the after video. So many fun memories at the Lani Kai. I am sending you love and peace through your journey of repairs. Stand tall! Don't stop!
As one who's prepared for more than a few hurricanes here on the Space Coast, you guys did the best you could! Impressive preparation. Hang in there. You'll be back.
The most amazing thing to me was that there were still crows perched on the railing of the rooftop after the hurricane, as there had been beforehand. Not as many of them, not surprisingly. I wonder where they went during the storm and how they survived?
Currently away from home but seeing family and friends homes being close to restrictions and all the beautiful places I remember growing up with and seeing being built and finished and going there being destroyed. Breaks my heart to see home being so destroyed. I wish I could go over to help but sadly am Miles and miles away. Hope to visit home again sometime
Unfortunately, most people underestimate the power of moving water. Moving water is an absolutely terrible force that’s like a battering ram upon buildings. It’s truly terrifying to see the damage that moving water is capable of inflicting!
I knew it was bad over there but haven’t been back on the island yet. Love this place and so very many memories at FMB. Prayers for everyone to stay strong. Ian was a monster beyond belief. I rode out Charley & now Ian, but Ian was so much longer and so very much worse re: surge at the very least. Hugs from former Lee county (now Charlotte) customer/neighbor/friend. #SWFLStrong ❤
I remember when I was there last week of July of 1993 visiting your place me and a friend who still lives in ft Myers. Praying that you will be back in business soon.
Sad to say this is a very good example of before and after. Prayers for all. So sorry about folks who lost their lives. So sorry for folks who lost their homes and the ones left who must rebuild with no insurance. Thanks for making and sharing this.
Thank you for the video even though it absolutely breaks my heart. Yes they will rebuild but it will never be the same. I know someone that is going to really miss "Yo Taco".
Sorry to see all the destruction😢😢 We had dinner at your restaurant on the seventh floor last Christmas and was going to make reservations in late October to come with our son who is in the Marine Corps for this Christmas. We will be back, but it’s going to be a while💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻
We can't wait for the day we can welcome you back to our Island View restaurant, and on behalf of our veteran-owned establishment, please thank your son for his service for us! ♥
We visited for the first time in August, so glad we got to see this paradise before Ian hit. Heartbreaking to say the least 😞 it will take time but I’m sure it will be back. Thoughts and prayers to those who lost so much
My heart is broken for everyone affected by Ian. My prayer goes out to each and everyone of you. That being said I know SWF will come back stronger and even better. I can't wait to come visit again.
Thank you so much. I never thought to look something like this up. I have been there many times in the past, haven't been in awhile since I've moved from the area. Before the hurricane, was there ever anything on the rooftop? It had such a nice view. When I was there the bar was closed but we were allowed to take our drinks up there.
No doubt the beach will come back, I hope that it comes back without losing its small island town charm. If big developers start snatching lots by lots, that's what will happen and the beach's real beauty will be lost to steril venues big hotels and big box stores
@@lanikaiislandresort I certainly hope so. South Beach in Dade needed that, it was going down hill really bad in the 80's but that's not the case here. There's a lot of small town charm here, that wasn't the case in SoBe.
Man i cant believe this place looks like this now when i used to live in naples 10 years ago a group of us used to ride our motorcycles to the lani kai and pick up girls down ft myers beach and eat at hooters next door.glad my family that still lives there was safe
The Lani Kai always stands. It is a staple of Fort Myers beach. I will 100% be back there to stay. Thanks to Dudley for the reminder of a dirty Larry.. I hope y’all are well. ❤
A nice place for spring breakers in the 1980s. What a loss! How about the Estero Tennis Club n Resort at 7701 Estero blvd. Did it survives. Pls post. One of my favorite places.
0:19 - Notice the red house in the center of the screen, on the far side of the parking lot. This is the same structure that can be seen being destroyed by the storm surge in the famous video taken by a camera that was strapped to a utility pole that recorded the 9 hours of the entire storm. The man and woman and their two dogs inside this house, on the second floor, amazingly survived this disaster but their home was totally wiped out, which is not surprising since the storm surge was 10 to 15 feet deep and went on for hours.
Damn had many a nice breakfast on the Sundeck. Really hurts to see this. The basic building looks sound, time will heal all wounds. Hopefully the insurance is enough. We have a place reserved for April 2023. I just contacted the owner today. 18 months or more before the building is operational again.
