%20(1).png){kind=small}
Vanderbilt Beach Welcomes Collier County’s First Ocean Rescue Tower
There is something new on the sand at Vanderbilt Beach, and it represents a significant change in beach safety for Collier County. In September 2026, North Collier Fire Control & Rescue District officially placed Ocean Rescue Tower 29 into service at Vanderbilt Beach. The bright yellow tower is the first ocean rescue tower in Collier County and the first of 11 towers permitted as part of a broader ocean rescue initiative.
For those of us who live in Naples, it might be surprising to realize how unusual that is. We have miles of beautiful Gulf coastline and a lifestyle that revolves around the water, yet lifeguards have not been a regular presence on Collier County beaches for decades. That is now beginning to change.
Lifeguards Returned to Vanderbilt Beach in 2026
The new ocean rescue tower is actually the latest step in an effort that began earlier this summer. On July 1, 2026, North Collier Fire Rescue launched its permanent beach lifeguard program at Vanderbilt Beach. The location was selected in part because Vanderbilt Beach is one of the busiest beach access points in Collier County.
The Ocean Rescue Program now includes the lifeguard tower at the Vanderbilt Beach turnaround, along with lifeguard chairs at Beach Markers 28A and 29. The program also incorporates mobile beach patrols, helping put trained emergency responders closer to the people who may need them. That's an important distinction. This isn't simply a new structure on the beach. The tower is part of an active ocean rescue program designed to provide trained personnel and equipment right along our coastline.
Why an Ocean Rescue Tower Matters
Most days at Vanderbilt Beach are exactly what you hope for in Naples: sunshine, beautiful Gulf water and plenty of people enjoying the sand. But anyone who spends time around the water knows that conditions can change, and emergencies aren't limited to swimmers getting into trouble offshore.
Ocean rescue personnel can respond to swimmers in distress, medical emergencies, missing children, marine-life encounters and other situations that occur on or near the beach. Lifeguards receive deep-water rescue training as well as preparation for the unique challenges that come with responding to emergencies in an open-water environment.
Perhaps the biggest advantage is simply having trained personnel already there. When an emergency occurs, reducing the amount of time between someone needing help and a trained responder reaching them can make an important difference. For a popular beach such as Vanderbilt, that's a meaningful addition for residents and visitors alike.
The First of 11 Planned Ocean Rescue Towers
What makes the Vanderbilt Beach tower particularly interesting is that it isn't intended to be the only one. Ocean Rescue Tower 29 is the first of 11 ocean rescue towers that have been permitted in Collier County as part of North Collier Fire Rescue's broader plans for its coastal service area.
The larger initiative is planned within the fire district's coastal service area, extending from the Lee County line south toward its boundary with the City of Naples. As additional towers are developed, the goal is to expand access to trained ocean rescue personnel along more of the coastline served by the district.
North Collier Fire Rescue has also discussed developing a junior lifeguard program, which could add an educational component by introducing younger members of the community to water safety, rescue skills and the responsibilities of lifeguarding. It will be interesting to watch where the additional towers are ultimately installed and how the program develops over time.
There’s Also a Great Local Story Behind the Lifeguard Stands
One of my favorite parts of this story is something you could easily miss. Eighth-grade Eagle Scout candidate Christian Woodward helped support the ocean rescue initiative by building two lifeguard stands at Vanderbilt Beach. Woodward reportedly spent more than a year working on the project and much of his summer helping construct the stands. His inspiration came in part from his own experience around the water. As a sailboat racer, he had seen lifeguard stations at beaches in other places and wondered why his own community didn't have them. That question eventually became his Eagle Scout project.
The two stands now complement the larger Ocean Rescue Tower 29 and the overall lifeguard presence at Vanderbilt Beach. I love this part of the story because it is such a great example of community involvement. A young person saw something that could make his community safer, came up with an idea and then put in the work to help make it happen.
Another Change Worth Watching in Naples
One of the things I love about living in Naples is how much of our lifestyle takes place outdoors. Our beaches aren't simply places visitors come to see. They're where residents walk in the morning, meet friends, swim, paddleboard, watch sunsets and spend time with their families.
Vanderbilt Beach is one of the area's most popular places to do all of the above. Adding professional lifeguard and ocean rescue services doesn't change what makes the beach special. It simply adds another layer of safety for the residents and visitors enjoying it.
As Naples and Collier County continue to grow and evolve, I think these are exactly the kinds of local developments worth paying attention to. Not every change that improves a community comes with a huge announcement. Sometimes it's a bright yellow tower sitting on the sand, with trained people inside keeping an eye on the Gulf. Welcome to Vanderbilt Beach, Ocean Rescue Tower 29. It's nice to have you watching over us.
Keeping Up With Naples
Naples is always changing, sometimes in big ways and sometimes one community improvement, new restaurant, local business or lifeguard tower at a time. I enjoy sharing these updates because being a Naples real estate expert means knowing much more than homes and market statistics. It's also about knowing the community, what's changing and what makes living here so special.
If you are considering buying or selling a home in Naples and surrounding areas and you aren’t satisfied with average services, you will want to contact Your Naples Real Estate Expert, Renee Hahn, to ensure you get the service, attention and outcomes you deserve.
Renee Hahn
Consistently ranked in the top 0.5% - 1.5% in the Nation
📍 Naples, Florida
📞 (239) 287-2576
#️⃣ Instagram: @reneehahnluxurynaples
#️⃣ Facebook: LuxuryRealEstateinNaples
Comments