Despite getting hit with two more hurricanes this year, Fort Myers Beach is making remarkable progress since Hurricane Ian turned the island upside down two years ago. Many of the island’s popular businesses and attractions have rebuilt and returned with a number of new ones springing up as well.

There have been many success stories as condos, homeowners and businesses recover and rebuild. Redevelopment has continued over the past two years, faster than expected in some ways and slower for many others.

Times Square lost some of its popular storefronts at the center of the island’s tourism center. Despite the losses, there are new developments and businesses opening. Many homeowners are rebuilding.

Popular restaurants like Dixie Fish Co., Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille, Jack’s, the Parrot Key Caribbean Grill, Petey’s Upper Deck, Snug Harbor Waterfront Restaurant, the Yucatan Beach Stand Bar & Grill have all reopened. A number of businesses are in the rebuilding stages with plans to open this year including The Beach Bar, Matanzas on the Bay, Sandy Bottom’s Bar & Grill, and The Whale.

The Lani Kai Island Resort, one of the mainstays on the island, reopened its rooms this past fall and most recently a new restaurant in Grace’s Cafe. The resort’s Sun Deck Restaurant and Island View Restaurant are in the rebuilding stages.

Santini Marina Plaza reopened with several familiar returning businesses in The Islander, Gift Gallery & Boutique, Annette’s Book Nook, Leani’s Casual and Swimwear. and new businesses such as Surf Style and Sweet Licks Ice Cream. More of its old businesses are on the way with a whole new slate of businesses expected to fill its storefronts in the next year.

One thing Hurricane Ian didn’t take from Fort Myers Beach was its beach. Sand restoration and an emergency berm helped make up for some erosion and gave the town protection from three new hurricanes in the past year in Debby, Helene and Milton which slowed the town’s rebuild though the island has pressed on.

PLACES TO GO

Parks, beaches and bustle

One of the first things to check off the list when you return is to visit the beach. The Town of Fort Myers Beach operates more than two-dozen beach access points in varying states of repair since Hurricane Ian.

Among the town’s most popular beach spots on the north side of the island is Lee County’s Bowditch Point Park, a popular and quieter public access point to the beach which is open to the public though some of its facilities are currently undergoing renovations. Lynn Hall Memorial Park, which intertwines with the town’s Times Square, is perhaps the most popular beach on the island. Its restroom facility was destroyed by Hurricane Ian, though, portable restrooms have been installed at Lynn Hall Memorial Park in its place. The Fort Myers Beach Pier was also destroyed by Hurricane Ian though county commissioners approved a plan that will nearly double the size of the pier – though its completion date is about two to three years away. The county has also opened Crescent Beach Family Park though county commissioners have approved a plan that could change the look of the park – with new artificial turf for part of the park with a boardwalk and shade structures.

Bowditch Point Regional Park, Crescent Beach Family Park and Lynn Hall Memorial Park all offer some of the finest views of the Gulf of Mexico in the region. The parks have wide-open access to the beaches fronting the Gulf of Mexico with panoramic views of the horizon at dawn and during sunsets.

Further down Estero Boulevard on the south end of the island is Lovers Key State Park – which includes a beach that wraps around to the edge of Big Carlos Pass – offering additional vistas to beachgoers.

More info: Visit www.fortmyersbeachfl.gov/102/Beaches


Bayside Veterans Park

One of the newest additions for residents on Fort Myers Beach is the rebuilding and rebranding of Bayside Veterans Park at Old San Carlos Boulevard, next to Snug Harbor Waterfront Restaurant, Nervous Nellies and Wahoo Willies.

The park is home to a free Bayside Park Concert Series sponsored by local businesses in conjunction with the town and Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce. The free concerts are open to the public every Sunday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. with occasional special shows and showtimes. Stay with the Fort Myers Beach Observer for which bands will be hitting the popular spot. The concert series attracts a large number of talented local musical performers and offers something that will appeal to everyone. It’s also a great place to meander along and see expansive views of the water at Matanzas Pass. Boats from the nearby mooring field can also be seen.

More info: www.fortmyersbeachfl.gov/1122/Bayside-Veterans-Park

Address: Corner of Old San Carlos Boulevard and First Street

The Mound House

The oldest home on Fort Myers Beach is the Mound House, which dates back more than a century and sits on an approximately 2,000-year-old Calusa shell mound. The Calusa were a tribe of Native Americans who roamed Southwest Florida before being driven out in the 18th Century. The home is owned by the Town of Fort Myers Beach and is listed on the National Registrar of Historic Places. The home has been refurbished in a way to present how the town’s
early settlers once lived. The Mound House offers tours and a number of recreational activities, including kayaking and navigating the Great Calusa Blueway Paddling Trail. You will also find idyllic vistas of the bay and fishing opportunities. The spacious Mound House property is a perfect setting for a family picnic with a view of the bay under some of the island’s best tree cover. There are also arts and crafts activities and gardens. By visiting, it helps you appreciate and develop a new love for the town of Fort Myers Beach. It’s hard not to appreciate the area’s rich history after a trip to the Mound House, open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. The grounds are open daily from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. There are also occasional movie nights for children and families. Check the Fort Myers Beach Observer for announcements.

More info: https://moundhouse.org or 239-765-0865

Address: 451 Connecticut Street, Fort Myers Beach

THINGS TO DO


Wildlife and nature

On the south end of the island, you will find much of the bird action, including the Little Estero Critical Wildlife Area. The state’s four threatened bird species nest here: American oystercatchers, black skimmers, least turns and snowy plovers. That’s not all though. Look out for osprey, pelicans, falcons, hawks, gulls, herons, egrets and eyecatching roseate spoonbills. The birds will often get close, soaring from high above and searching the shallow waters for food. Keep your distance though; many are migratory birds stopping over for rest. From Feb. 15 to Sept. 1 is the bird nesting season and much of their habitat on the south end will be roped off to protect the nests. Fort Myers Beach is a sanctuary for many birds that are recuperating from their travels. Keep dogs on a leash and do not disturb birds searching for food, resting or nesting. Dogs are prohibited in the Critical Wildlife Area.

