Boathouse Tiki Bar & Grill ravaged by fire day after re-opening following Milton
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- Fire ignited at the Boathouse Tiki Bar & Grilll Thursday night, leaving charred framework and debris. The cause had not been determined as of late Friday morning, Cape Coral Fire Department officials said via Facebook, adding that an electrical cause had not been ruled out. JOHNATHAN MINEHAN
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- Fire ignited at the Boathouse Tiki Bar & Grilll Thursday night, leaving charred framework and debris. The cause had not been determined as of late Friday morning, Cape Coral Fire Department officials said via Facebook, adding that an electrical cause had not been ruled out. JOHNATHAN MINEHAN
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- Fire ignited at the Boathouse Tiki Bar & Grilll Thursday night, leaving charred framework and debris. The cause had not been determined as of late Friday morning, Cape Coral Fire Department officials said via Facebook, adding that an electrical cause had not been ruled out. JOHNATHAN MINEHAN
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- The Boathouse Tiki Bar & Grill caught fire last Thursday shortly after closing. There were no injuries but a total re-build — the second in two years — is required. The popular restaurant at the Yacht Club also was severely damaged by Hurricane Ian. JOHNATHAN MINEHAN
The Boathouse Tiki Bar & Grill has been popular in Cape Coral for years.
Residents anticipated its opening in 2014.
They watched the waterfront restaurant’s months-long rebuild after Hurricane Ian devastated the Yacht Club Community Park in September 2022.
They were happy the popular eatery was apparently left mostly unscathed from the one-two punch of hurricanes Helene and Milton, which caused a days-long closure.
On Friday, all happiness was dashed — the popular bar and grill caught fire Thursday night, becoming engulfed in flames in moments due to the high wind speeds near the water. The fire was visible for miles across the water.
The Cape Coral Fire Department brought the blaze under control and put out the fire, but the Boathouse Tiki Bar & Grill will again have to start over as the fire left a skeleton of charred framework, ashes and water-logged debris.
“Last night, Cape Coral firefighters responded to a fire at the Boat House on Driftwood Parkway,” the Cape Coral Fire Department reported via Facebook Friday morning. “The fire occurred just after closing and was called in by employees. Fortunately, everyone was able to get out safely. There was a heavy fuel load, including the thatched roof, fully restocked alcohol for the bar, and the windy conditions, which caused challenges for the firefighters who used handlines, elevated master stream, and the fire boat to attack the fire from the river side of the restaurant. The fire has been extinguished, but crews will be onsite most of the day to monitor the scene while the investigation is underway.”
The cause had not been determined as of early Friday afternoon.
“Cape Coral Fire Inspectors and the State Fire Marshals Office have completed their investigation of the Boat House Tiki Bar and Grill fire from last night. The cause is undetermined, but they are unable to rule out electrical. Firefighters will remain on scene throughout the day to put out any hot spots that may arise,” the CCFD said in a late-morning Facebook page update.
Debra Beatson, a resident of Cape Coral since 2021, considered the restaurant a favorite for friends and family to visit.
“It was always rocking. Even in the early morning, it was rocking,” Beatson said. “They had just reopened. It’s so sad. And I saw those flames this morning on TV, and it broke my heart.”
Beatson had witnessed the restaurant’s devastation after Ian and was excited to be back to enjoy Bloody Mary’s and laughs with the community.
“I would come probably once or twice a month. I work, and my husband works. We would come over for a drink or food whenever we were on the beach. They did have good food. It was a nice place and very upbeat,” Beatson said. “It took so long to get it back together again after Ian. We stayed for Ian, and that was quite a storm.”
After owners spent $263,000 to repair and design the building after Ian, locals continued to enjoy the music and environment of the Boathouse Tiki Bar & Grill, despite the devastation to the park, now razed as it awaits resconstruction by the city of its public buildings and amenities. Cost estimates have topped $100 million for a new two-story resort-style community center and pool complex, a pair of piers, a rebuild of the yacht basin, boat docks, four-story parking garage and more.
The Boathouse and the beach remained the lone attractions.
“The pier’s not here anymore, like walking on it in the evening, taking pictures of the sunset. And I love the bar around the outside because you could sit and look out at the river. So that was neat. So, they usually had some music, which was always enjoyable.” Beatson said.
For Beatson’s family, going to the restaurant and the Yacht Club was always a meaningful experience, and they will never forget the memories they shared at the beach.
On June 14, 2022, Cape Coral decided to demolish all existing structures and site features. With this rebuild, the Boathouse Tiki Bar & Grill had high hopes of returning better than ever so guests could enjoy the restaurant and all it provides. Nine months after Ian, the restaurant was up and running again.
The fire was a final disappointment.
“They said it started in the kitchen, which is centrally located because of all the serving. It just made it easier for people to get where they needed,” Beatson said. “So it’s crazy, but I liked it a lot: sitting there, drinking, and watching the river.”
For neighbors and visitors to Cape Coral, watching the flames quickly engulf the roof of the tiki hut was devastating.
Within minutes, the restaurant they had called home was gone.
Former firefighter Michael Beatson stopped by the scene to witness the destruction caused by the fire and see what was left of the tiki bar.
“I was in the fire service in Delaware. This has gone quickly. You’re just trying to protect the houses across, and their stuff below it surrounds and drowns. Now, that’s all you have left.” Beatson said.
“You gotta rip that down. I think that’s got to come down. Start from scratch, yeah, and by the time you get the permits, you will get all your drawings up and make it a little safer. Well, this will be down for years,” he speculated based on his background.
Disasters like this aren’t stopping residents like Michael and Debra Beatson from staying in Cape Coral and staying patient for the places they love to return to.
“I’ve been through two big storms now. We got a little damage,” Michael Beatson said. “We’re getting older. I can’t afford to fix the house. If I had to, I would go inland.”
With the restaurant destroyed, he wishes for it to return soon and had ideas for any upgrade.
“I would go aluminum roof, you know, yeah, I think it would take away from the tiki hut or the boathouse. It’d still be nice,” Beatson said. “I know it’ll come back. They’re good people. And that’s what we can look forward to when they get the whole place down here; one day, we’ll all be by in good shape.”
The Kerns Restaurant Group said a statement is pending.