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The scent of the sea, the sound of the wind, the taste of freedom: experience all this by stepping on board an Itama yacht.

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Itama is pleased to welcome you to the Salone Nautico Venezia 2024 from 29 May to 2 June.  

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Discover the history of Itama and our timeless creations: open yachts of inimitable style, where elegance and performance combine to perfection in essential, minimalist lines and the trademark palette of white and blue.

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We create open yachts whose sporty character and inimitable elegance make them unmistakable. It is the perfect blend of power and style that provides an unparalleled sailing experience. An Itama yacht is the perfect combination of style, power and comfort. Timeless and impeccable, gracing the seas as you thrill to the lure of freedom.

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Tax code and VAT no. 04485970968 Registered Office Via Irma Bandiera, 62 – 47841 Cattolica (RN) Italy REA no. RN 296608 - Companies Register no. 04485970968 Share capital € 338.482.654,00 fully paid-up PEC: [email protected]

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This Sleek New Open Cockpit Cruiser Brings 2,800 HP of Cool Fury to the Water

Itama gave its most popular model, the 62rs, a refresh that emphasized contemporary design. but boy, can it run., howard walker, howard walker's most recent stories.

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Sonny Crockett would have approved. The Miami Vice undercover sleuth and go-fast boat lover would have felt right at home behind the controls of the latest Itama 62RS open cockpit cruiser with its 2,800 horsepower and 46 mph top speed.

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But fast-forward to the most recent Cannes boat show, and Itama pulled the wraps off a thoroughly updated version of the 62, featuring an all-new interior, redesigned cockpit, uprated technology, and a greater focus on style and luxury. The refresh is thanks to being part of the Ferretti Group , the Italian conglomerate that purchased the brand in 2004.

Built to blast along the Italian and French Rivieras, the 62RS is instantly identifiable through its mile-long foredeck—now clad in teak—and that trademark tall, wrap-around windshield that runs all the way back to the transom.

And the latest hull and deck design by Rome-based marine architect Marco Casali again focuses on sleek, uninterrupted lines. That means no ugly handrails or stanchions on the foredeck, and the addition of new, retractable deck cleats and flush-fitting hatches and skylights.

While hull colors come down to buyer choice, Casali specified dark blue for the Cannes show boat so as to visually hide the hull windows, portholes and engine air intakes.  And while a power-raising cockpit sunshade is included, it’s only designed for when the boat is at anchor.

For this revised 62RS, the deep-V hull design is complemented by Humphree Interceptor trim tabs on the transom, replacing the previous flaps, and an optional Seakeeper NG9 gyro stabilizer.

The technology improvements also include the layout of the helm station, with its redesigned dashboard and all-digital instrumentation featuring standard 12-inch Simrad screens with the option of 16-inch displays.

What hasn’t changed is the gorgeous wood-rimmed, retro-style steering wheel, with its mirror-polished center hub and pencil-thin spokes. The cockpit has also been redesigned to put more focus on soaking up rays, with a huge four-person sunpad at the stern. To feed and water up to 14 guests, a big U-shaped dining area with an outdoor galley are nearby.

Below decks, the new layout is from Ferretti’s Interior & Decor team, with a focus on stark white walls and ceilings, light walnut cabinets and wood decking-style floors.

Accommodations-wise, there are three cabins, with a master suite in the bow, and two smaller guest cabins each with their own bathroom.

The mid-mounted galley has mostly Siemens and Bosch appliances as well as composite work surfaces and storage. Opposite is a dining area with a height-adjustable table that lowers to form a makeshift bed.

And, as you might expect for such a party boat, the sound system is state of the art. Perfect, no doubt, for cranking up that iconic Miami Vice sound track. South Beach here we come.

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Freedom is Open

Explore itama yachts and enjoy the enchantment of freedom.

For over forty years, Itama has been a pivotal figure in shaping the history of Italian open boats worldwide. With a distinctive identity rooted in strong engineering expertise and a unique style, the shipyard became part of the Ferretti Group in 2004, a global leader in luxury motor yacht design and construction.

Under the umbrella of this renowned international company, Itama has continued to enhance its brand identity, emerging as a prominent ambassador of Italian style. Boasting a fleet of the world’s most prestigious boats in their size category, Itama meets the demands of even the most discerning owners. This achievement is attributed to the collaborative efforts of yacht designer Marco Casali, working closely with the Group’s Strategic Product Committee, Research & Development department, and Centro Stile, the Style Development Centre of the Group.

