Captiva Island's Mucky Duck reopens after Hurricane Milton repairs

CAPTIVA ISLAND, Fla. (WINK) — The Mucky Duck restaurant welcomed customers again this weekend after more than a year of repairs following hurricane damage.

The Mucky Duck first opened in 1976 and has survived several major storms over the years. But when Hurricane Milton hit in October 2024, storm surge forced the restaurant to close its doors for repairs.

"It's been sad with it being closed, because this is such an establishment on the island, and everybody's Oh, mucky duck, best sun sets anywhere in the world," Lisa Burden said.

The restaurant announced that it has a brand-new kitchen and updated systems. 

"The resilience of these islands is really spectacular," Lucas Darr said. "The community, the people, everybody always works together to help each other out, and it's quite the community."

That community is built on resilience.

"We have a spirit here where we just can't keep us down," Phil Benvenuti said. "And I think, you know, a lot of these things that pop up these challenges, we seem to always rise above it."

Visitors will notice large dunes built along the beach. While they block some of the water view from the restaurant, they're designed to help protect the building from future storm damage.

"Hopes for the future that the another hurricane won't get them, and hopefully this will help," Burden said.

The protective dunes haven't dampened the excitement of the restaurant's return.

"The reality is, people come back to the mucky ducky duck whether they see the water or not," Marsha Beard said.

"People are excited, and you know that it's back open, and it's things like that, you know, I think what anchor communities, right, make communities unique," Benvenuti said.