by SC Features Writer Reanna Haase
During the weekends, the Tiki Hut at the American Legion Post 123 on Sanibel-Captiva Road takes on its complete form as a welcoming meeting ground for old friends and new faces, with live music and the best cheeseburgers in town.
“People are coming out and enjoying themselves,” said Legion Post 123 Commander Randy Carson. “We got one of the best cheeseburgers around, seriously, so that brings a lot of people…”
“It’s a community place, and people say they love it once they do find it. It’s just a good ole place,” he said.
Six feet of floodwater filled Post 123 during Hurricane Ian in September 2022 and two feet during Hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024. But it continued supporting the community through those storms by putting bathrooms and laundromats on the Legion grounds for people with nowhere else to go.
“Especially after the last two and a half years, with what went on with the hurricanes and everything, people need that more and more, definitely,” said Carson. “That’s a big thing; camaraderie is really big here, especially with veterans.”
Flooding from the storms heavily damaged the inside of the American Legion building, which had to be rebuilt. The back half of the property, where the popular Tiki Hut is located, is fully functional, along with the inside front hall and bathrooms. The indoor bar area is underway.
Since Hurricane Ian and the subsequent storms of 2024, the American Legion Post 123 has focused all its energy toward the restoration and fundraising efforts for the veteran haven, which are about 80 percent complete, according to Carson.
He shared that all the work at Post 123 is done by volunteers, including the bartenders who have spent their weekends helping. In the beginning, all the restoration efforts were volunteer-based, until they looked to contractors to complete the work.
“[We are] mainly working 98 percent on donations. Insurance, like [for] everybody else, didn’t pan out much. So, this has been really pretty good through the people on Sanibel and Captiva, as well as other (American) Legions around the state and other states pitching in here and there,” said Carson.
“It makes a big difference,” he said. “Thank God for the people, donation-wise, or we wouldn’t be anywhere.”
Carson has been volunteering at an American Legion Post since he was 12 years old when his father was the commander of his post, and he has belonged to Sanibel’s Post 123 since the early 1980s after serving in the Navy.
After about 50 years of service with the Legion, Carson says his primary goal is to get his Post 123 up and running so people can continue to get the support they need.
“I try to give more support to people than to take it,” Carson said regarding the Legion’s services. “So, the last year to year-and-a-half that’s been the mainstay – just trying to get it back up and running, you know, with the help of a lot of people.”
The American Legion Post 123, when fully functional, offers many resources to veterans that can be found here. It’s also a non-profit organization committed to raising restoration funds while giving back to its community.
An upcoming solo performance by the lead singer and rhythm guitarist of The Lightfoot Band, Andy Mauck, will help raise restoration funds for Post 123. Carson invites the community to hear the music of various artists like Jimmy Buffett, Kenny Rogers, John Prine, and more.
“[The Legion] is always open to the public – come out and support us,” Carson said.
Mauck’s performance will be from 4 to 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 29, at the Legion’s Tiki Hut, 4249 Sanibel Captiva Rd. Donations for restoration efforts will be accepted at the event or anytime the Legion is open. Details on future events and updates on the rebuilding of the post can be found on the Legion’s Facebook page here.