During groundbreaking celebration weekend, Whale owners Mike and Dawn Miller hosted a dunk tank to raise money for two local organizations, The Beach Kids Foundation and the Bob Tabarrini Foundation.
On Saturday $1,780 was raised for The Beach Kids Foundation and on Sunday $2,131 was raised for the Tabarrini Foundation. The money was raised during a dunk tank fundraiser which featured many people throughout the community in the tank for 30 minute stints.
The Whale tent will be coming down as construction on the new restaurant is set to begin. The official groundbreaking was this past Friday. The Whale is the first new restaurant/bar to be rebuilt after Hurricane Ian. The plan is to be open in the fall of 2025.
The new 36-foot tall Whale building will be 2 stories over base flood elevation, with enclosed space on the first floor.
The Miller’s and Greg Von Krumreig purchased The Whale from Doc Ford’s owner Marty Harrity in June of 2022. Three months later Hurricane Ian destroyed the building. Harrity owned The Whale for 25 years.