Fort Myers Beach pier demolition set this week as visitors cheer recovery

Fort Myers Beach, still marked by construction from Hurricane Ian’s devastation four years ago, welcomed visitors and locals this Labor Day weekend who remain optimistic about the town’s recovery. Kristen Amicone and Gina Turek, visiting the beach, recalled the emotional impact of seeing the destruction when the area first reopened to the public. “We were here when it just opened to the public to drive through, and it was devastating to see it like this,” Amicone and Turek said. Hank Leitnaker, who works on Fort Myers Beach, described the aftermath of the hurricane. “It looked like a bomb had gone off. And since then, everything’s, like, really been coming back,” Leitnaker said. Despite cranes, fencing, and piles of construction materials covering much of Times Square, the area saw an increase in visitors compared to last year’s Labor Day weekend. “This weekend’s up over last year. And, you know, there’s a lot of people out on the beach. And it’s been a really great weekend,” Leitnaker said. A significant step in the town’s recovery is set for this week, as the Fort Myers Beach Pier is scheduled for demolition. Lee County plans to complete the new pier by 2027. Jimmy Briano, who works on Fort Myers Beach, shared his excitement about the ongoing construction and the town’s potential. “I feel excited. I feel — just moving here from California and loving it already and just seeing what potential it has — everybody’s excited,” Briano said. Amicone and Turek also expressed their enthusiasm for the pier’s reconstruction. “Oh God, I’m so excited. We miss it so much. It’s going to make such a difference in the community,” they said. Lee County has announced that the completed pier will be 1,000 feet long, 12 feet wide, and reinforced to better withstand hurricanes. DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment, and original programming on your TV.