Will Sanibel be open?


Will Sanibel be open? The great news is that many of our favorite Sanibel beaches are now open and ready for visitors! Here's what you need to know about which Sanibel beaches are open.


When can people go back to Sanibel?

By consensus, the Sanibel City Council supported the decision to end the requirement for reentry passes on January 2, 2023. The City of Sanibel asks that non-residents respect and understand the fact that Sanibel is still actively working to recover from Hurricane Ian.


Has Captiva recovered from Ian?

By TIFFANY REPECKI - | Oct 2, 2023. It has been one year since Hurricane Ian brought the islands to a halt with its devastating damage and the recovery of the Sanibel-Captiva business community has been a slow one — but it is returning.


Did Captiva get hit by Hurricane Ian?

Captiva, a small island just north of Sanibel Island on Florida's Gulf Coast near Ft. Myers, was hit hard by Hurricane Ian in late September 2022.


How long will it take to rebuild Sanibel Causeway?

The goal is to finish that by the end of 2023. The rest of the repairs and Lee County Causeway Island improvement projects will be done sometime in 2024. Right now the price tag is nearly $340 million. It's mostly funded by The Federal Highway Administration, but Lee County is on the hook for about $51 million.


Can tourists go to Sanibel Island now?

The great news is that many of our favorite Sanibel beaches are now open and ready for visitors! Here's what you need to know about which Sanibel beaches are open.


Did mucky duck on Captiva survive Hurricane Ian?

The Mucky Duck is back! Nearly four months after Hurricane Ian ripped through Captiva and Sanibel Islands, The Mucky Duck restaurant is open again! After months of cleanup, it's a day Mucky Duck fans have anxiously awaited. But be prepared for a wait; the restaurant has been packed since reopening.


Are Captiva beaches open after Ian?

At least 13 beaches in the Fort Myers, Sanibel and Captiva area are already open, and two more parts of Fort Myers Beach are expected to open this month, Bowditch Point Park and Crescent Beach Family Park. We're getting there, Visit Florida CEO Dana Young said about the area's recovery.


Did the bubble room survive Ian?

Aerial photos and video of Sanibel show that The Bubble Room appears intact. Without seeing ground-level photos, it's tough to determine the extent of damage to the colorful restaurant for locals and tourists, some referring to it as the Beloved Bubble. The Bubble Room still stands!


Did the Turtle Club survive Ian?

Founded in 1998 on the grounds of the Vanderbilt Beach Resort on the Gulf shore in North Naples, The Turtle Club was destroyed by storm surge. “It's pretty much toast. I hate to say it,” says co-founder Peter Tierney, who was in North Carolina when Ian hit the coast.


Is Captiva island ready for tourists?

Yes! 'Tween Waters Island Resort & Spa on Captiva Island is open to the public and you can drive across the Sanibel Causeway or arrive by boat to the resort.


Is anyone still living on Sanibel Island?

An estimated 6,400 people lived in the City of Sanibel as of April 2021, according to the US Census Bureau. The island is also home to a number of hotels and resorts and sees a significant amount of tourists each year.


Is Sanibel Island open for tourists 2023?

Note that Sanibel Island sustained significant damage in September 2022 as a result of Hurricane Ian. Though the island is open to the public as of January 2023, local officials are warning visitors that much of the island's attractions and businesses remain closed.


Will Sanibel ever be rebuilt?

Though it's smaller than many Florida vacation towns, Sanibel Island has been a place important to many people for generations. With the community's efforts to rebuild, it will continue to be so.


Are Sanibel beaches open after Ian?

The City of Sanibel is excited to announce that all public access beach park locations in Sanibel are now open to the public. The city announced on Thursday that the following areas are set to open Friday, June 30: Bayside parking lot at 110 – 153 Periwinkle Way for Lighthouse Beach Park.


Is Marco Island open?

There are no travel restrictions in place. If that changes, we will alert businesses as to the requirements for essential employees. Are the beaches closed? Beaches on Marco Island are open.