Carlouel Beach & Yacht Club plans a $38 million rebuild of its storm-damaged clubhouse and waterfront facilities on the northern end of Clearwater Beach, replacing a historic gathering place with an elevated, hurricane-resistant complex.

The member-owned club, founded in 1934 near Caladesi Island State Park, announced the project Sept. 24. Phased construction is expected to begin this fall and continue through late 2028, with member services remaining available during the work.

Hurricane Helene pushed more than 3 feet of floodwater into the main clubhouse in September 2024, damaging floors and infrastructure. Pools filled with debris, a boardwalk buckled and the club's valet sign was found miles away in Dunedin, according to an Oct. 12 Tampa Bay Times report.

The club closed for eight weeks after the storm. Its main clubhouse remains unused, forcing weddings, birthday parties and other gatherings into outdoor spaces outfitted with tents and chandeliers.

"We want something that will be resilient and will be here for the next 90 years," Commodore Peter Jones told the Times.

New clubhouse to rise above flood levels

The approximately 19,000-square-foot clubhouse will feature three stories above structured parking, with its first occupied floor planned for 16 feet above sea level, according to the Times.

Plans include hurricane-resistant glass and doors, elevated infrastructure and flood-mitigation features. The club says the design will exceed current Federal Emergency Management Agency floodplain requirements.

The project also calls for six overnight cabanas, a wellness center, a dockside masthead bar, a resort-style lagoon pool and a dining room with panoramic water views. Rebuilt docks and a seawall will restore and improve boating access.

FG+M Architecture and Creative Contractors Inc. will lead the design and construction. The project is undergoing regulatory review by the city of Clearwater.

Members will cover entire $38 million cost

Club members voted about a year after the 2024 storms to pursue a full redevelopment rather than limit the work to repairs, Jones told the Times.

The project will be financed entirely through member dues, with no public funding or outside development partners, according to the club's announcement.

Jones acknowledged that the cost was a "tall order" but said members wanted to retain control of the property. The club declined to disclose how much individual members would contribute.

Founded with approximately 100 member families, Carlouel has grown to 465 members, according to the Times. The club has been owned and governed by its members since 1947.

Rebuild aims to preserve Old Florida character

Despite the expanded amenities, the club plans to maintain the coastal appearance that has defined the property for generations.

Architectural renderings show white exteriors reminiscent of the existing clubhouse, with a larger building designed to accommodate modern recreational and dining facilities.

Michael Wozney, a Clearwater native and five-year member, recalled attending school events and junior cotillion at Carlouel as a teenager. He later joined to share the same experience with his children.

Wozney told the Times that the club offered an increasingly rare sense of Old Florida, describing the setting as "unspoiled."

For members such as Wozney, the redevelopment represents more than replacing storm-damaged buildings. It is an effort to preserve the traditions that brought families to the waterfront club while preparing the property for future storms.