Just months ago, the iconic Anchor Inn & Cottages sat in shambles. Roof panels were gone. Furniture was sprawled throughout the property. Mold was everywhere. Owners Zach and Erica Markham reopened the cottages on Feb.1, marking another milestone in Sanibel’s restoration efforts after hurricane Ian
Sitting in the heart of Sanibel Island on Periwinkle Way, the Anchor Inn & Cottages has been a beloved piece of the island since 1959. This 1.5-acre property, built by Marshall Tabacchi, was one of the island’s first overnight accommodations. In September 2022, Hurricane Ian ravaged the island, leaving the cottages in disrepair.
Newly opened Anchor Inn Sanibel
After building an insurance business for 12 years, Zach, Erica and their five children were ready to move on from the deserts of Arizona and experience island living. With Erica’s degree in tourism, she had always dreamed of owning a hotel. While considering options around South Florida, they stumbled upon the Anchor Inn & Cottages and felt drawn to it immediately.
“And then we found this one. The whole story with it being destroyed and it was just an opportunity for us to recover something. We’re both soft hearted like that and we’re like you know what, let’s do it,” said Erica.
The A frame rooms at Anchor Inn, Sanibel
The Markhams purchased the property in late 2024 for $3.2 million, sight unseen. After arriving for the first time in June 2025, it was clear how much work this project entailed. The property had been left untouched since the storm. Demolition began with the iconic A-frame buildings. Starting from the ground up made it possible to update the interiors while keeping the historic charm.
One of the many murals by Rachel Pierce
“I love playing with the walls and moving things around. I studied for months on how I could make each room feel bigger without changing the square footage,” Erica said. “Same with the A-frames, we added the dormer windows… that opened up a staircase for us.”
Hurricane-proofing was a major concern for the Markhams while rebuilding. They made sure to work with experienced contractors who have been working on the island. The 50-year-old plumbing systems were redone, the electrical was raised and impact windows were installed. There are plans to raise the buildings in the future.
Anchor Inn, Sanibel-Rooms awaiting guests
Family played a large role in the renovation process. Their children were always looking for new tasks to work on. Erica’s younger sister, Jane Smith, followed them here from Arizona to help. After working for their previous business, she now holds an administrative role at the inn.
“I love being in this type of business because you get to live vicariously through others. I see people washing their shells or just relaxing and enjoying their stay and it makes me happy,” said Jane. “Erica has just done such a good job cultivating an energy here that is cohesive, relaxing, fun and bright. It just melts right into everybody.”
Anchor Inn, Sanibel. Mural
Throughout the rebuilding process, Erica was sharing their journey on TikTok and quickly amassed over 15,000 followers. Comments from people about their memories and connections to the hotel showed her how important this project was for the island. Response from locals and businesses revealed one of Sanibel’s biggest charms: sense of community.
“The community is amazing here… We noticed that right away and that’s why we fell in love with the island,” said Erica. “Right off the bat, we had businesses reaching out ‘Hey, how can we help?’ The fact that people were reaching out to offer help or donations… it was just so meaningful.”
In the spirit of community involvement, Erica decided to let her TikTok followers decide on the green, yellow and pink colors for the new A-frame buildings. Local artist Rachel Pierce was also commissioned to paint on the room doors and create a large mural on the main building.
The SanCap Chamber marked the reopening with a ribbon cutting on Jan. 20. After a slow start following the website’s launch, the event’s media coverage spread the word and reservations began pouring in. The hotel has been at 100% capacity since its opening on Feb. 1.
“We thought the little houses were cute when we saw them online. We saw that they just had their ribbon cutting and wanted to support it,” said Kathy Robbins, a Kentucky native who has been visiting Southwest Florida for many years.
Sanibel residents are excited to have the inn open and anticipate it will help the island’s tourism industry return to pre-hurricane levels. Sanibel native Conrad Desrosiers welcomed the out-of-state investment.
“The more the merrier. A lot of people don’t have the means to continue on, so it’s nice to have somebody come in and help out,” said Desrosiers.
Future plans for the Anchor Inn include decorative additions throughout and the construction of a bridge across the pond that sits behind the property. Beyond the pond lies an untouched acre of land that the family hopes to turn into an educational-style nature walk. It would include native plants with informational labels and provide a sanctuary for wildlife.
With the most difficult parts behind them, the family looks forward to getting settled into its new home and becoming part of the very community that welcomed them with open arms. After local businesses offered their assistance during reopening, the Markhams are ready to give that same generosity back to others.
“Sanibel is here and it’s thriving. It’s doing great. I think there’s people out there that still don’t know that,” Erica said. “Now that we’re done renovating, I’m going to be posting about the island, going from place to place. We’re up and running and people are missing out.”
Booking information can be found at www.anchorinnsanibel.com.
To follow along with the journey, check out Erica’s TikTok @erica_markhamfam
Author & Photographer Adrian DiFilippo
