A Little SW FL Timeshare History

I was googling a SW FL resort, actually looking to buy a week, and I stumbled onto a little SW FL timeshare history.

It seems like many of them are the result of one person, Keith Trowbridge and his former Captran Resort International.

1978-Sanibel Beach Club II
Penthouse Beach Club
Kahlua Beach Club
Caribbean Beach Club--conversion
Estero Island Beach Club--conversion
Sand Castle Resort & Club--conversion
1980-Shell Island Beach Club
1981-Vanderbilt Beach and Harbour Club
Bonita Resort & Club
Surfrider Beach Club-conversion

After selling out these resort, his company managed timeshare resorts.

He sold it all to RDI Resort Services Corporation in 1996.

Long before Disney, Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt, even before (slightly) David Seigel or Kemmons Wilson, in the 1970's Captran was doing $50M a year in timeshare sales!

When I was looking to buy on Sanibel, I wondered why Sanibel Beach Club, Sanibel Beach Club II, and Lighthouse Resort and Club were not managed by the same company. The latter two are managed by Kenoyer, the first by VRI. Kenoyer folks told me the same developer started them all, but management of SBC transferred to someone else early on. They never did elaborate.

Here's a little more info on him from Zoominfo:

Trowbridge has been a leader in the timeshare industry since 1974, when he pioneered timesharing in North America with the development of Sanibel Beach Club, a 31-unit condominium project built and completely sold out in 18 months. He founded Captran Resorts International, Ltd. At its peak in the late 1970s, that company posted annual timeshare sales of $50 million. Trowbridge has earned the respect of his peers in the industry and has served as president of the Resort Timesharing Council and on the board of directors of the American Land Development Association (now known as the American Resort Development Association, or ARDA.)

These days, Keith T. runs a one man recruiting firm specializing in TS management staffing.

Yup and Yup.

When I read about his collegiate background, he and I have similarities, until two roads diverged and I, I took the one less traveled by . . .



After his Bachelor's degree he went into sales and training (insurance), as did I, but not insurance. Then he went back for more education. After that, 1971, he wound in Florida and timesharing came not long after.

I had frat brothers who went to Florida, from the Midwest, at the same time, as I might have with them. They went into similar sales in Florida. One wound up founding the Hooters chain when the sales career did not go well, and one wound up as President of US Homes, Colorado, and on from there not long ago.

JLB said:

Yup and Yup.

When I read about his collegiate background, he and I have similarities, until two roads diverged and I, I took the one less traveled by . . .

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Well, Don't leave us hanging...What did you do?

JLB, I know that you and Ron were TKE's. any other TKE's on the tug board?

Another Yup - I am a TKE.

My husband's a TKE...Edinboro State College at that time...he was even the president! Hope to make it to SW Florida this winter.

To answer the two question going here, I peaked early.

I was named International Top Teke at the conclave at the Biltmore Estate in Ashville, NC. Seems like that was last century.

That's about it.

gsturtz said:

Well, Don't leave us hanging...What did you do?

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Sea six, where did you go to school?

Penn State. Back when Joe Paterno was fairly new.

Technically, that would be Prytanis. "Venerable Prytanis, our retreat is guarded."

Another (in)famouus TEKE. Willie Nelson. For real.

Poette said:

My husband's a TKE...Edinboro State College at that time...he was even the president! Hope to make it to SW Florida this winter.

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Don't get me started. I can still regurgitate fraternity stuff, formal meeting type stuff, from all those years ago.

But I can't find my car keys.