Legacy Harbour Marina in Fort Myers, Florida, is moving forward with plans to rebuild following the damage caused by Hurricane Ian, which made landfall in September 2022.
The category four storm brought damaging winds and record-breaking storm surge. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, it was the costliest hurricane to impact Florida, causing more than $112 billion in damage. Legacy Harbour was left in ruins, and redevelopment efforts were initially delayed.
AIRN Management, LLC, which had taken over the property shortly before the storm, has spent the past three years clearing the site and preparing for reconstruction, according to a press release. Construction began in early 2025, with the marina projected to reopen in Q1 2026. AIRN Management partnered with Bellingham Marine to lead the redevelopment.
“This marina has always played an important role in the Fort Myers boating community,” said Rick Budd, chief executive officer of AIRN Management, LLC. “We’re committed to restoring Legacy Harbour in a way that not only honours its history, but brings in modern improvements and safeguards for the future.”
Plans include 131 slips ranging from 40 to 150 feet (12-46m). The new design features Bellingham Marine’s Unifloat concrete wave attenuator system, supported by 70-foot (21-metre) steel piles driven into the seabed. Interior slips will use a Unideck aluminum frame dock system with WearDeck synthetic decking.
Larger steel pipe piles with high-density polyethylene sleeves will improve durability and reduce maintenance. Also included in the upgrades will be new utility services, slips drinking water, in-slip pump-out, fire suppression, fibreglass dock boxes, and both single- and three-phase power.
Legacy Harbour spans approximately 13 acres (53,000 square metres) along the Caloosahatchee River, including eight acres of submerged land and 4.6 upland acres. Its riverfront location offers direct access to the Gulf of Mexico and walkable access to downtown Fort Myers.
