Lighthouse resort hosts first major Easter celebration since hurricanes

FORT MYERS BEACH, Fla. (WINK) — Easter Sunday brought more than just egg hunts and family fun to Fort Myers Beach as one local resort reopened, marking a powerful milestone in the community's recovery after previous hurricanes.

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The Lighthouse resort hosted one of its first big holidays since Hurricanes Ian and Milton. As crowds showed up, so did a sense of hope that the island is coming back to life.

"I just really appreciate how the community has come together and how they have rebuilt, and this is a great place to live and just really happy to be here," Anthony Pasquarosa said.

For many, this Easter felt different. Families returned to the sand at Fort Myers Beach, filling a space that not long ago was left quiet after the hurricanes.

For the Pasquarosa family, it was a full-circle moment. They once called this island home before the storm forced them to move, but now that they're back, they say it feels like a new beginning.

"Being able to come down here now after everything that happened and the new pool at tiki we are so excited," Emily Pasquarosa said. "There is so many things popping up and we are so excited for it all."

That renewal was on full display Sunday. From egg hunts to music to a visit from the Easter bunny, the Lighthouse resort turned into a place of celebration once again.

"It was honestly more than I expected. There was a ton of kids, and they were all just running around and having the time of their lives," Amber Thomas, an employee, said.

For staff, this turnout means even more than just a crowded holiday. It's a sign that the community is returning together.

"We're just trying to build something for the community to go to, and it was really nice to have this family-friendly, you know, just lots of fun, DJ, all the stuff for the kids out," Thomas said.

The Lighthouse resort staff said this is just the beginning, with more events already in the works.