If you are gun ho about taking the chance again to build so close to the sea, go at it, but just research Atlantic City NJ! After the devastating hurricane that hit in I think 1958, it took years to reconstruct the city. It had numerous buildings that were trashed by the storm surge. It tried to come back several times. Now, it's just there, hanging on, by its nails, wishing for good times again! That was over 65 years ago! Florida is much bigger than A.C., and much more devastation. Most adult people there will not see the rebuilding of that area of FL.
@@bywaterbeatsproduction hurricanes are yearly, we've been through our fair share, you brace for the worst, hope for the best, clean up after the storm if needed and move on; Ian was something else, Ian was not a normal hurricane.
@@lanikaiislandresort they had a report about the gulf being quite shallow there even far out into the gulf, meaning a storm lingering on top of that "plateau" is going to swoosh that shallow water like it's nothing as you saw Tampa Bay was drained and it just basically slung all of that water from their bay into your "bay". @Ft.Meyers 🕵🏻
Look I know you guys just had a hurricane and the hurricane seasons last a few months but during the hurricane seasons only book rooms third floor up empty out everything 9 days prior to a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico everybody else can just ride it out this hotel has seen a lot of hurricanes obviously it's going to be there a long time just as soon as you guys can get a fence around the place at your current damage and the fence is only for the sea turtles start booking rooms third floor up and keep me in mind I can't wait to book a room and come back to what I love
We evacuated all guests the day before the storm was expected to hit, and were battening down the hatches for a week before that day. No need to close up shop nine days ahead of a storm.
@@lanikaiislandresort I am aware , but there are also a lot of illegal electrical tie ins. And random generators coming onto the grid, even if incorrect, a lot do it.
@@michaelsmith5583 there was no power anywhere on our property or the island while electrical wires were hanging in disarray for the storm, thank you for your concern for protection
If by "homeless," you mean our then-displaced staff who lost everything riding out the storm with us in a safer, higher location than their lower-lying homes, then sure, "homeless."
its all about infrastructure and building methods...not codes...methods..no excuse for free flying objects left unsecured...the concept seems to be ...ehh...it only happens once in a while...this us good enough...we're insured...now you'll pay big time
@@lanikaiislandresort i did and didn't see any moving of stuff. It was there then washed away. Nothing left. Take a picture of what you saved for proof.
This is so heartbreaking but truth is we have to face facts that Climate change is here whether you believe it or not and that building right in front of the Ocean is no longer viable. Let these barrier islands do what they were meant to do be a BARRIER!
The Lani Kai has been in a hurricane zone for over 50 years without major damage. It will be rebuilt and people will come back to view the beautiful ocean. I have enjoyed FMB for over 60 years and will go back again. if you don't like the beach don't go there.
Climate change is cyclical. It’s just another scam by this inverted system to make one believe you can raise taxes and influence Mother Nature. Best shot at controlling these types of events is to research and learn about weather modification techniques used to pump these storms into massive energy capacity- the patents exist and they have been tweaking the weather since WWII. Courtesy of HAARP, Ground Controlled Radar different frequencies and the Geo Engineering phenom better known as Chemtrails. - they literally create and steer these storms.
Not to sound pessimistic; however, I seriously doubt Ft Myers Beach will ever recover. There may be "new construction" but what was will never be again, sad to say.
What a great before and after video! You did a amazing job!
Thank you so much!
So sorry my Lani Kai Family n Friends,,
Thoughts n Prayers Always with Yall,,
Hope to see ya soon,,
Love n Hugs from the Jersey Shore
XOXO
So heartbreaking to see this. I have been here countless times. My parents came here all the time for happy hour up on top for the cheap drinks and food. I was just here a few days before hurricane Ian hit the area visiting my parents. They ended losing everything as well but they are okay which is all that matters. Everyone will come back stronger than ever!!
So very sorry about all the damage. My wife and I enjoyed your resort in May and enjoyed ourselves very much. So sad to see all the damage. Best of luck with your recovery.
Thank you for your support!
.Sad video...BUT! Great converge, a must see...Thank you ...Artist, Old Naples Florida🌴🎨
I would book a room as is ,that's the love I have for the Lani Kai ,nothing but great memories, THANK YOU LANI KAI
We love yawll, and we'll be back!
Sorry for the loss but happy to hear you plan to rebuild stronger. When you’re located in a paradise that’s the best vision
So true!
