Winds whipped the waters off Lighthouse Beach Park Tuesday as construction workers prepped the Sanibel Lighthouse for final reconstruction.
The chocolate brown iron structure is a beacon on the island, for the community as well as for visitors; and it’s a historical marker that’s emblematic to Sanibel and its relaxed, low-key feel.
The lighthouse was hit hard by Hurricane Ian in September 2022, losing one of four pillars that support the popular landmark.
Gone too are two nearby cottages, one of which apparently wiped out the missing leg.
“It’s really a symbol of the resilience of the island,” said Sanibel spokesman Eric Jackson. “Just the fact that it’s still standing (is remarkable). And it’s going to be restored and better than ever.”
Work there centers mostly around a replacement leg that was lost during the storm. The column is one of four key features that support the 98-foot-tall lighthouse.
No plans for new cottages
The $600,000 project is expected to be largely completed this week, and workers had secured the new leg as of early afternoon Tuesday.