04/17/2025
Posted today from the Mucky Duck.
Hello everyone ❤️ We know many have been anxious for an update, and we are finally in a position to provide one.
There have been rumors and speculations all over FB for months about whether we would rebuild, how we would rebuild, whether we were actually secretly holding off for a buyer, etc...we tried to defuse a couple of these rumors and then gave up because it's too much to keep up with.
So, here are the facts: we have been waiting for permits, until a couple of days ago. YES we finally have permits!!! Prior to permits our focus was on 1) getting rid of the sand which had inundated the entire property during Helene/Milton, and 2) stabilizing the building after Milton. We couldn't do anything else without permits, and getting permits is a lengthy process. A few folks posted pics of the side of the building "showing progress", but the damage was on the beachfront side. Our dining room front wall/windows got pushed in by sand and caused the floor and roof to sag. All of the tables and chairs got shoved to the rear - but here's a stroke of luck: we had recently ordered all new tables and chairs but they hadn't been delivered yet, so thank goodness for this.
The bar area was largely undamaged, in fact some wine bottles were still sitting on the counter undisturbed! 😳 The kitchen suffered enough damage that we need to replace some things there.
In 1993 we obtained a certification from Lee County to have our building declared "historic". Without historic designation, we would have been subject to the "50% rule", meaning if there was more than 50% damage relative to market value, we would have had to rebuild to current code. Being "historic", we had the option to rebuild without bringing everything up to current code, so long as we rebuilt basically the same way it was (plus, to my knowledge damage was less than 50%). Could we have rebuilt farther back from the coastal construction control line, and with a higher elevation? Yes. But we chose to pursue a rebuild "the way it was", mainly because that's the way most people have always enjoyed the Duck, and that's how we want to see it again. There have been folks basically saying we're stupid if we don't move it back, lift it up, etc., but hey - at the end of the day this is our decision, right? So please just let go of that thought and honor the fact that we are rebuilding "as was".
Do we have a timeline for reopening? Sort of, but not really. Everything takes longer than you think it should. We are hoping to reopen in the fall/by next season. Could it happen sooner? Possibly.
Meanwhile, here's some pics taken today to show you what's going on - right now the focus is on rebuilding the foundation. The floor was ripped out months ago, and now we can finally pour new footers and go from there. Some of our kitchen crew is helping the contractor with the rebuild, and they are proud to do so. Many of our employees have helped from the beginning with cleanup, etc. and we are forever grateful to them for their dedication and hard work.
Please forgive us if we don't answer all the subsequent questions. We have a large following and it gets overwhelming, so generally we just make a post and leave it there for everyone to chat about, share, etc.
We are beyond grateful for the incredible support, concerns and prayers received, so many times, through so many hurricanes. Life on a barrier island is...life on a barrier island, what else can one say. It's beautiful, amazing, nerve-wracking, and sometimes heartbreaking.
Please keep us in your prayers as we approach summer season and await the desperately needed beach renourishment which is supposed to begin in June. 🙏
Thank you all so very much. ❤️❤️❤️🦆
