Thunderbird resort and Ikki Woo-Woo 10700 Gulf Blvd., Treasure Island The Ikki Woo-Woo is about to be the Ikki Wah-wah. Ownership at the Thunderbird Beach Resort says it’s demolishing—then rebuilding—the iconic, 68-year-old Treasure Island hotel. In a social media post, ownership pegged the difficult decision on damage from last year’s back-to-back hurricanes. The silver lining is that ownership, which said 80% of the resort has substantial damage, plans a complete rebuild that preserves the “…heart, soul, and charm that guests have come to love.” Credit: Photo via James Kirkikis/Shutterstock
The Ikki Woo-Woo is about to be the Ikki Wah-wah.

Ownership at the Thunderbird Beach Resort says it’s demolishing—then rebuilding—the iconic, 68-year-old Treasure Island hotel.

In a social media post, ownership pegged the difficult decision on damage from last year’s back-to-back hurricanes. “After extensive evaluations and much deliberation, we were left with no choice but to move forward with a full redevelopment of the hotel,” they wrote.

The silver lining is that ownership, which said 80% of the resort has substantial damage, plans a complete rebuild that preserves the “…heart, soul, and charm that guests have come to love.”

The hotel really is a relic from the past, part of a St. Pete and Pinellas that sometimes feels like it’s slipping away.

“While the structure and layout will evolve, the spirit of the Thunderbird will live on,” Avi & Gilad Ovaknin, Owners, Thunderbird TI Holdings, LLC, added. “We look forward to sharing updates throughout this journey and can’t wait to welcome you back once the new Thunderbird Beach Resort is ready.”

And yes, the iconic neon—which serves as the unofficial welcome sign to folks coming to Treasure Island via the causeway—will remain.

The resort has not been in operation since last fall when Hurricanes Helene and Milton devastated the Bay area. Government officials would still have to approve the proposed rebuilding plans, according to WFTS, and there is no date set for demolition.

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This article appears in Apr 10-16, 2025.

Read his 2016 intro letter and disclosures from 2022 and 2021. Ray Roa started freelancing for Creative Loafing Tampa in January 2011 and was hired as music editor in August 2016. He became Editor-In-Chief...