Hurricane Helene left a trail of destruction in Bayshore Park, washing away two beloved fishing piers and pushing three large boats onto shore from the Peace River.
The storm's powerful currents were so intense that palm trees were the only barrier keeping the boats from being pushed into nearby roads and homes.
Just days before the storm, local fisherman Sam Seymour had enjoyed a night on Pier 1, now a complete wreck.
"I was fishing on it a couple nights ago," he said.
Hurricane Helene brought at least four feet of storm surge to the area, shattering both fishing piers into pieces and ultimately washing them away.
"This is our favorite spot. This is where we always came," said resident Danine Harkins.
Local fisherman Mike Coulias expressed his shock at the extent of the damage.
"I'm actually still kind of in a state of shock over this," he stated. "We just keep losing fishing piers. Where the heck are people going to fish now?" Seymour said, "On land."
The devastation didn't stop at the piers. In a surprising turn of events, three large boats were forced ashore, creating a sight for visitors.
"I stopped here because this was a total surprise—especially with three boats all in this one location. It was definitely a photo opportunity," said Coulias.
A nearby hotel was left with a waterline up to its windows, while a large porta-potty, the size of a small shed, was washed onto the property. Two cars were seen wedged into each other.
“I don’t think anyone expected this down to ten,” Harkins noted, emphasizing the severity of the situation.
The fate of the boats remains uncertain, with one local towing expert estimating that it will cost at least $10,000 to have them removed.
As Bayshore Park begins to recover from Hurricane Helene, the community wonders ow long it will take to restore their cherished fishing spots.