If you are walking the beach in the spring and summer, you will notice sections of yellow tape in the sand. Those are not police-related but mark the nests of threatened loggerhead sea turtles which are awaiting to hatch. The turtles, protected under the Endangered Species Act, nest in the dark and hatchlings will typically break free and head for the ocean before dawn. If you happen to cross their path, avoid shining any lights on them. Outdoor lights are prohibited from shining on the beach from April through October in order to avoid disturbing the turtles. If you have the rare opportunity to witness hatching sea turtles heading in any direction other than the Gulf of Mexico as nesting season wraps up, call the local turtle-monitoring organization Turtle Time at 239-481-5566.

Boating, dolphin tours and fishing

Several boat tour companies can bring you out to Estero Bay to see dolphins in their natural habitat. Learn about the area’s ecology and marine life on a guided boat tour. Some tours will take you to islands that are only accessible by boat. You may even spot threatened manatees. There are a number of fishing charters available.

If you have your own boat, consider taking it out for a fun and relaxing day on the water and explore the various channels and bays in the area, or of course, the Gulf of Mexico. Pack a lunch and enjoy a meal on the water or pull up to one of the fabulous restaurants listed above for a mouthwatering treat.

Salty Sam’s Marina, off Main Street, is one of the most popular locations to store your boat, or pick up a cruise. There are sightseeing cruises, family cruises, dolphin tours, fishing charters, pirate ship cruises for families and boat rental options. There is a lot of nature that Fort Myers Beach has to offer and it never gets old, no matter how long you’ve lived here. Moss Marina also has wet and dry slips available. Snook Bright Marina offers boat rentals as well.

Fitness

There are bike rentals on the beach, as well as water sport rentals, jet skis and parasailing that can be found walking the beach.

For those looking to stay fit and exercise, the Bay Oaks Recreational Campus has reopened with a fitness center, weight room, basketball court, pickleball court, volleyball and yoga classes.

Dining and accommodations

Fort Myers Beach is known for its wide array of restaurants. You will find scenic views and can enjoy locally caught grouper, pink Gulf shrimp and other fresh seafood. Many of the restaurant owners on Fort Myers Beach have a relationship with local fishermen and purveyors and have access to some of the freshest picks around. In addition to the standard restaurants, there are also a number of eateries operating out of food trucks.

More info: www.fortmyersbeach.org/dine

Among the major hotels to fully reopen are the DiamondHead Beach Resort, Lani Kai Island Resort, the Lighthouse Inn and the Pink Shell Beach Resort. The Margaritaville Beach Resort is also now open.

Fishing

Fishing is a popular tradition at Fort Myers Beach, which has taken a hit between Hurricane Ian, Lee County projects and town and state disagreements. The Fort Myers Beach Pier has been closed since Hurricane Ian, the pier at Old San Carlos Boulevard was closed before Hurricane Ian over disagreements over maintenance between the town and state. The fishing pier off Fisherman’s Wharf has also been closed since Hurricane Ian. Fishing has been banned by Lee County off the Big Carlos Pass Bridge as a new and taller bridge is being built that won’t be completed until 2026 and will not be made available for fishing. There are still other spots to fish including the Mound House, off island along San Carlos Boulevard and off the bridges past Lovers Key State Park near New Pass and the Bonita Beach Dog Park. Offshore fishing is a great way to find grouper, black fin tuna, and mackerel whether with your own boat or a rental. There are periodic fishing contests throughout the year as well. Sport-fishing for tarpon has been a longtime favorite among visitors and residents alike and brings anglers from all over the world. One of the largest tarpon migrations in the world takes place annually off the shores of Fort Myers Beach and Sanibel. Some tarpon reside here year-round, but the best time to catch them is during their migration season, which is April through June.

More info: www.fortmyersbeach.org/play/fishing

Lovers Key State Park

One of the state’s most heavily trafficked parks is Lovers Key State Park, which is technically in Fort Myers Beach though just a couple minutes south over the Big Carlos Pass Bridge. That bridge is in the midst of being replaced but will remain open during construction. There could be traffic delays heading that way off the island.

Lovers Key State Park has more than two miles of pristine white-sand beachfront and was featured on the Travel Channel in “10 Stunning Florida Keys you don’t know about.”
The park recently added a $4 million welcome and discovery center. The discovery center’s hours are currently Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The park is also a National Gold Medal Winner and has more than five miles of multi-use trails through a maritime hammock, and inner waterways for paddling. Keep an eye out for gopher tortoises and a host of bird species. When crossing the walking bridge over the mangrove
estuary, you may be able to spot threatened manatees.

The shelling on Lovers Key is some of the best on Southwest Florida’s Gulf beaches.
The park’s boat ramp is now open, but boat trailer parking is currently limited. The hiking trails have been closed as of January due to damage from Hurricane Milton. The park’s tram service continues to operate to and from the South Beach tram stop.

The park is open from 8 a.m. to sundown, 365 days a year.

Cost: The cost of admission is $8 per vehicle for 2-8 people, $4 for single-occupant vehicles and $2 for pedestrians and bicyclists.

More info: www.floridastateparks.org/Lovers-Key or 239-463-4588.

Address: 8700 Estero Boulevard, Estero