Fort Myers Beach sees bustling crowds, reminiscent of pre-Ian days

The day after Christmas brought a lively scene to Fort Myers Beach, reminiscent of its pre-Hurricane Ian days. 

WINK News was on the ground with exclusive coverage, capturing the sights and sounds of a community bouncing back.

Anne Slusarski, a tourist visiting the area, expressed her joy at seeing the beach's revival.

"It's really nice to see it back up and running again, because we missed the Old Fort Myers, but looking forward to the new Fort Myers," said Slusarski.

Slusarski was present just days after Hurricane Ian hit and recalled the devastation it left behind.

"It looked like a war zone. There's a while, like, ' Oh my gosh, it'll never be the same.' But that's part of growth, and part of you know what we all like to see for this area," she said.

The transformation has been significant. According to Visit Florida and Lee County projections, visitor numbers are expected to match or exceed pre-hurricane levels by the end of 2026.

Yvette Gammon, another tourist, shared her surprise at how bustling the beach has become.

"We have to adapt to change, and unfortunately, Mother Nature plays a part in that. You know, I'm surprised. It's really pumping. It was a little slow the first few days we were here, but yesterday, the beach was packed. It's great," said Gammon.

Local businesses, especially those rebuilt from the ground up, are also experiencing a surge in business. The Whale, a popular restaurant, has been at the forefront of this revival.

Greg Vonkrumreig, general manager of The Whale, commented on the restaurant's progress.

"I don't want to quote the numbers, but I want to say we're at about two-thirds of what we were before Ian. But we're looking forward to a really great season this season," said Vonkrumreig.

The Whale was one of the first commercial restaurants to reopen after the storm, aiming to uphold the legacy of Fort Myers Beach.

"We're doing the best we can to really, really make Fort Myers Beach proud and in all kinds of ways, number one is a new restaurant, but also as one of these staples of the old, you know, Old Fort Myers Beach before Ian," said Vonkrumreig.

With familiar favorites back in operation, tourists are optimistic about Fort Myers Beach's new normal.