SCCF News

Stay in the know about wildlife, water quality, and ecosystems on Sanibel and Captiva Islands and in Southwest Florida

Update on SCCF Facilities

September 27, 2023

As we mark one year since Hurricane Ian slammed our shores, we are thrilled to report that the remodel of our SCCF Headquarters on Sanibel-Captiva Road is complete.

The remodel was underway when Ian pushed two feet of water into the building and one wall fell in, but the building was spared major wind damage. Because the project was already down to the studs, we had a head start on recovery efforts; however, contractors, materials, and workers were stretched extremely thin. This led to a delayed completion date, but we are thrilled to be in our updated headquarters!

“We are grateful for the outpouring of donations this year — many of which were unsolicited. Our community’s incredible generosity has helped us immensely with our hurricane recovery.”
SCCF CEO James Evans

Bailey Homestead Preserve Renovations Complete

We also recently completed the renovation of our Bailey Homestead Preserve, which took on three feet of water inside the house and six feet in the adjacent Honey House and garage.

bailey homestead one year after hurricane ian

The historic property has flooded in the past. In a classic case of “they don’t build them like they used to,” the house sustained minimal damage to the original wood flooring and doors, while recently updated features were a loss.

We have been working hard to restore the historic elements of the house while making significant improvements in functionality for the events we often host on the property. Check out our amazing kitchen remodel that will be a great asset for our programs and events!

Sanibel Sea School & Wilmeth Cottage Renovations Moving Forward

We are moving full steam ahead in rebuilding the Sanibel Sea School facilities, which are expected to be completed in March 2024. We’re also rebuilding the Wilmeth Cottage to once again house visiting scientists.