Ft Myers Beach - Good Neighbor
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Tune in to the Ft. Myers Beach – Good Neighbor Podcast, where the spirit of community meets the rhythm of island life. Each episode is a laid-back journey through heartfelt stories, local voices, and the connections that make our beach town so special. Whether you’re a resident or just dreaming of coastal breezes, let us be your guide to all things good in our neighborhood.
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Ft Myers Beach - Good Neighbor
FMBGN-Biz-Sea Gypsy Vacation Rentals-Scott Safford-The Beach Is Back: Rental Trends, Water Quality & Community Wins
The resilient spirit of Fort Myers Beach shines brightly in this heartwarming conversation with Scott Safford from Sea Gypsy Vacation Rentals. As the community rebuilds following Hurricane Ian, Scott shares the exciting progress happening across the island and the strategic approach of creating "a win every month" to maintain momentum.
July celebrated the Beach Bar becoming the first business to literally rise from the ashes, while August brought the return of the Rugby Tournament and debut of Mullet Fest. Looking ahead, the Singer Songwriters festival is set for September, The Whale plans to reopen in October, and November will feature an expanded Sand Sculpting Tournament. These milestones mark the steady march forward for this determined beach community.
Vacation rental patterns reveal an encouraging evolution of visitor confidence. What began as cautious one-bedroom bookings immediately after Ian has progressed to two-bedroom rentals last year, with larger four and five-bedroom properties now seeing strong demand as families return for full beach experiences. Though rates haven't fully recovered, the focus remains on rebuilding visitor loyalty and creating new generations of Fort Myers Beach enthusiasts.
Perhaps most striking is the exceptional water quality, with clarity levels rarely seen during summer months. This improvement stems from collaborative efforts between local and state governments to better manage water discharges. Organizations like Captains for Clean Water have transformed the conversation around water quality from a niche environmental concern to a universally recognized economic priority that transcends politics.
The beach renourishment project is nearly complete, dramatically expanding the shoreline to approximately twice its previous width – enhancing both the recreational experience and storm protection for coastal properties. Combined with community-created events and traditions, these developments showcase a community that isn't just recovering but emerging stronger and more vibrant than before.
Ready to experience Fort Myers Beach's comeback story firsthand? Whether you're planning a quick weekend getaway or a family reunion, Sea Gypsy Vacation Rentals offers accommodations to match any need, with their promise of "clean rooms and happy guests." Come discover why Fort Myers Beach remains the slice of paradise we all love!
Sea Gypsy Vacation Rentals
Scott Safford
100 Lovers Ln Suite 2 East, Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931
(239) 463-0078
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Welcome to the Fort Myers Beach Good Neighbor Podcast, where the sun's always shining and the stories are even brighter. Each episode we bring you closer to the neighbors, local legends and beachside businesses that make Fort Myers Beach the slice of paradise we all love. Pull up a beach chair, grab a drink and let's meet the people who make this island feel like home. We want to send out some island love to Eric Tibbs from Edward Jones State Insurance, usa and Home Well Care Services Fort Myers. Love to Eric Tibbs from Edward Jones State Insurance, usa and Home Well Care Services Fort Myers. They are the businesses that allow us to share the soul of our community with every listener, from local stories to the positive vibe of island life. Here's to celebrating all that makes Fort Myers Beach the slice of paradise we all love. Here's your host, cabo, jim Schaller.
Speaker 2:Welcome Fort Myers Beach. Good neighbors we're all about. No shade, just sunshine. Drama-free, positive vibes, only right. That's what we're all about Today. We have Good Neighbors, scott Safford from Sea Gypsy Vacation Rentals Welcome.
Speaker 3:Hi, thanks for having me Good morning. How are you doing today?
Speaker 2:I am doing awesome. The sun is out, the weather is great, the water is clear finally, so I'm loving it and the sun is out.
Speaker 3:The weather is great, the water is clear, finally. So I'm loving it. That's awesome. Yeah, we're doing great down here. We had a great weekend with Mullet Fest and the rugby tournament. So you know summer break's about to wind down, but we're still jamming down here.
Speaker 2:Lots of good things happening at the beach, right, absolutely. And this is the time the locals can get out and enjoy a little bit before it gets busy again here soon, right, absolutely. And this is the time the locals can get out and enjoy a little bit before it gets busy again here soon, right?
