When Hurricane Ian came through in September 2022, the docks at Legacy Harbour Marina lifted right off their concrete piles. Marina director Eric Ravenschlag told WINK News that every boat in the basin ended up on land or half sunk, except for nine. Crews then worked through salvage, demolition and cleanup of the basin floor before construction could begin.
Four years later, boats are tied up there again. Downtown Fort Myers has two ends now. The River District core has its restaurants and the library. The stretch of West First Street around 2000 had gone quiet, and it now has its own reason for people to come down to the river. Boaters arriving by water are back, the old Chart House building has a new tenant with a 25-year lease, and two small businesses in the Fortiner Building opened before any of that was finished.
The docks reopened in September, ahead of the official date
The marina at 2044 West First Street reopened in stages, so it's worth knowing which date means what. WINK reported in late September that the marina had passed its final inspections, reservations were already coming in, and a grand opening was planned for October. Construction had started in early 2025 and was first expected to finish this spring. The marina's own site says it officially reopened in September 2026. A News-Press report from Oct. 17 said the $15 million comeback was slated to become official on Oct. 23. By then, the first boaters had already been back on the docks for weeks, having returned almost four years to the day after the storm.
Here's what the rebuild produced on the 13-acre property:
- 131 wet slips for boats from 40 to 140 feet, according to the marina's current listing. Some earlier coverage gave slightly different size ranges.
- A new structure. Floating docks, more pilings around the basin, stronger breakwaters, updated utilities and a new harbormaster building.
- Slip services. Potable water, in-slip pump-out, fire suppression, dock boxes and shore power.
- The team behind it. AIRN Management led the redevelopment with Bellingham Marine. Coastal Marina Management runs the marina day to day.
"This marina has long served as a homeport for boaters traveling Florida's west coast," AIRN CEO Rick Budd told the News-Press.
Why 131 slips matter to people who don't own a boat
These slips aren't new supply. They are the same marina coming back. The News-Press noted that this matters in a region where building new marina capacity has gotten harder, and where finding a place to keep a boat can be as hard as buying one.
The same report pointed out what the marina adds back to downtown. Boaters who tie up at Legacy Harbour can walk to the River District's restaurants, shops and entertainment. For four years, the west end of First Street had no marina bringing those customers in. Now it does again, and the businesses nearby benefit even if you never step onto a dock.
If you do have a boat and want to come in by water, the marina's dockage page lists short-term reservations along with seasonal and annual slips. You can book through Dockwa or email Marina Director Eric Ravenschlag at [email protected], as the marina's FAQ explains. Before you head over, call ahead to confirm availability and services for your size of boat.
The old Chart House building gets its next chapter
The second piece is the restaurant building next to the marina at 2024 W. First St. Longtime residents know it by several names. WINK traces its history this way:
- The Gondola Inn
- Chart House, which opened in 1984
- Joe's Crab Shack, which closed in 2025 when its lease ended
Next up is Nellie's Boatyard, from restaurateur Leonard Lemmer. He owns Nervous Nellie's on Fort Myers Beach and also operates Cantina Laredo in Fort Myers and Walk-On's Sports Bistreaux in Cape Coral. Plans call for 82 floor-to-ceiling windows facing the Caloosahatchee, seating for about 250, a 40-seat circular bar, and a menu built around aged steaks and local seafood. The restaurant expects to employ more than 100 people.
Lemmer told the News-Press that half the menu will come from Nervous Nellie's and half will be new. He described the feel as somewhere between Chart House and Joe's Crab Shack. "We signed a 25-year lease so it's going to be there long after I'm gone," he said. "It won't be fine dining. It'll be relaxed dining."
That 25-year lease is the clearest sign of how long this corner is meant to stay a dining destination. The opening date has moved, though. In August, the Business Observer reported a late-2026 target. In late September, WINK mentioned a restaurant on the marina property set to open in December. The Oct. 17 News-Press report puts the debut just after New Year's, while interior renovation and landscaping continue. For now, plan on early 2027 and watch for an announced date.
The News-Press also described a longer-term goal for the whole site: a mixed-use waterfront destination with boating, hospitality, retail and public access. Nellie's Boatyard comes well ahead of that larger plan.
The Fortiner Building opened first
You don't have to wait for the restaurant to find something open on this stretch. A few blocks up the address numbers, the Fortiner Building at 2180 W. First St. has two businesses that opened earlier this year, while the marina was still under construction.
Chocolattés Coffee & Roasting opened its downtown location in January 2026. The News-Press described a menu of coffee, crepes, grilled cheese, bagels and flatbreads, plus a private event space you can reserve.
Point Ybel Brewing opened its downtown taproom in the same building on April 11, 2026. It's a brighter, modern space with 17 taps. The taproom's October calendar keeps a steady weekly rhythm:
- Monday: Merch Mondays
- Tuesday: Trivia
- Wednesday: Side Pull
- Thursday: Run club
- Friday: Music bingo
- Saturday: Poses & Pints yoga
Farther along First Street, Turco Taco opened at 2451 First St. on April 24, 2026, across from the Fort Myers Regional Library.
So the small places opened first, the marina came back in September, and the big riverfront restaurant is next. When Nellie's Boatyard opens, it will join a stretch where people already have reasons to stop by.
Where the season picks up from here
The marina's timing lines up with downtown's busiest boating weekend. The 54th Fort Myers Boat Show runs Nov. 12–15, with boats and gear spread across the downtown waterfront, Centennial Park and the Caloosa Sound Convention Center. The News-Press noted that Legacy Harbour is back just in time for it.
Here are the other dates for downtown and the river:
| Date | Event | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Fri., Nov. 6, 5–9 p.m. | Monthly Art Walk, free | First Street |
| Nov. 12–15 | Fort Myers Boat Show | Downtown waterfront, Centennial Park, Caloosa Sound Convention Center |
| Nov. 27, 2026–Jan. 3, 2027, 5:30–9 p.m. | Holiday Nights, 51st year | Edison & Ford Winter Estates, 2350 McGregor Blvd. |
| Fri., Dec. 4, 5–9 p.m. | Monthly Art Walk | First Street |
The city's Art Walk listing says the event usually happens on the first Friday of each month. On select nights, the Holiday Nights listing includes Santa, carolers and children's activities. For an Art Walk night, the Fortiner Building is an easy first or last stop. During boat show week, more boats should be coming and going at the marina than at any point since it reopened.
If Legacy Harbour's return has you thinking about life closer to the river, whether that means walking to First Street, keeping a boat nearby or finally getting dock access, I'd be glad to walk you through what that looks like around downtown Fort Myers. Reach out to Jordan Musumano at Integrity Realty of Florida. Let's Connect.
