Iconic Longboat Key inn closes, property listed for $15.5M

Damaged by the wind and waves of 2024’s mean hurricane season, Longboat Key’s iconic Wicker Inn Beach Resort announced last weekend in a “final update’’ on social media that repair work on the seaside vacation spot would not resume, and the resort has closed.

The property is for sale for $15.5 million, according to a listing from Longboat Key real estate agent Reid Murphy. "Sought after slice of beachfront paradise on the exclusive island of Longboat Key," Murphy states on his website and on a Zillow listing. "Rarely available two acre property with 200 feet of beach frontage."

The owners, meanwhile, addressed the closing on Facebook. 

“One hurricane changed everything for so many people,’’ read the Facebook post from the resort’s account. “You all mean so much to the owners and staff of the Wicker Inn, which was so much more than just a hotel.’’

Since October, when photos of the extensive damage first appeared on the inn’s Facebook page, the resort’s management posted frequent updates on initial repair milestones, including one in January with a photo of a new building permit paving the way for drywall, electrical, plumbing and air conditioning work.

In March, after several updates depicting repairs in progress, work suspended and word passed to hand out refunds for all pending reservations through August 2025. Plans then were to resume work in the summer.

The property at 5581 Gulf of Mexico Drive has 10 rental suites and one cottage, ranging from one bedroom to three bedrooms.  

Wicker Inn LLC purchased the resort in 2010 for $4.2 million. Manatee County property records indicate a FEMA value, which typically refers to the market value of a building without regard to improvements or land, at $397,140 as of Jan. 1. In 2006, U.S. Assets Group purchased the property for $5.6 million and initially planned to transform the resort into Wicker Beach, a six-unit luxury condominium community with units priced from $3 million to $4 million. That project never materialized.

Nearly 100 well-wishers posted comments on the latest news, many sharing beach photos from decades earlier. “We are just crushed. Such great memories of our family time there over 25 years. There will never be any place like it. Old Florida is leaving LBK,’’ one commenter wrote.

This article originally appeared on sister site YourObserver.com.