Speaker 3:Yes, we used to call this our shoulder season. We're coming into our shoulder season, which is between the summer season and our full season, and most of our guests right now are drivable Tampa, Orlando, Miami of course, A lot of locals just doing staycations, so it's a good diversity. But what's cool this year is I've actually had some international guests, a lot from South America. I've got some Argentinians staying in one of my properties right now, so it's encouraging that we're not only getting. We're trying to get back to where we were pre-Eon. So you know a great mix of people, but the vast majority, you are correct, are locals or you know, with a drivable three hours.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and there's plenty to do down here. Every day something new is opening, something new is happening down here, so it's good to get people to come back and enjoy it Well, before it gets too busy and too crazy, uh. But, like I said, they're doing a great job down here at the beach of doing things to invite people to come down, enjoy with their family and just enjoy the great weather we've been having.
Speaker 3:can't complain weather's been fantastic not not much rain. It's been really, really nice, especially on the beach, and we are trying to get you know different things every month. You know what I look at it like. We need the island, needs a win every month. So last month, in July, a big, big win. The beach bar reopened, first building that rose from the ashes of Hurricane Ian, so it was fantastic to see them.
Speaker 3:We kicked off August with a rugby tournament that was very, very popular pre-Ean, and then we came up with a new event called Mullet Fest, which really was a great success. And then next month, in September, we're having the Singer Songwriters. And then, right behind that, looks like the Whale is going to be reopening in October, which is fantastic Same story as the Beach Bar. It's good to see these businesses coming back. And then, of course, in November, the kickoff season. We have the Sand Sculpting Tournament, which is we started it back up last year and it was absolutely fantastic. We started it back up last year and it was absolutely fantastic. And they are actually increasing the scope of the tournament and the length of the tournament. So we've got some good momentum. So we're getting wins all the time.
Speaker 2:And that's what it is about moving forward little by little, but moving forward is the key. I know we spoke a little bit earlier too about your rentals and what you had seen in years past and what you're seeing currently.
Speaker 3:Yeah, so it's been interesting. You know, unfortunately, with Irma, red Tide, the pandemic and, of course, the devastation from Ian, we lost a lot of our generational or repeat business. So we're starting kind of, you know, at the very beginning. We're trying to get new folks to come down here and we're seeing that since Ian, our rental pool, the one bedrooms, tended to rent rather well two years ago. People were just coming down, you down, dipping their toes. In checking it out Last year we saw a lot of two bedrooms so people were able to convince their kids or their friends to come down.
Speaker 3:None of the big houses were really renting. But what we're seeing this summer is we're seeing the larger unit, our four bedrooms, our five bedrooms. We're seeing families coming down and enjoying the beach. So we're starting to get a new generation of clientele and that is, you know, of all the things, that's one of the most promising. Now the rates aren't where they were, but right now we're just trying to get people to come down, experience, get a taste of the beach, see what we have to offer. But it's very encouraging that our larger inventory is moving this year. So I think all signs point, you know, onward and upward.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and it's great when people can bring their families here and enjoy a quiet weekend at the beach. You know in their unit, you know off the water or whatever it may be in their unit you know, off the water or whatever it may be.
Speaker 3:We're seeing a lot of families, which is really really great, and we can tell that's happening because right when school starts back up in a couple weeks, we're seeing that traditional, you know, drop off. But that's okay, you know we again.
Speaker 2:I hope, our big hope is that these people will come back next year, maybe even rent another house or have a family reunion at Thanksgiving or another family reunion next summer. Now, as far as you're concerned, I know you do your walk every morning. Well, whenever you can, I guess with Max on the beach. What are you seeing down at the beach?
Speaker 3:Well, the beach re-nourishment is almost done. They've got about 10 blocks, maybe three quarters of a mile to a mile left, but the beach is twice the size it was. I mean beach. It looks fantastic. I know we had some pain getting to that point this year, but I think the end product is not only going to be great for tourists, but I think it's going to protect our homes, our businesses. So I'm really encouraged we can see the finish line and it's absolutely beautiful.
Speaker 2:Yeah, talking about beautiful, and you know, I don't know whether it's the lack of discharge or lack of rain, whatever it may be, but the water has been the clearest I've seen it in a long time.