The ongoing journey of Itama focuses on leveraging its rich history while embracing continuous innovation in every aspect of the company, from design and production to customer service and assistance.

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Itama keeps giving great emotions: Itama 45S, Itama 62S, Itama 75

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Itama has been writing the history of Italian open boats around the world for over forty years. Over this time, the shipyard has been able to build on its strong and specific identity with great engineering experience and unique style at its core. Since 2004, Itama has been part of the Ferretti Group, one of the world’s main players in the design, construction and sale of luxury motor yachts. This large international company has been able to further exploit the brand’s strong points and promote it in the role of a prominent ambassador of Italian style. Itama boasts a fleet of the most prestigious boats of their size in the world, able to meet the requirements of even the most demanding owners.

An achievement made possible by the strength of a successful group and the creativity of yacht designer Marco Casali, in close cooperation with the Group’s Strategic Product Committee, the Research & Development department and Centro Stile, Style development Centre of the Group. This new course pursues its goal of making the most of the brand’s history each and every day, at the same time making product innovations via continuous evolution of every aspect of the company. From design and production, right through to customer service and assistance.

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The contemporary road to the most classic Open Yacht.

Itama has been writing the history of Italian open boats around the world for over forty years. Over this time, the shipyard has been able to build on its strong and specific identity with great engineering experience and unique style at its core. Since 2004, Itama has been part of the Ferretti Group, one of the world’s main players in the design, construction and sale of luxury motor yachts. This large international company has been able to further exploit the brand’s strong points and promote it in the role of a prominent ambassador of Italian style. Itama boasts a fleet of the most prestigious boats of their size in the world, able to meet the requirements of even the most demanding owners. An achievement made possible by the strength of a successful group and the creativity of yacht designer Marco Casali, in close cooperation with the Group’s Strategic Product Committee, the Research & Development department and Centro Stile, Style development Centre of the Group. This new course pursues its goal of making the most of the brand’s history each and every day, at the same time making product innovations via continuous evolution of every aspect of the company. From design and production, right through to customer service and assistance.

Incredible Itama

At the 2022 cannes yachting festival, the new itama 62rs took the stage to showcase its new sporty and luxurious form..

14 September 2022

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Itama 62RS took to the stage at the Cannes Yachting Festival 2022 in Mediterranean, sporty and elegant form: blue like the sea and free like the wind of style and innovation which make this yacht even more appealing.

A timeless classic and a blend of agility, power and elegance, the model writes a new chapter in the history of Itama and makes fans of sailing in direct contact with the water fall in love all over again.

With a blue hull and a deck entirely clad in teak, this new version of the much-loved 19-metre-plus open is an anthem to intelligent cruising, featuring a technological upgrade that makes it even smarter.

The architects and designers from the interior and decor team of the Ferretti Group Engineering Department have combined the traditional Mediterranean mood that has given Itama its iconic status with a style in line with the most up-to-date interior design trends.

The cockpit layout is designed to offer the maximum space and the most authentic sea experience possible.

A large sun pad in grey technical fabric precedes the living and dining area, furnished with a C-shaped sofa arranged around the fixed steel and wood table, which can be customised according to the owner’s tastes, and a bar unit to the left.

Forward, protected by the large wraparound windshield is the helm station, which features a new dashboard design with digital instrumentation and is integrated into the plotter with twin 12-inch screens, available with 16-inch screens in the optional version.

The yacht wheel stays true to the spirit of Itama and is clad in gloss varnished teak with the logo in the centre. The bridge and dining areas are covered by a bimini top operated by an electro-hydraulic mechanism.

The deck, which is entirely open, now features flush skylights to offer a sweeping view of the horizon. Making the onboard experience even more pleasurable is a central passageway in the windshield with a pantograph opening mechanism.

Below deck, various customisation options all maintain the perfect arrangement of the interior settings, despite a comprehensive makeover.

The day zone contains the comfortable living area which features light colours and walnut wood, the dinette with a moveable table that can be converted into an extra sofa bed and the galley with a C-shaped layout and white lacquered wood furnishings.

The night area in the bow contains the owner’s suite and two guest cabins, both with ensuite bathrooms and available either as two doubles or a double and twin.

The Itama 62RS is fitted with two MAN V12 units rated 1,400 hp each, offering a cruising speed of 37 knots and a top speed of 40 knots.

