Did the Sanibel Shell Museum survive Ian?

The Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum itself sustained 5 feet of flooding, significant wind damage to the roof and loss of generators during Ian, which resulted in only 25% of their marine life surviving the rescue. Fortunately, none of the 550,000 shells in their collection were damaged.



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The good news was that all the animals made it through the storm (unlike Irma when 11 animals died) and Players Circle Theater and the Fun Park sustained no damage and the Shell Factory is looking to get back in business sooner rather than later.

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Although the islands remain sundered, things are a bit quieter now. Today the southern island, still known as Captiva, is a beautiful and pricey tourist destination reachable by car over a causeway from the mainland near Fort Myers.

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Hurricane Ian caused widespread damage to the island. Homes and infrastructure were destroyed, and the island's residents and businesses were left to pick up the pieces. The community of North Captiva has come together to begin to rebuild and restore the island to its former glory.

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Because seashells are important to the islands' chain of life, and because Sanibel and Captiva are refuge islands where all life is considered precious, the State of Florida has outlawed the collecting of live shells on the island.

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Of about two hundred and fifty residents, all but eighty left the island after the storm, according to the director of the Sanibel Museum. Among the structures that survived were the Sanibel lighthouse and the two picturesque caretaker cottages beneath it, which came to symbolize the island.

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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.

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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.

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Sanibel Island is open and ready to receive visitors to our island paradise. Please come for the day, spend time on our beaches and enjoy a meal at one of our restaurants. Even better, stay with us if you can.

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A little more than four months after Hurricane Ian devastated the Southwest Florida coastline, this is all that remains of the Lazy Flamingo and Sunset Grill, two popular restaurants at the north end of Sanibel Island, Florida.

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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.

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