Speaker 3:Well, that's, you know that's. There's a couple factors going on. Number one, there has been less rain. But number two, our local government and our state government are working hand in hand to keep the discharges from coming down here. And just, our water policy in general has been so much better over the last seven years and we're seeing the positive results of that. I mean, the Southwest Florida Management Water District has completely changed hands. The flows have, you know, we're working with the Army Corps of Engineers to get a different flow schedule, obviously because we've had less rain. That helps, but I think everybody's working together to you know, to eventually send that water south and keep it away from us.
Speaker 3:And, quite frankly, miami needs more fresh water. We had too much, they didn't have enough, and it's slowly starting to change. But I think groups like Captains for Clean Water, fmb, has started their own water foundation, the FMB Chamber of Commerce. So the word's out and we all, I think, are beginning to realize how important clean water is to us, not not only, you know, for fishing and boating and everything else, but it's tied to our economy.
Speaker 3:So I I think you know it used to be all those crazies want clean water. Now it's like, everybody wants clean water. And when you go to uh, you know, when you go to an event or you know, just hanging out with friends the one thing we can all agree on is we have to have clean water. So it it. It has totally in, at least in Florida. There's there's no politics involved, it's everybody, doesn't matter what side of the fence you're on. Everybody agrees that we have to have clean water, and I think we're. You know we're seeing that change now and I think in 10, 15 years the water for my grandkids is going to be much better than it is now, and that's a real positive.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, what are we guys doing? It's great and I'm like I love it. I love going to the beach and being able to see my feet and seeing what's in the water.
Speaker 3:Sometimes I don't, sometimes it's in the water. It's crazy. I mean, they're, uh, this time of year, off off my, off my dock, you can barely see, and now I, some some days I can see the bottom, which that doesn't happen except in, you know, late february, early march, and now we're seeing it, you know, in july and during rainy season. So it's, it's super encouraging, but you know, again, it, it everybody's got to do their part and I, I think, um, I think you know we're all in I hate to use we're all in this together, but look, we have to have clean water. It's, it's, it's a must. Yeah, it's like you have to have oxygen breathe and we need clean water to have a vibrant community and economy.
Speaker 2:It makes a big difference. Talking about that as far as giving back, I mean I know you're part of the council and everything, but what can other people do to help give back and get involved?
Speaker 3:in the Fort Myers community. If you want to get involved with clean water, you go check out captains for clean, clean water. I think that's the first group that comes to mind. I mean these, these guys start right after irma, during the red tide there, and so it's almost eight, nine, ten years now that and they were in their late 20s. But if you ever say, hey, I can't make a difference, these two guys that started captains for clean water have made a difference. So you know they're. They're still fighting, I mean every day they're. I mean they're trying to build.
Speaker 3:These two guys that started Captains for Clean Water have made a difference. They're still fighting every day. They're trying to build a rock mine in the Everglades. These guys get wind of it. They're sending petitions, they're going to meetings, they're really active. I think that's a good starting point. Of course, the Everglades Foundation is great. Check out the FMB Chambers Water Foundation. They just got a couple testing stations on the island. One is at the Mound House. So it's really cool how everybody's getting involved, not just one or two individuals, but it seems like the whole community is getting it.
Speaker 2:I think I locked up there for a second. That's okay. Did you get all that? The very end of it cut off a little bit. So if you want to try to clean it up at the end there, just finish your last sentence, maybe, I think.
Speaker 3:I'm getting involved it. Just it takes everyone to get involved. But even just understanding what's going on with the Everglades and what Captains for Clean Water is trying to accomplish, I think just some knowledge and understanding that you know red tide is a natural event, but when you dump all this water with phosphates and everything else, it just accelerates it. So we're trying to keep that flow. We're trying to keep cleaner water coming down the Caloosahatchee.
Speaker 2:It makes a difference. It absolutely does. I know your schedule's been very demanding lately. You've been spreading, you've got a lot going on, but outside of work, what do you enjoy doing? Do you have a secret spot you like to go to and maybe grab a cocktail and watch the sunset?
