Latest news with #ThunderbirdBeachResort
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Treasure Island's Thunderbird Resort to be rebuilt after hurricane damage
Treasure Island's Thunderbird Beach Resort announced Thursday that it's not coming back any time soon. The hotel, a neon-blue staple on the island since 1957, will be demolished and rebuilt after Hurricane Helene wreaked catastrophic destruction upon it more than six months ago. In a statement, the resort's owners said more than 80% of the property 'sustained substantial damage.' 'After extensive evaluations and much deliberation, we were left with no choice but to move forward with a full redevelopment of the hotel,' owners Avi and Gilad Ovaknin said in a statement. Shaul Zislin, a registered agent with the company that owns the resort, Thunderbird TI Holdings LLC, declined to comment on whether the owners received a letter from the city requiring that their property be demolished and rebuilt. The owners will share additional news at a later date, he said. Thousands of businesses and residents in Tampa Bay have received letters informing them that their property could be substantially damaged — meaning the property is more than 50% damaged and must be rebuilt or elevated. That includes several properties along Treasure Island's portion of Gulf Boulevard, where most hotels and restaurants reside. Now the hotel will begin the lengthy work of demolition. The Thunderbird is not alone — 121 demolition permits have been issued by the city of Treasure Island. Hundreds more have been issued in Tampa and St. Petersburg. The owners plan to rebuild with parking on the ground level and a four-story building above, according to plans filed with the local water management district. The current resort consists of multiple two- and three-story buildings, with 106 guest rooms. The hotel will keep its name and signage, owners said. Their goal is to come back more resilient against future storms. 'We are committed to rebuilding the Thunderbird Beach Resort with the same heart, soul, and charm that guests have come to love — while enhancing the property to be more resilient to the challenges posed by severe weather,' the Ovaknins wrote on Facebook. The Thunderbird's current ownership group purchased the hotel in 2021 for $25.5 million. Loyal guests and local residents responded with sympathy and gratitude that the resort plans to rebuild. 'We love the Thunderbird and look forward to spending lazy days by the pool and snorkeling in the mornings,' wrote Cat Windsor, who said her family vacations there each year. 'We were devastated to hear of all the damage, but we are happy to hear that the Thunderbird will still remain.' Other beach properties, like the Postcard Inn and the Beachcomber and Bellwether resorts have also remained shuttered since Helene hit. St. Pete Beach's Don CeSar reopened late last month after extensive repairs to its electrical systems.
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Treasure Island's iconic Thunderbird Beach Resort announces total teardown after hurricanes
The Brief The Thunderbird Beach Resort announced that they are tearing it down to fully rebuild. The resort suffered significant damage during Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Many longtime visitors say they are heartbroken but excited about the new version of the resort. TREASURE ISLAND, Fla. - The Thunderbird Beach Resort has been a beloved landmark on Treasure Island for 68 years. Its owners confirmed Thursday it will be torn down and rebuilt. They say more than 80% of the resort sustained substantial damage from Hurricanes Helene and Milton, leaving them no choice but to redevelop the hotel entirely. Plans submitted to the city show they'll keep the iconic neon sign and the name. They also plan to rebuild in the same u-shape with the pool in the middle of the courtyard, cabanas, and a bar with food and drinks. The backstory The plans show 106 hotel rooms, the same as before, but now on the second, third and fourth floors. The first floor will house the lobby and office space. There will also be 126 parking spots. PREVIOUS: Amid damage to hotels and restaurants, employees hope to return to work after Hurricane Helene "We are committed to rebuilding the Thunderbird Beach Resort with the same heart, soul and charm that guests have come to love—while enhancing the property to be more resilient to the challenges posed by severe weather," owners Avi and Gilad Ovaknin said in a statement. "It made my heart feel really good to know that they were keeping the neon sign, which I know is so silly, but that's just such a staple when you drive down Gulf Boulevard and you see the Thunderbird sign. That's kind of it for us. That's Treasure Island," said Laura