Ill be there soon 👍✌️
So heartbreaking. I don't know why I keep watching all of this devastation. My empath heart is bursting but my curiosity gets the best of me. Praying for those who were lost and for those who lost so much. God bless you all.
I miss having breakfast with a nice coffee on the roof of Lani Kai, can't wait for it to come back better than ever!
This is amazing! you did a wonderful job with this! terrible devastation.. I pray for ft myers and everyone there. god bless
Grateful you are with us for the after video. So many fun memories at the Lani Kai. I am sending you love and peace through your journey of repairs. Stand tall! Don't stop!
You guys have a heckuva strong, stout building. She stood up to the challenge.
Good luck in your rebuilding. :-)
She certainly did, Bob Conidaris proved his keen building talent with that structure. Hope to welcome you sooner than later!
Thank you for posting.
As one who's prepared for more than a few hurricanes here on the Space Coast, you guys did the best you could! Impressive preparation. Hang in there. You'll be back.
Thank you, we certainly did the best we could. Glad to have the chance to rebuild off our structurally sound Old Florida building!
The most amazing thing to me was that there were still crows perched on the railing of the rooftop after the hurricane, as there had been beforehand. Not as many of them, not surprisingly. I wonder where they went during the storm and how they survived?
The part where you walk by the TV showing the satellite image gives me chills....
Love this place, will be there when open.
We would love that!
It's truly heartbreaking.
Currently away from home but seeing family and friends homes being close to restrictions and all the beautiful places I remember growing up with and seeing being built and finished and going there being destroyed. Breaks my heart to see home being so destroyed. I wish I could go over to help but sadly am Miles and miles away. Hope to visit home again sometime
Unfortunately, most people underestimate the power of moving water. Moving water is an absolutely terrible force that’s like a battering ram upon buildings. It’s truly terrifying to see the damage that moving water is capable of inflicting!
It absolutely is. Although the severe wind was catastrophic, that tidal surge did the most damage to our beautiful island.
Never forget that water is a thousand timed denser (weight for same volume) than air.
exactly
Notice that the storm surge was deep enough to wash through the second floor, also.
I knew it was bad over there but haven’t been back on the island yet. Love this place and so very many memories at FMB. Prayers for everyone to stay strong. Ian was a monster beyond belief. I rode out Charley & now Ian, but Ian was so much longer and so very much worse re: surge at the very least. Hugs from former Lee county (now Charlotte) customer/neighbor/friend. #SWFLStrong ❤
Thank you, hope to welcome you back sooner than later!
Very sad to see but looks like the place got the complete and total renovation it needed.
I will be back for a cocktail once y'all are ready. Have good memories of my days at FGCU thanks to your resort! 💚💙
So many memories
We all await your reopening! God speed to all!
Thank you for your support!
This breaks my heart. The sun deck was my favorite place to watch the sun set, and eat the appetizer specials.
We will be back!
I remember when I was there last week of July of 1993 visiting your place me and a friend who still lives in ft Myers. Praying that you will be back in business soon.
Sad to say this is a very good example of before and after. Prayers for all. So sorry about folks who lost their lives. So sorry for folks who lost their homes and the ones left who must rebuild with no insurance. Thanks for making and sharing this.
Thank you for watching our vid; the devastation is awful, so many lives lost. Many will rebuild and overcome, it's a tough little island!
)
Thank you for the video even though it absolutely breaks my heart. Yes they will rebuild but it will never be the same. I know someone that is going to really miss "Yo Taco".
Sorry to see all the destruction😢😢
We had dinner at your restaurant on the seventh floor last Christmas and was going to make reservations in late October to come with our son who is in the Marine Corps for this Christmas.
We will be back, but it’s going to be a while💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻
We can't wait for the day we can welcome you back to our Island View restaurant, and on behalf of our veteran-owned establishment, please thank your son for his service for us! ♥
Wow, so much destruction! So heartbreaking 😢
We visited for the first time in August, so glad we got to see this paradise before Ian hit. Heartbreaking to say the least 😞 it will take time but I’m sure it will be back. Thoughts and prayers to those who lost so much
We hope to welcome you back sooner than later, thank you for your support!
My heart is broken for everyone affected by Ian. My prayer goes out to each and everyone of you. That being said I know SWF will come back stronger and even better. I can't wait to come visit again.
We can't wait to welcome you back!
Like an atómic bomba,the power of Nature,incredible.
