• Alternate Text
  • Loading

  • Newsletters
  • Podcast
  • Public Notices
  • 40 Under 40 Nomination
  • Mobile App
  • Subscribe
  • Login
  • News
  • Strategies
  • Entrepreneurs
  • M&A
  • Leadership
  • Regions
    • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
    • Manatee-Sarasota
    • Charlotte-Lee-Collier
    • Florida
  • Industries
    • Business Support
    • Commercial Real Estate
    • Residential Real Estate
    • Development
    • Finance
    • Food-Beverage
    • Health Care
    • Manufacturing
    • Retail
    • Sports–Entertainment
    • Technology
    • Travel-Tourism
  • Insights
  • More
    • Advice
    • Transactions
    • 40 Under 40
    • Big Book of Business
    • Subscribe
    • Opinion
    • Executive Diversions
    • Change-Makers
    • Reprints
  • News
  • Strategies
  • Entrepreneurs
  • M&A
  • Leadership
  • Regions
    • Regions
    • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
    • Manatee-Sarasota
    • Charlotte-Lee-Collier
    • Florida
  • Industries
    • Industries
    • Business Support
    • Commercial Real Estate
    • Residential Real Estate
    • Development
    • Finance
    • Food-Beverage
    • Health Care
    • Manufacturing
    • Retail
    • Sports–Entertainment
    • Technology
    • Travel-Tourism
  • Insights
  • More
    • More
    • Advice
    • Transactions
    • 40 Under 40
    • Big Book of Business
    • Subscribe
    • Opinion
    • Executive Diversions
    • Change-Makers
    • Reprints
  • Newsletters
  • Podcast
  • Public Notices
  • 40 Under 40 Nomination
  • Mobile App
  • Subscribe
  • Login

Lee resort opens $26M water park, more expansion tied up in litigation

The owners of South Seas on Captiva Island have spent $250 million — at least — on making South Seas a go-to global destination for memory-seeking families. Vocal opposition to more expansion, however, remains.

thumb

Latest News

1
  • March 26, 2026
360-unit apartment complex opens in Pasco County
2
  • March 26, 2026
Entrepreneur's Lido home lists for nearly $13 million
3
  • March 26, 2026
Dallas developer to build Thonotosassa industrial center
4
  • March 25, 2026
Fort Myers industrial park under construction
5
  • March 25, 2026
Multimillion-dollar clubhouse renovation begins at Sara Bay Country Club

Commercial Real Estate

  • March 26, 2026
Dallas developer to build Thonotosassa industrial center
  • March 25, 2026
Fort Myers industrial park under construction
  • March 24, 2026
233 acres in Charlotte County sold to Amazon
  • March 24, 2026
Groundbreaking set for transformative downtown Clearwater project

Entrepreneurs

  • March 12, 2026
Sarasota best-selling author, speaker overcame teenage trauma

Simone Knego overcame some crushing teenage trauma to lead a life of confidence — and consistent accomplishments. Now she encourages others to do the same.

  • March 10, 2026
St. Pete entrepreneur aims to outsmart AI algorithms with startup

Jon Mest, winner of a spARK Labs by Ark Invest’s Innovation Showcase, is choosing to bootstrap his way with his startup ChatRank.

  • March 4, 2026
Tampa entrepreneur invests in European soccer clubs

Not yet 30, Will Freeman is adding to his already-long entrepreneurial resume with a headfirst dive into pro sports investing.

  • February 27, 2026
Sarasota County charter flight firm aims to quadruple volume in 2026

Amid a surge in clients, opportunistic air charter business AvSky Charters refuses to relent on white-glove service.

Food-Beverage

  • March 23, 2026
Tampa's Jimbo's Pit Bar B-Q temporarily closed after fire

The popular, long time eatery is undergoing repairs and temporarily shut down.

  • March 16, 2026
SRQ looks toward potential of guest passes beyond security
  • March 11, 2026
Peachey's opens second Sarasota County donut store
  • March 10, 2026
Wahlburgers opens at Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport
  • February 25, 2026
Bankrupt brewer Big Storm sells Clearwater property

Finance

  • March 24, 2026
Sarasota angel investors back local software startup

Bridge Angel Investors is investing in Wire Wallet.

  • March 24, 2026
Wealth management firm relocates in Lakewood Ranch
  • March 20, 2026
Sarasota angel investor group doubles in size, seeks local startups
  • March 13, 2026
IncredibleBank opening new branch in Cape Coral
  • February 26, 2026
Downtown Clearwater project obtains $160 million in financing

Health Care

  • March 25, 2026
BayCare to open new urgent care in eastern Hillsborough

The health care system will open its first urgent care system in Plant City March 30, close to its new South Florida Baptist Hospital.

  • March 18, 2026
$481M Lee Health campus hits construction milestone

Swedish construction company Skanska says it has topped off Phase 1 of the massive 53-acre project.

  • March 15, 2026
Two Tampa Bay medical buildings sold for nearly $13M

The pair of buildings were on opposite ends of the Bay but were sold by the same broker.

Residential Real Estate

  • March 26, 2026
360-unit apartment complex opens in Pasco County

Verve Luxury Apartment Homes in Wesley Chapel offers 360 luxury one- to three-bedroom apartments between State Road 54 and State Road 56.

  • March 26, 2026
Entrepreneur's Lido home lists for nearly $13 million

An author and co-founder of a health product company is selling her waterfront estate.

  • March 23, 2026
$32M affordable housing complex in Pinellas replaces dilapidated inn

Clearwater Gardens, at 1250 Cleveland St., is a four-story apartment building featuring 81 units.

More News

  • March 25, 2026
Waterfront hotel in Bradenton under new management
  • March 25, 2026
Sarasota mental health nonprofit pushes to hit $4M fundraising goal
  • March 25, 2026
BayCare to open new urgent care in eastern Hillsborough
  • March 24, 2026
Saks changes its mind: Sarasota-UTC store will remain open
The best of Business Observer, delivered directly to your inbox

Get the latest business and commercial real estate news from Tampa Bay to Naples.

Sign Up

Advice

1
  • February 25, 2026
Defeating impostor syndrome requires responding to self-doubt with clarity, confidence
2
  • February 19, 2026
Fair or equal? How to split up ownership of a family business
3
  • February 10, 2026
Family wealth transfer: More at stake than money

More Sections

  • News
  • Strategies
  • Advice
  • Leadership
  • Executive Diversions
  • Calendar
  • Technology
  • Opinion

Contact

  • 1970 Main St.
  • Third Floor
  • Sarasota, FL 34236
  • Phone: 941-362-4848

Extra, Extra!

  • Newsletters
  • App
  • Podcast
  • Big Book of Business

more

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Distribution Points
  • Jobs
  • Privacy Policy
  • Subscribe
  • Accessibility Options

sister sites

  • Your Observer
  • Jax Daily Record
  • Orange Observer
  • Accessibility Options
  • Copyright © 2026 Observer Media Group Inc., All Rights Reserved
×
3 Articles Remaining!
Not a Subscriber?

Click here to Subscribe

Already a Subscriber?

Click here to Login

Sign Up for Daily Brief

Start your day with the top Gulf Coast business news you need to succeed.

Sign Up for CRE Central

Stay updated with a weekly roundup of big deals, market shifts and the people shaping commercial real estate from Tampa Bay to Naples.


Smart People Subscribe.

Turn headlines into game plans. The playbook’s right here.
Subscribe to the Business Observer today.

Subscribe Now