The main new feature is the option of installing a Seakeeper NG9, which offers more stability at anchor and cruising. Finally, the flaps on the previous version have been replaced with Humphree interceptors for improved trim at sea.

62RS incorporates new functional and design features which, when combined with the technological innovations introduced make its Itama DNA even more original and inimitable.

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Itama 62RS: the shape of freedom.

Making its world premiere at the Cannes Yachting Festival, the ultimate Italian open yacht gets a technological and stylistic makeover and offers a totally maritime and emotion-filled experience to all fans of the brand.

Cannes, 9th September 2022- Itama 62RS takes to the stage at the Cannes Yachting Festival 2022 in even more Mediterranean, sporty and elegant form: blue like the sea and free like the wind of style and innovation that makes this yacht even more appealing. A timeless classic and a blend of agility, power and elegance, the new version writes a new chapter in the history of Itama and makes fans of sailing in direct contact with the water fall in love all over again.

With a blue hull and a deck entirely clad in teak, this new version of the much-loved 19-metre-plus open is an anthem to intelligent cruising, featuring a technological upgrade that makes it even smarter keeping the boat’s original spirit.

The architects and designers from the Interior&Décor team of the Ferretti Group Engineering Department have combined the traditional Mediterranean mood that has given Itama its iconic status with a style in line with the most up-to-date interior design trends.

OUTFITTING AND ONBOARD DECOR

The cockpit layout is designed to offer the maximum space and the most authentic sea experience possible. A large sun pad in grey technical fabric precedes the living and dining area furnished with a C-shaped sofa arranged around the fixed steel and wood table, which can be customized according to the owner’s tastes, and a bar unit to the left.

Forward, protected by the large wraparound windshield is the helm station, which features a new dashboard design with digital instrumentation and is integrated into the plotter with twin 12-inch screens, available with 16-inch screens in the optional version, for easy, enjoyable and state of the art cruising. The yacht wheel stays true to the spirit of Itama and is clad in gloss varnished teak with the logo in the centre. The bridge and dining areas are covered by a bimini top operated by an electro-hydraulic mechanism. The deck, which is entirely open like all the brand’s models, now features flush skylights to offer a sweeping and unbroken view of the horizon. Making the onboard experience even more pleasurable is a central passageway in the windshield with a pantograph opening mechanism.

Below deck, the multiple customization options all maintain the perfect arrangement of the interior settings, despite their comprehensive makeover. The day zone contains the comfortable living area featuring light colours and walnut wood, the dinette with a moveable table that can be converted into an extra sofa-bed, and the galley with a C-shaped layout and white lacquered wood furnishings. The galley layout has been redesigned from top to bottom and now offers the utmost in comfort and even more light thanks to the addition of another opening porthole. The night area in the bow contains the owner’s suite and the two guest cabins, both with ensuite bathrooms and available either as two doubles or a double and a twin.

PROPULSION AND PERFORMANCE

The Itama 62RS is fitted with engines that deliver performance in line with the yacht’s predecessors: two MAN V12 units rated 1,400 hp each, offering a cruising speed of 37 knots and a top speed of 40 knots. The main new feature is the option of installing a Seakeeper NG9, which offers more stability at the anchor and cruising and even greater comfort on board. Finally, the flaps on the previous version have been replaced with Humphree interceptors for improved trim at sea.

In short, 62RS incorporates new functional and design features, which when combined with the technological innovations introduced make its Itama DNA even more original and inimitable. That unmistakable Mediterranean spirit and those uniquely sleek, sporty lines which have led to these magnificent boats being described as “designed by the sea”.

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Itama founder Mario Amati dies aged 83

The founder of Itama Yachts has died at the age of 83, the Ferretti Group has announced

Ferretti Group has paid tribute to Mario Amati, the founder of Itama Yachts, who has passed away at the age of 83.

Amati, who gave his name to the Itama brand, was described as “a brilliant designer, and the inventor of a unique style and of iconic motor yachts”.

Itama was founded in Rome in 1969, with its elegant lines and reputation for reliability quickly gaining the brand a strong following.

And the founder was keen that his boats should maintain a distinct identity, saying: “Itama motor yachts do not change every year to follow trends.

“I make boats for those who live well and want to live even better. These boats are symbols of happiness”.

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The range was acquired by Ferretti Group in 2004 and CEO Alberto Galassi was quick to pay respect:

“I thank a man whose vision, intelligence and work have left their red letter mark on international yachting.

