FORT MYERS BEACH, Fla. — Silver Sands was one of the first resorts to close on Fort Myers Beach, just days ahead of Governor Ron DeSantis’s official Safer-at-Home order last month.
Sandy Collins, Silver Sands Operations manager said they were losing too much money to stay open when the pandemic came.
“After the first $50,000 in refunds, we had to go, okay, wait a minute. We can’t keep doing this,” she said.
Even though it’s been a tough couple months, she’s optimistic about finally being able to take reservations again.
“We survived it. It’s looking up,” she said
Melissa Schneider with Lani Kai resort said it’ll be a while before the resort fills with people as it did before the pandemic. But, there were a few people hanging out Friday morning.
“Wherever guests are on the property, we want to make sure that they’re properly socially distancing themselves from other parties,” she said.
There’s also space markers for guests as they wait in line for food and drinks to go. Schneider shared how they’re keeping the resort clean.
“We have a full sanitizing crew that goes through every room to clean in between guests,” she said.
Collins is also selling masks to guests who don’t have one. She said whatever it takes to protect them in the event of a second wave.
“You can only be prepared so much, and hopefully we don’t get to where we came this time, where everybody has to shut down again,” said Collins.
In the meantime, she has a message for silver sands guests.
“We’re open, and we’re excited, and you can come back home now,” she said.
