Ritz-Carlton, Naples, slammed by Ian, reopens bigger, better, on Vanderbilt Beach
Laura Layden | Naples Daily News
The Ritz-Carlton Resort, Naples quietly reopened to resort guests last week, giving them the first peek at its major transformation.
Now, locals can see and experience the same.
On Monday, the Ritz rolled out the welcome mat to the community – and all visitors. The transformation includes several new restaurants, and a new lobby bar, with a champagne tasting menu, and “elevated light bites,” such a caviar and wagyu truffle sliders.
The world-renowned resort took a beating from Hurricane Ian, forcing it to close for more than nine months, and to lay off nearly 600 employees.
The coastal property on Vanderbilt Beach remained open in the midst of a multimillion-dollar renovation, until Ian hit in September, swamping it with water and sand, and lashing it with high winds.
Upgrades to the resort include the new Vanderbilt Tower, with an expansive new club lounge and more than 70 more spacious club-level guest rooms.
Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park is open after Hurricane Ian and it’s still glorious Amenities, treeline, dunes were destroyed by the storm.
Naples Daily News Staff
Key points
Parking fills up quickly and is limited to lots 1 and 2.
Bring cash to pay fees as there’s no guardhouse.
Pets are not allowed on the beach itself but can go inside the park.
Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park reopened in May 2023 after suffering major damage during Hurricane Ian. The popular, natural Naples beach is a local favorite, has historically ranked high in national best beach lists and ranks as the No. 1 best thing to do in Naples by U.S. News & World Report.
Before Ian, the park attracted about a half-million visitors each year.
Read more about the park and how it looks now on naplesnews.com.
~Boaters and beachgoers urged to give space to nesting birds along area beaches.~
Beach-nesting birds have begun their breeding season along Florida’s coasts. Spring and summer are very important for these endangered species because that’s when they have to raise their young without getting hurt by people, storms, or other animals.
The eggs of seabirds and shorebirds are laid right on the sand. They think that people and dogs are dangerous and will fly away if beachgoers or their dogs get too close. Repeated human disturbance often results in birds abandoning the colony. Important nesting areas are posted or roped off so that people can’t go there while state-threatened birds lay eggs and raise chicks. This keeps people from disturbing the birds.
The Second Chance Critical Wildlife Area (CWA) in Collier County is now closed to boaters and landers until August 31. This is to let the birds nest without being disturbed. The shell island is at the end of Cape Romano on the south side, which is south of Marco Island.
Being the best place to call home in the whole country, Naples deserves the honor.
Naples, Florida, has been declared the best place to live in the United States, making a life in SW Florida a dream come true.
Collier County’s Naples is a beautiful seaside city. This place has white sand beaches, a tropical environment, and a high standard of living. This gem of the Gulf Coast has risen to the top of various “best places to live” rankings.
Mostly, Naples enjoys a warm and sunny atmosphere all year. On average, there are 264 clear days a year, making it perfect for sports like golf, fishing, and boating.