Speaker 3:Well, my quote-unquote office, my home away from home, is the beach bar, but that's you know. I try to get out um on our boat and you know my dog Mac, and my other dog, dudley, we we love jumping the boat and go down the dog beach and hang out now, by lover's key and, yes, even just a quick afternoon on the water can can just take the stress out of your life and we just boat in the back bay and sometimes we'll get adventurous and and go up to kayak Costa or North cap and but just being on the boat you know, a couple of times a month is is really good for the soul and good for the mind to clear your head.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I'm with you. I spend a spend a day on the every weekend at the beach just to unwind and ground myself and just to enjoy what, why we live here. Right, you know, can we?
Speaker 3:get away from everything, put that phone on, do not disturb, and just you know, let your staff know. I'm blessed that I have a really, really good staff. We've been together for a number of years. We all trust each other. We all know that personal time, family time, is important. Just to get that, you know, hit that reset button. So you know you work hard, you play hard, but you have to have some relaxation and some just recharge your battery time too, and that's super important.
Speaker 2:Absolutely, absolutely. So talking again about business and Sea Gypsy, what if people wanted to come visit Fort Myers Beach and wanted to check out what you have to offer? How would they go about contacting you?
Speaker 3:They can check out our website at gypsyvacationcom. They can check out our Facebook page. They can check out our Instagram page. Just get a feel for what we have page. Just get a feel for what we have.
Speaker 3:As we've said in the past, I think we're able to offer any type of vacation. If you're looking for that weekend studio, one bedroom apartment getaway, we've got that. If there's a small family coming down, we have some great two bedroom and three bedroom apartments and condos, and then we've got some huge, massive houses on the beach. So if you're looking to entertain for a wedding, for a family reunion, if you're coming down for a baseball tournament, you want all the wives staying there and the kids well, dad and the son are out playing baseball we can do that. We can accommodate just about any event in any group. So, um, perfect right now, as we talked about in shoulder season, to do that staycation, because I know you know people living inland just a bit that you know come on, come, come down and spend the weekend with us. So I think we we have a little bit of everything to offer for any type of vacation, any type of client.
Speaker 2:And our motto is clean rooms and happy guests.
Speaker 3:So we'll make sure your vacation is great, Whatever you're looking for. If you want to be left alone, we'll leave you alone. And if you want to be left alone, we'll leave you alone. If you want activities, we'll hook you up with the best charter captains, the best cruises, as much fun as you can have. So we try to treat every guest like they're staying at our house. We want to make sure they enjoy the beach and just enjoy the vibe of Fort Myers Beach.
Speaker 2:And come on down. There's plenty of room down here, plenty of things happening and any last words for our listeners today.
Speaker 3:Well, check out. You know, one thing we're trying to do with our we have an email blast every month but also check out the chamber and see what events are coming up. We're trying, just like we did with Mullet Fest. We're trying to come up with new and different events. I know we had Joe Boo Fest, which goes back to Major League, if you remember that movie from back in the 80s Founder Market. Yeah, just a bit outside. But Joe Boo, we had a Joe Boo Fest at the start of hurricane season and, knock on wood, we haven't had any hurricanes. So we're going to do a jobu redo, I think, end of the month. You know, as we we get in the heart of hurricane season, but it's you know, it's fun, goofy stuff like that that brings the community together and, and you know there's there's usually something going on every weekend or every weekend down here. So you know, check the community calendars, check out the FMB Chamber website.
Speaker 2:There's a lot of great stuff happening on the beach, yeah, and it's great to get out and get involved and get your mind off all the drama that's going out in the world today. So I thank you for your time today, scott, thank you for being such a good neighbor. Thank you, yeah, we'll see you at the beach soon, all right, all right, thanks for having me, Jim.
Speaker 3:Have a great day.
Speaker 1:Thanks for tuning in to the Fort Myers beach Good neighbor podcast, where community meets paradise. If you love what you heard, share it with a friend and keep the good vibes going until next time. Stay sunny, stay salty. And keep the good vibes going Until next time. Stay sunny, stay salty and keep being a good neighbor. Also, to nominate your favorite neighbors, local legends, heroes or island businesses to be on the show, go to CaboWaboJimcom. That's CaboWaboJimcom. Or call 239-427-4100. We want to send out some island love to Eric Tibbs from Edward Jones State Insurance USA and Home Wellcare Services Fort Myers. They are the businesses that allow us to share the soul of our community with every listener, from local stories to the positive vibe of island life. Here's to celebrating all that makes Fort Myers Beach the slice of paradise we all love.