Resort purchases Rauschenberg property
South Seas recently announced the acquisition of a 22-acre property, formerly owned by the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation, that spans from the beach to the bay on Captiva.
It purchased the property from the foundation, which served as its owner following the 2008 passing of 20th-century American artist Robert Rauschenberg.
“Given its location, this sale offered us a rare and compelling opportunity to acquire prime beachfront directly adjacent to our established resort, creating a seamless opportunity for integration and enhancements to the overall resort,” South Seas President Greg Spence said. “We look forward to honoring the legacy of this amazing artist through future art-related programming and by incorporating several buildings from the property into our resort.”
The property, which runs along Laika Lane and Captiva Drive adjacent to the resort and Village, includes 10 buildings and spans waterfront footage along the Gulf and Pine Island Sound.
The purchase is another joint venture between the Timbers Company, Wheelock Street Capital and The Ronto Group, which purchased South Seas in 2021. Under the joint ownership, the reimagined South Seas reopened in May 2025 with all new amenities. The resort’s experiences are available to registered guests and Club Captiva owners.
Wheelock Street Capital founding partner Jonathan Paul shared the company’s focus on investing in luxury leisure destinations like Captiva.
“Our continued investment in South Seas and recent purchase of the Rauschenberg property reflect our commitment to enhancing Captiva as a premier destination and creating long-term value for our investors, while contributing to the economic vitality and character of the surrounding community,” he said.
While specific development plans have not yet been finalized for the Rauschenberg property, South Seas reported that it is exploring options that align with the reimagined resort. It is also looking at ways to honor the legacy of Rauschenberg and his visionary artistry as plans develop for the new property.