Coleman, who has vacationed at the Thunderbird for decades. "So, that was neat. And I guess, I mean, things change. Change is very scary, but it sounds like it's going to be a good plan and a smart plan. So, hopefully in the future, I hope it doesn't happen, but then it will fare better." Dig deeper Coleman, from Kansas City, Missouri, has been vacationing at the resort since she was a kid. She also got married there, and she and her husband even have matching Thunderbird tattoos. READ: Treasure Island looks like a war zone following Hurricane Helene "We just kind of fell in love with the Treasure Island area, and so, it just holds such a special place. We always kind of joked, you know, like, 'We should get a tattoo of it. Like, what a fun idea.' And so actually, when we got married and went, we're like, yeah, let's get that tattoo," said Coleman. Coleman said she and her husband planned to bring their one-year-old son here last October, but then Helene and Milton happened. What's next She said they can't wait to bring him to the new Thunderbird, despite it being bittersweet. CLICK HERE:>>>Follow FOX 13 on YouTube Coleman was just one of hundreds on social media who voiced heartbreak and excitement about what was coming. Many consider the Thunderbird their home away from home. The plans and permits still have to be approved. "It has been our mission to honor the Thunderbird Beach Resort's incredible legacy while investing in its future. Our vision has always been to make the Thunderbird a premier travel destination—a place where new memories are made while honoring the generations of families who have called it their home away from home. The Thunderbird has been a beloved Treasure Island landmark for 68 years, and we are deeply aware of the role it plays in the lives of so many. Sadly, the back-to-back hurricanes that struck our coast last year caused catastrophic damage to the property. Although we have chosen not to publicly share images of the devastation, we can share that over 80% of the resort sustained substantial damage. After extensive evaluations and much deliberation, we were left with no choice but to move forward with a full redevelopment of the hotel. Like many of you, we are heartbroken by the loss. But we are also incredibly optimistic and energized by what's to come. We are committed to rebuilding the Thunderbird Beach Resort with the same heart, soul, and charm that guests have come to love—while enhancing the property to be more resilient to the challenges posed by severe weather. The resort's iconic name and neon signage will remain, and our redesigned beachfront resort will continue to offer direct beach access and the welcoming atmosphere that has defined the Thunderbird for decades. Our new plans reflect a thoughtful balance of preservation and progress. While the structure and layout will evolve, the spirit of the Thunderbird will live on. We look forward to sharing updates throughout this journey and can't wait to welcome you back once the new Thunderbird Beach Resort is ready." The Source FOX 13's Kailey Tracy collected the information in this story. 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Axios
10-04-2025
- Business
- Axios
Treasure Island's Thunderbird resort to be rebuilt after hurricane damage
One of Tampa Bay's landmark beach hotels will be demolished and redeveloped because of what the owners said was "catastrophic damage" caused by last year's back-to-back hurricanes. Why it matters: The Thunderbird Beach Resort and its iconic vintage sign have welcomed travelers to Treasure Island since the 1950s. State of play: Initial plans filed with the city and the Southwest Florida Water Management District indicate the owners plan to build a four-story U-shaped building with 106 hotel rooms anchored by a courtyard with a pool, St. Pete Rising reported. That's the same number of rooms the resort had pre-hurricanes. None will be on the ground level. Instead, that floor will be home to a 126-space parking lot and a lobby with offices. The resort will hang onto its 310-foot beachfront, per St. Pete Rising. What they're saying: More than 80% of the resort sustained damage from the storms, owners Avi and Gilad Ovaknin announced Thursday on Facebook. "After extensive evaluations and much deliberation, we were left with no choice but to move forward with a full redevelopment of the hotel," they wrote. "Like many of you, we are heartbroken by the loss. But we are also incredibly optimistic and energized by what's to come. The good news: The rebuilt resort will keep the name and neon sign that has made the hotel such a storied location, the owners said. Fun fact: The resort almost wasn't called the Thunderbird, according to "Hotels, Motels and Inns of Florida" by Kristen Hare.