“Mario Amati was a designer of unrivalled talent. A great Italian has left us. Proud to continue his work, the Ferretti Group gives its heartfelt thanks to Mr Amati and his genius and bids him farewell.”

The current Itama range includes 45ft, 62ft and 75ft models, with top speeds ranging from 34-50 knots.

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Freedom of open

The Itama open yachts offer optimal control and stability to meet everyone's personal boating needs. The sporty models combine performance with an unmistakable timeless, Italian design. Itama is iconic in the history of Italian open sport yachts.

The brand was founded, in the late 1960s by Mario Amati because he had a dream to design a new generation of yachts. By turning the Amati name around, the brand was born. The distinctive own style with the deep V-hull and the powerful engines, executed in the well-known Itama blue and white, make the models 45S, 62S and the 75 to exceptional, seaworthy and comfortable yachts.

Itama Model Range

Open yachts of peerless elegance and sporty style

Since 2004, Itama has been part of the Ferretti Group and the yachts are built at the yards in Forlì and in Mondolfo, state-of-the-art yards where Pershing is also built. The Itama open yachts offer optimal control and stability to meet everyone’s personal boating needs. The sporty models with unmistakable Italian design combine performance with timeless design.

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• Forli, Via Ansaldo, 9b, 47122 FERRETTI S. p.A.

Life of the brand began in 1969, when the founder of Itama Mario Amati brought to life his dream to build a yacht of the new generation. For the name of the shipyard, he chose a simple approach, using his name, backwards.

Over the last 45 years Itama has created his own recognizable and unique style, creating a luxurious sport yacht open-class fiberglass composite. In 2004, the shipyard became part of >the Ferretti Group. "Freedom is the open boat" — say in Itama, emphasizing that their boat is sovershennoe combination of style and power, made possible thanks to the design efforts of Marco Casali and the team of architects of the company and the group Ferretti.

the Rapid line profile, the body is deep V, large open cockpit, powerful engines providing speeds from 38 to 48 knots, and refined interiors are the main features of the model range of the shipyard Itama, which for 2015 consisted of three yachts 45, 62 and 75 feet. The first two models are equipped with engines with drive shafts and are built on site in Forli . >Flagship brand is manufactured at facilities in Mondolfo and comes with a powertrain with half-sunk screws.

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Gem of the city: The original Cape Coral Yacht Club soon gone, but what of its legacy?

The original Cape Coral Yacht Club ballroom will soon join the ranks of former icons of the city's history – the Cape Coral Gardens, the original Gulf American Corporation, and the Waltzing Waters – as the area forges a new future.

"You ain't seen nothing yet," said Leonard Rosen, Cape Coral founder and then president of the Gulf American Land Corporation during the opening ceremony of the Yacht Club in 1962.

The Yacht Club and its developments signaled the true start of the city as we know it today, with its demise creating a hard-fought chasm within the community.

Janel Trull, the current executive director of Cape Coral Museum of History, said it's unfortunate the city has seen fit to tear down the historic building and believes it could have been saved.

"It is discouraging to know that the City Council thought it best to remove one of the last locations in town that was built by the Rosen Brothers, that was built specifically for the community, and are replacing it with something that's less of what the city is and more of a resort-style facility," Trull said.

Trull said she'll miss taking her kids to swim at the pool.

Why a massive change 60 years later?

Hurricane Ian disrupted the city's initial plans to renovate The Yacht Club Community Park , sparking a tug-of-war between traditionalists and the those advocating for progress on the fate of the facilities.

Workers started razing the building in April, after months of waiting for permits. The new Yacht Club will feature a two-story community center, a parking garage, new restaurant, pool, and other amenities.

The estimated cost of the project could be upward of $100 million with no clear date on when construction will start or be completed.

Yacht Club's new designs and plan Take a look at what architects pitch for a redesigned Cape Coral Yacht Club

The Yacht Club demolition begins Cape Coral's premier historic gemstone, The Yacht Club, will be gone by the end of May

Bustling beginning prompted by the Rosen brothers

Starting in the late 1950s, brothers Jack and Leonard Rosen, founders of Gulf Guarantee Land and Title Co., later renamed Gulf American Land Corp., embarked on a journey to turn a then 107-square-mile swamp peninsula into a company town that would eventually evolve into a still-growing city with more than 216,000 residents , according to the U.S. Census.

