What’s opening in Florida after Hurricane Ian? See timeline for beaches and restaurants
Southwest Florida is showing more signs of recovery from Hurricane Ian: Some beaches and a historic lighthouse are on the mend and some will be ready for the public soon.
Sanibel was opened to visitors after the New Year but the recovery is ongoing.
What to know:
Sanibel Lighthouse
SANIBEL LIGHTHOUSE SHINING BRIGHT!
For the first time in 5 months since Hurricane Ian devastated Southwest Florida, the iconic landmark was lit this morning on all 4 legs. A symbol of resilience in our strong community! @WINKNews pic.twitter.com/yFXODSytsC— Matt Devitt (@MattDevittWINK) February 28, 2023
Sanibel’s 104-foot high iron lighthouse built in 1884 and a beacon onto the Gulf Coast waters since until Sept. 28, 2022, glows again.
Five months after Ian walloped Southwest Florida’s coast, WINK News reported that the Sanibel Lighthouse has been re-lit. The storm surge and the winds sawed off one of the lighthouse’s legs but the piece had been unearthed in October. Restoration crews got busy.
“It just… it has to be there,” Sanibel resident Janie Howland told WINK News.
Beaches bouncing back
Reopening beach parks while ensuring safety for the community is our priority. Please visit https://t.co/DRF8su3L81 for more information on the phased reopening of beach parks. pic.twitter.com/Vt5QUIyKke
— Lee County Government (@LeeCountyFLBOCC) February 14, 2023
Lee County Parks and Recreation officials announced a reopening schedule for its beaches, starting in early March through a second phase in May.
Here’s what we know so far.
Phase 1: Early March and now open:
▪ Dog Beach in Bonita Springs and Boca Grande Beaches Accesses are both open dawn to dusk as of March 1.
Phase 1: Mid-March:
▪ Alison Hagerup Beach Park in Captiva, San Carlos Bay-Bunche Beach Preserve in Fort Myers Beach and Bonita Beach Accesses #1, 4, 5, 6 and 9.
Phase 1: Mid-April:
▪ Bonita Beach Park and Lynn Hall Memorial Beach Park on Fort Myers Beach.
Phase 2: May:
▪ Bowditch Point Park on Fort Myers Beach, Bonita Beach Accesses #2, 3, 7, 8 and 10 on Little Hickory Island Park.
Restaurants and resorts
Some favorite Southwest Florida landmarks are back in business. Here are a few.
▪ The Mucky Duck’s owners posted a video to its Facebook page from YouTube of a drive-thru of its neighborhood in early February. The Mucky Duck on Andy Rosse Lane in Captiva had a soft reopening on Jan. 25 after a four-month shutdown. Nearby South Seas Island Resort remains closed for repairs.
▪ ‘Tween Waters Island Resort & Spa on Captiva is reopened and accepting reservations.
▪ The Bubble Room Restaurant in Captiva is still undergoing repairs and there is yet to be an announced reopening of its original site. But Bubble Room owners worked out an arrangement to sell its desserts on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at The Broadway Palm Dinner Theater in Fort Myers.
▪ Some businesses reopened in the fall, like Jerry’s Foods, a grocery with an on-site restaurant on Sanibel, and in February its dining hours resumed.