Since the 1960s, a multi-spired tower and erstwhile hotel, part of a fuel dock owned by the Phillips 66 petroleum company, dominated a stretch of Fort Lauderdale’s Intracoastal waterfront as the skyline’s most iconic — if quirky — landmark. But in January 2025, with the unveiling of a new resort at the heart of a $1 billion redevelopment project here, Pier Sixty-Six and its mid-century masterpiece tower were reborn as a waterfront destination, remaking the beloved neighborhood just blocks from the beach. The 32-acre project features a luxury resort and residences; multiple waterfront culinary venues (with more rolling out throughout 2025); and a world-class mega-yacht marina befitting of the title “Yachting Capital of the World,” complete with 164 deepwater slips for yachts up to 400 feet long.

While the original Pier Sixty-Six, designated a historic landmark by the city of Fort Lauderdale, enjoyed an illustrious past as a go-to destination for community events over the course of many decades, it had become dated and fallen into a state of disrepair until finally shuttering in 2019 for refurbishment.

The rebirth breathes new life on the water in this town that revolves around boating, socializing and soaking up the sun.

© Pier Sixty-Six

“When we first discovered that this special property was available, we knew there were incredible opportunities to leverage the collective experience of our teams and further establish this iconic hotel and marina as one of Fort Lauderdale’s defining destinations, while introducing a collection of residences to the development for the first time,” said Jessi Blakley, APR, vice president, Tavistock Group, the company at the helm of the development of the project.

World-class architects — including HKS Architects, NELSON Worldwide and Garcia Stromberg — were tapped to ensure the historical integrity of the pier’s original tower would blend into Tavistock Group’s subtropical, contemporary vision for the complex’s renaissance.

The iconic and angular shape of the original tower, inspired by the Googie architecture trend of the 1940s, has been updated but remains unmistakable, while new waterfront buildings incorporate designs that hint at coastal elements such as corals and sand dunes. Pier Sixty-Six’s many amenities include a 325-room and -suite luxury hotel overlooking the surrounding waterways (complete with a 15,000-square-foot spa and 40,000 square feet of meeting space), 91 private luxury residences and a marina promenade with waterfront shops. The neighborhood’s new culinary offerings, which will eventually number a dozen restaurants and bars, include Calusso, taking its inspiration from the French and Italian rivieras; Mediterranean restaurant Sotogrande; and Garni, a bistro-style café with a Bloody Mary bar and live breakfast stations.

The crown jewel of the project is the restoration of the rotating Pier Top lounge, a 17th-floor observation deck where visitors can ogle 360-degree views of the Atlantic Ocean, Intracoastal Waterway and surrounding residential finger islands and downtown Fort Lauderdale. Guests can ascend to the spectacular deck for special occasions or just another gorgeous Florida sunset best celebrated with oysters, caviar and cocktails paired perfectly with views of the passing flow of mega yachts below. Later this year, look for Pelican Landing to open here, too — a restaurant fronting the marina where guests can arrive by boat.

“It’s become sort of like a city within a city,” said Stacy Ritter, president and CEO, Visit Lauderdale. “I think as Fort Lauderdale continues to evolve itself into a luxury destination, this just adds to our portfolio of luxury properties that we can offer to people who want to come here, whether it’s for their vacations or for their meetings.”

Scenic Drives

Roll down the car windows and let the Atlantic Ocean breezes in as you cruise north along A1A through some of Florida’s most storied East Coast towns. Stop to watch the surfers in Delray Beach or detour inland for a Japanese tea ceremony class at Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens, a center for Japanese culture and gardens with an incredible bonsai collection. Next up is Lake Worth, where it’s always a delight to stroll out on the pier to see what the anglers reel in.

© Allouphoto | Dreamstime.com

Continuing north from there you’ll arrive in Florida’s toniest coastal enclave, Palm Beach, where Mediterranean Revival mansions hug the oceanfront for miles and Worth Avenue’s couture shops give way to quiet courtyard nooks called vias just off the main shopping street. (These interior courtyards with secreted-away cafés and bubbling fountains feel like secret gardens.)

A daytrip to Everglades National Park makes for a fascinating foray into a wild Florida you might be surprised exists in such close proximity to civilization. Head south on Florida’s Turnpike until you reach Homestead and Florida City, where South Florida’s sprawl turns into vast agricultural swaths. You’ll finally arrive at the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center entrance to the national park. Once inside the park, a 38-mile drive southwest through gorgeous swamps and coastal marshes takes you to the Everglades’ saltwater habitats at Guy Bradley Visitor Center (Flamingo).