Paraíso Beach Club breaks ground on Vanderbilt Beach

Paraíso Beach Club has started construction on its private clubhouse on Vanderbilt Beach in Naples, after winning unanimous county approval last year. The project aims to fill what backers say is a gap for an exclusively private beachfront members' club in one of Florida’s busiest coastal markets.

Why it matters: - Paraíso Beach Club is aiming to become Naples' only exclusively private beachfront members' club. - The project adds a new high-end amenity to Vanderbilt Beach, one of the city's most visible coastal corridors. - Supporters say the club is meant for Naples residents who want a private Gulf-front gathering place outside a hotel or residential community.

What happened: - Paraíso Beach Club broke ground yesterday on Vanderbilt Beach in Naples. - The ceremony marked the start of construction on a two-story clubhouse at 10025 Gulf Shore Drive. - Investors and Collier County officials attended the groundbreaking on the sand. - The site sits on 1.35 acres just north of LaPlaya Beach & Golf Resort.

The details: - The club is designed around three experiences: beach, pool and club. - Planned amenities include three dining venues, a fine-dining room, an open-air bar and grill, saltwater pools with private cabanas, and a coastal wellness retreat. - The wellness area is set to include a sauna, cold plunge, yoga and paddleboarding. - Members and guests will have access to a private Gulf experience from sunrise through sunset and into the evening. - The project received unanimous approval from the Collier County Board of County Commissioners last October. - Approval followed two years of design work, environmental study and community input. - County Commissioner Chris Hall was an early supporter of the project. - PCL Construction is leading construction. - PCL Construction is a $9.9 billion global builder and served as general contractor for the second tower of the Ritz-Carlton near the site. - More information about membership is available at the club's website, by email at contact@paraisoclubusa.com, or by phone at (239) 963-2640.

Between the lines: - The project is being positioned as a standalone private club, not an amenity attached to a hotel or housing development. - That distinction is the core of the pitch: exclusivity, privacy and a beach club built around local ownership and use. - Founders are betting there is demand in Naples for a social and wellness venue that extends beyond traditional beach access.

What's next: - Construction will continue on the clubhouse and related club spaces. - Paraíso says the finished club will host meals, celebrations, friendships and family traditions once it opens. - Membership outreach is ongoing as the project moves from groundbreaking to buildout.

The bottom line: - Paraíso Beach Club has moved from concept to construction, with Naples' first standalone private beachfront club now taking shape on Vanderbilt Beach.