Thank you so much. I never thought to look something like this up. I have been there many times in the past, haven't been in awhile since I've moved from the area. Before the hurricane, was there ever anything on the rooftop? It had such a nice view. When I was there the bar was closed but we were allowed to take our drinks up there.
Every time I see a video that shows the Pier gone it just gives me the chills
No doubt the beach will come back, I hope that it comes back without losing its small island town charm. If big developers start snatching lots by lots, that's what will happen and the beach's real beauty will be lost to steril venues big hotels and big box stores
It's happening now with lowball offers by corporate investors - sad, but hopefully the beach peeps stay strong!
@@lanikaiislandresort I certainly hope so. South Beach in Dade needed that, it was going down hill really bad in the 80's but that's not the case here. There's a lot of small town charm here, that wasn't the case in SoBe.
MR C , and all of the best.. stay safe.. heartbroken…
R.I.P. Lani Kai Island Resort, you will be missed.
No RIP, we're still here and rebuilding stronger than ever!
we honeymooned at the Lani Kai, so sad to see it this way
We'll be back!
Not forgotten
We'll be back 🥰
Man i cant believe this place looks like this now when i used to live in naples 10 years ago a group of us used to ride our motorcycles to the lani kai and pick up girls down ft myers beach and eat at hooters next door.glad my family that still lives there was safe
The Lani Kai always stands. It is a staple of Fort Myers beach. I will 100% be back there to stay. Thanks to Dudley for the reminder of a dirty Larry.. I hope y’all are well. ❤
Hope to see you again sooner than later!
I was there in March, such a shame, it was a beautiful resort!!!
A nice place for spring breakers in the 1980s. What a loss! How about the Estero Tennis Club n Resort at 7701 Estero blvd. Did it survives. Pls post. One of my favorite places.
0:19 - Notice the red house in the center of the screen, on the far side of the parking lot. This is the same structure that can be seen being destroyed by the storm surge in the famous video taken by a camera that was strapped to a utility pole that recorded the 9 hours of the entire storm. The man and woman and their two dogs inside this house, on the second floor, amazingly survived this disaster but their home was totally wiped out, which is not surprising since the storm surge was 10 to 15 feet deep and went on for hours.
The ravens were in the before and after on the deck. I wonder where they hunkered down?
Stayed there for Spring Break, 1986!! 😞very heartbreaking.
Sad stuff- you probably don't remember much though, if you were doing it right Michelle.
Hard to fathom, looks like a war zone. So many memories there, we will come back.
Wow! The power of water and wind. May every single person that has been impacted by the disaster be comforted by Jesus Christ.
Hopefully they'll be able to make some long overdue improvements
🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
This Was the worst Ive ever been thru but I know we will be back ! So sad to see this.
Hope you're okay!
Damn had many a nice breakfast on the Sundeck. Really hurts to see this. The basic building looks sound, time will heal all wounds. Hopefully the insurance is enough. We have a place reserved for April 2023. I just contacted the owner today. 18 months or more before the building is operational again.
We’re not gonna get all that stuff cleaned up and how long will it take
If you are gun ho about taking the chance again to build so close to the sea, go at it, but just research Atlantic City NJ! After the devastating hurricane that hit in I think 1958, it took years to reconstruct the city. It had numerous buildings that were trashed by the storm surge. It tried to come back several times. Now, it's just there, hanging on, by its nails, wishing for good times again! That was over 65 years ago! Florida is much bigger than A.C., and much more devastation. Most adult people there will not see the rebuilding of that area of FL.
Had Thanksgiving there and Easter, it was a little shabby and the elevator worked when it felt like it but ....
Will Lana Kai make a comeback?
Crows are a bad omen-dang
How can you rebuild after that. It will take years.
Did they really think that bracing would hold up the gazebo??
Are you guys hiring people to help remodel?
Maybe?
Ian was a serious storm it’s gonna take years but it’ll come back
only to get wiped out again. hurricane's too frequent, it doesn't make sense 😒
@@bywaterbeatsproduction hurricanes are yearly, we've been through our fair share, you brace for the worst, hope for the best, clean up after the storm if needed and move on; Ian was something else, Ian was not a normal hurricane.
@@lanikaiislandresort they had a report about the gulf being quite shallow there even far out into the gulf, meaning a storm lingering on top of that "plateau" is going to swoosh that shallow water like it's nothing as you saw Tampa Bay was drained and it just basically slung all of that water from their bay into your "bay". @Ft.Meyers 🕵🏻
Why are those people barbecuing in the remnants of that hotel
That's the new staff! Open for business!
