06/04/2026
Setting the record straight on the true history of Pelican Bay.
It turns out a previous take on this iconic Naples community missed the mark, and a local historian who literally wrote the book on the subject reached out with the corrections.
Pelican Bay was not the product of the Lutgert family or WCI as originally stated. Back in 1972, Coral Ridge Properties, a division of Westinghouse, teamed up with the Collier family to develop 2,330 acres of beachfront land. This was an ambitious environmental experiment from the start. Developers prioritized the mangroves and estuaries, setting high-rises back from the shoreline and installing the iconic boardwalk system that remains the community's signature today. By 1979, Westinghouse bought out the Colliers, the first home was built, and the Pelican Bay Foundation was established.
This story serves as a reminder of two important things: first, that Pelican Bay remains a masterclass in how development can work with the environment rather than against it. Second, when the details matter, owning a mistake is the only path forward.
For those looking to dive deeper, the definitive resource is Pelican Bay, A History of Our Home in Paradise. Expect more Naples history sourced directly from the people who lived it.