The first resident moved to the city in 1958, according to documents from The Cape Coral History Museum.

From there, the original Yacht Club opened its doors on June 10, 1962.

The $1 million complex included the iconic ballroom building, a yacht basis, tennis courts, a junior Olympic-sized pool, a fishing pier, and a beach. Architect William Kreidt designed the building with Fort Myers's Edelbut Construction Co., supervising construction.

The Gulf American Land Corporation owned the facility and would sell three-year memberships to the club.

"The very best way to enjoy the yacht club is not to wait for special programs, but to come by yourself, any day or night, perhaps for sunbathing on the beach …. or with a few friends, maybe for bridge – tables will be set up anytime," wrote William Thew, the first director and manager of the club, in the Cape Coral Sun in 1962.

A throwback to an Old Florida gathering place

Trull described the architecture of the original building as midcentury modern with a lot of personality.

She said it was a building akin to those built in the '50s throughout Florida.

"If you look back at some of the really early stuff that the Rosen Brothers put in the city, it follows along those same lines," Trull said. "It is a sought-after type of architecture today because things are not built in that format anymore, and it is very popular in South Florida."

Early residents could enjoy weekly square dances, and background music playing most of the day from outdoor speakers, soaking in the sun by the beach, or sitting by the blue water of the pool, according to the Cape Coral Sun.

Barbecues were frequent and plentiful as residents brought their families alongside an assortment of meats with the club supplying charcoal and pits, coffee, and cold drinks.

The Yacht Club was just a quarter mile from the first eight homes built in the city.

Eventually, a teen center that only allowed youths with a key was constructed.

Cape Coral Yacht Club gave birth to community service

Councilmember Tom Hayden called the Yacht Club the first true destination for the city.

He said because of the burgeoning nature in the early '60s, the facility was the only place that was big enough for events and groups to meet.

"Every single club got its original started at the Yacht Club," Hayden said. "From the oldest clubs: the garden club, the social club; the first churches in the Cape had their first services out there, all the city organizations started out there."

"It truly was the birthplace for how Cape Coral got its start," he added.

The city purchased the Yacht Club from The Gulf American Land Corporation in the mid-1970s for less than $1 million, and the teen club became the first senior center, The Tony Rotino Center, named after a former councilmember, according to documents from The Cape Coral History Museum.

Trull said the Yacht Club experienced so many changes and updates throughout its lifespan to reflect the community's needs.

"I think it did reflect the growth and the need for more facilities like that in the city because it was used on a regular basis by so many people," Trull said.

Former Cape Coral Mayor Joe Mazurkiewicz  previously said  his campaign launched at the Yacht Club, the meetings on whether the city should incorporate took place in the ballroom building, and it served as the site of many more substantial events.

Plans for the park

In 2018, voters approved a $60 million expansion of the city's parks and amenities through the Parks and Recreation General Obligation (GO) Bond. Part of that was intended for the Yacht Club Community Park.

The Cape Coral City Council had originally planned to close and begin work on renovations for the park in  2021 .

But then Hurricane Ian struck the city on Sept. 28, 2022, delaying the project with the council eventually opting to revamp the whole area, with the city pointing toward the  high cost of repairs and being over FEMA's 50% rule  as justification for moving forward with new buildings and amenities.

Longtime residents and former city officials opposed the plans – however, they could not sway the council to change its mind.

The  current plans  include a new two-story community center to replace the ballroom, removing the tennis courts, rearranging the area to accommodate a four-story parking garage, a new restaurant, and a new 14,500-square-foot resort-style pool.

The proposed changes would bring a four-story garage with approximately 685 parking spaces, 15 surface spaces at the main building, 46 boat trailers, and 158 boat slip spaces – totaling 904 parking spaces.

Current parking at the park; including for boats, vehicles, and boat trailers, amounts to 551 total spaces.

The new two-story community center would have 47,000 square feet and include a new ballroom, concession, history room, exterior balcony, storage and meeting space, and a multi-purpose hall.

Cape Coral has already begun the work toward these changes as demolition started in April with the cherished ballroom building coming down last week.

Johnson-Laux Construction, a full-service construction management firm that operates out of Winter Garden, has been contracted to demolish and deconstruct the Yacht Club for $987,716.04.

The firm is also tasked with  preserving a portion  of the old ballroom building, which includes interior ceiling beams, stonework, a fountain, and interior doors.