That is our crew that rode the storm out with us/higher ground vs. their own low-lying homes.
@@scottb5420 That is our crew that rode the storm out with us/higher ground vs. their own low-lying homes.
@@lanikaiislandresort Glad they made it!
💔Too close to the water. Move inland and build.
No.
Its not going to hit here. Heard her say it. That place will never be the same.
It was always an old dumpy hotel.
Sadly it will take decades to erase the damage.
Look I know you guys just had a hurricane and the hurricane seasons last a few months but during the hurricane seasons only book rooms third floor up empty out everything 9 days prior to a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico everybody else can just ride it out this hotel has seen a lot of hurricanes obviously it's going to be there a long time just as soon as you guys can get a fence around the place at your current damage and the fence is only for the sea turtles start booking rooms third floor up and keep me in mind I can't wait to book a room and come back to what I love
We evacuated all guests the day before the storm was expected to hit, and were battening down the hatches for a week before that day. No need to close up shop nine days ahead of a storm.
Brave or dumb to be walking along all those electrical wires. So sad. Prayers.
FUN FACT: During and after a hurricane, for safety, ALL POWER IS CUT OFF on the island for days/weeks/months if needed.
@@lanikaiislandresort I am aware , but there are also a lot of illegal electrical tie ins. And random generators coming onto the grid, even if incorrect, a lot do it.
@@michaelsmith5583 there was no power anywhere on our property or the island while electrical wires were hanging in disarray for the storm, thank you for your concern for protection
They we will come back stronger than ever? Desantis bragged in the Crist debate, about Florida's budget surplus, HUH? NOW, HOW CAN THAT BE?
It’s literally like a bomb went off. Holy crap….this will take years to recover!
How long did it take to build initially? You know?
@@analyticalliastute3555 about one year to build back from 1977 to 78
Well. What did you expect? They are at sea level. Ocean and the wind kicked their ass! Duh. 🤷♂️🤷♂️😳😳
& all the local yocals wanted this place shut down for years & now there gone & Lani Kai survives 😎
From all I've seen after Ian nowhere got hit worse that FMB.
I love how the homeless move in
If by "homeless," you mean our then-displaced staff who lost everything riding out the storm with us in a safer, higher location than their lower-lying homes, then sure, "homeless."
Whose not a colonist, right?
That building is totaled...
Actually it's not. We're officially structurally sound and double-approved by the Army Corps of Engineers. #badassbuilder
@@lanikaiislandresort Coolz!
You pays your money and takes your chances . Go figure !
its all about infrastructure and building methods...not codes...methods..no excuse for free flying objects left unsecured...the concept seems to be ...ehh...it only happens once in a while...this us good enough...we're insured...now you'll pay big time
I'll bet y'all didn't move one thing to the second floor in preparation for the hurricane.
Did you not watch the vid?
@@lanikaiislandresort i did and didn't see any moving of stuff. It was there then washed away. Nothing left. Take a picture of what you saved for proof.
@@BigBirdy100 our crew was preparing for that storm a week before it hit. Thank you so much for your suggestion of taking a picture.
This is so heartbreaking but truth is we have to face facts that Climate change is here whether you believe it or not and that building right in front of the Ocean is no longer viable. Let these barrier islands do what they were meant to do be a BARRIER!
The Lani Kai has been in a hurricane zone for over 50 years without major damage. It will be rebuilt and people will come back to view the beautiful ocean. I have enjoyed FMB for over 60 years and will go back again. if you don't like the beach don't go there.
Climate change is cyclical. It’s just another scam by this inverted system to make one believe you can raise taxes and influence Mother Nature. Best shot at controlling these types of events is to research and learn about weather modification techniques used to pump these storms into massive energy capacity- the patents exist and they have been tweaking the weather since WWII. Courtesy of HAARP, Ground Controlled Radar different frequencies and the Geo Engineering phenom better known as Chemtrails. - they literally create and steer these storms.
Best to not rebuild. Listen to what nature is communicating not what you desperately want to believe.
The beaches are just too tempting - miles of beautiful sand makes humans want to live right next to it !
What? No dude fuck that
We've been here 43 years, our building is structurally sound and we're not going anywhere.
Not to sound pessimistic; however, I seriously doubt Ft Myers Beach will ever recover. There may be "new construction" but what was will never be again, sad to say.