In 1976, shortly after getting married and moving to the area for the promise of new endeavors, Tony Lapi began his journey to rescue the beloved ‘Tween Waters Inn on Captiva Island. He reflects on that 48-year journey in his recently released memoir, “Tales of an Island Innkeeper.”
Lapi weaves the history of Sanibel and Captiva Islands with his stories of memorable guests, employees, and incidents at the inn. His work with the Captiva Island Historical Society inspired him to share his stories of the past with the public, so he hired a ghostwriter.
Lapi chose Bill Schreiber to write his memoir. “When he finished,” shared Lapi, “he said, ‘You know, I don’t say this about everybody, but this book is very special.’ There’s nothing like it because very few people stay at a property as long as I have.”
‘Tween Waters sits between Pine Island Sound and the Gulf of Mexico and welcomed the first overnight guests in 1931. When Lapi came along in 1976, the inn had fewer than 50 cottages. While 19 nostalgic cottages remain today, there are 137 additional accommodations, a spa, and multiple dining options on the inn’s 13 acres of coastal charm…