Hayden said he fought to have a history room dedicated to the old Yacht Club building in the new two-story community center design.

"Things evolve, but I think for early residents of the city, the significance of the yacht club was their life," Hayden said. "We can't necessarily control what

Bitter and sweet for residents and officials alike

Gloria Tate, a former District One councilmember and longtime Cape Coral resident said the loss of the original building deeply saddens her.

"Every fond memory I have is related to that Yacht Club. All of it is part of my life here in Cape Coral."Gloria Tate, longtime Cape Coral resident and businesswoman

Tate was against the city's plans to demolish the main Yacht club building and fought to preserve it as a historic building.

"Every fond memory I have is related to that Yacht Club," Tate said. "All of it is part of my life here in Cape Coral."

One such memory that she will always remember is petitioning to get into a Christmas dance at the teen center.

The year was around 1964, she was not 13 yet but wanted to be involved with the handful of teens in the then-small city.

"I was very happy to be allowed to access the property before I turned 13," Tate said. "It's nothing like it is today."

She said the new Yacht Club will never be what it was for the original pioneers in Cape Coral, but she's hopeful it will become a place for weddings, ceremonies, and "all kinds of life blessings" for the new generation of residents.

"I look forward to that," Tate said.

Though regrettable, Tate said she appreciates the council's effort to transform the area.

"I understand about progress, and I think it's going to be good to just get it started," Tate said. "After all this, let's just get on with it."

Not all residents share the sentiment.

Janis Keim, a Cape Coral resident since 1976 who worked as the Yacht Club manager for many years, said it hurt her heart to hear that the demolition began.

She spoke at council meetings to try to save the Yacht Club and mourns the loss of the community pool.

" Drowning is the leading cause of death of children under the age of 5 in the state of Florida , and we have no community pool in Cape Coral," Keim said.

Bob Lauson, who participated in the effort to save the Yacht club, called the city's plans horrible.

"I lost sleep over this," Lauson said. "I just didn't want that image in my head of that wrecking ball and whatever they are doing over there."

When he was made aware of the city's history five years ago, Lauson bought a '60s-style home in South Cape Coral. He would drive visitors to the Yacht club to witness where the city's history had started.

"I went to a lot of public meetings and events at the Yacht Club Ballroom, and I always thought it was a delight to go there, and my kids swam in the pool," Lauson said.

He hated the way the city switched its reasoning for not moving forward with the initial renovations of the club, from the city touting extensive damage to the facility as the main reason to later saying the deferred maintenance was the issue.

"It just seems to me that we have a council dominated by developers, real estate people," Lauson said. "There's some kind of race to 400,000 people, and I'm just concerned that the quality of life around here is going to go down."

He will miss the beauty of the building and what it represented.

"It just all goes with the narrative of the history of Cape Coral, and how they built that building to attract people to move here, and I think it was to show future property owners that they were really serious and that Cape Coral was going to be a special place," Lauson said.

The future of the park

Lauson said he's concerned that the Yacht Club area will remain empty for years before the city figures out how to pay and begin the construction of the facilities.

"You got to feel really sorry (for the neighborhood) because that's probably going to be an empty lot and an eyesore for years, and then there's going to be some big huge construction project," Lauson said.

Keim worries that the Yacht Club Community Park will eventually be commercialized.

"It just upsets me because I feel like Police and Fire (are) not under the gun to generate revenue like Parks and Rec," Keim said.

District One Councilmember Bill Steinke said the city's plans would enhance the area and provide a better place for more memories for future residents to enjoy.

"The great thing is that it will continue to be the gem (of the city), and it will be better than ever and will accommodate more of our population than ever.Bill Steinke, Cape Coral Councilman, District 1

"The great thing is that it will continue to be the gem (of the city), and it will be better than ever and will accommodate more of our population than ever, and it will provide services to our community members and our organizations – more than the previous facility could," Steinke said.

When the council member was an infant, his family would take him to go swimming in the original pool, with his kids using the facility for swimming throughout the '80s and '90s.

Additionally, he used to play racquetball and tennis there.

As a council member, he will work toward finding a suitable location for pickleball and tennis near the Yacht Club Park.

Steinke said he made many memories, but he's excited for the future of the park.

"You only miss your memories if you give up your memories," Steinke said.

Luis Zambrano is a Watchdog/Cape Coral reporter for The News-Press and the Naples Daily News. You can reach Luis at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @Lz2official .