Rockbridge has acquired the 331-room Island Resort in Fort Walton Beach, Fla., located on 11 coastal acres with 600 feet of private beach. Rockbridge acquired the property from the original owner, who recently invested $20 million in renovations. The property is the only dedicated full-service property in the market and has 24,000 square feet of flexible meeting space with a penthouse ballroom. Additional amenities include two swimming pools (one with a grotto that includes a waterfall and swim-up bar), several restaurants and bars and a beachside coffee truck. The on-site Island Market sells an assortment of snacks, beverages and beach essentials.
Aimbridge Hospitality, which manages several other Rockbridge properties and currently operates 74 hotels in Florida, will oversee the resort.
“We look forward to building on the hotel’s already great reputation while also bringing additional institutional expertise to the operations as well as planning targeted upgrades throughout the property to further improve its competitive position in the market,” said Rockbridge SVP Matt Welch. “We are also pleased to continue our relationship with a trusted, proven partner like Aimbridge.”