By Richard Luthmann
The echoes of Hurricane Ian still murmur. In the heart of Fort Myers Beach, the semblance of escapism now lies: the Fins Up! Beach Club at Margaritaville Beach Resort. It is a prepackaged paradise, an ode to Jimmy Buffett’s Parrothead ethos, where every day is an endless loop of “Margaritaville” and “Cheeseburger in Paradise.”
The tourist flock comes here amidst the sprawling 15,000-square-foot pool, seeking refuge in a carefully crafted world of relaxation and rebellion. The club, its lagoon pool encircled by a vast sundeck, beckons with the siren call of chaise lounges and private cabanas, a homage to an ease that once was and is now available for widespread consumption.
Fins Up! Beach Club boasts a 15,000-square-foot pool.Photo byRichard Luthmann / Sun Bay Paper
In the shadow of the pool is the 5 O’Clock Somewhere Bar & Grill, where 60 bar stools hold court for those pursuing a carefree existence. Nearby, the transformed Cigar Hut, soon to be the Salty Rim, promises to offer gourmet hot dogs and pizza alongside Margaritaville’s trademark frozen drinks, fueling the endless pursuit of tropical paradise.