Clearwater Beach is open and inviting visitors to enjoy its white sandy shores again, despite ongoing restoration efforts following Hurricane Milton’s impact.

While most of the beach is accessible, sand cleaning and recovery work continues. The Pier 60 parking lot and South Beach Lot 32 remain closed as crews work to restore the area. Visitors are asked to stay cautious around large equipment moving sand, and lifeguards are patrolling from four towers and all-terrain vehicles in areas still under restoration.

The iconic, ever-popular Pier 60 remains temporarily closed for a structural assessment to determine storm-related damage.

“It’s been challenging seeing people out of work,” Lisa Chandler told WTSP, owner of Pier 60 Concessions and Barefoot Beach House. Pier 60 Concessions reopened Tuesday, but the Barefoot Beach House, flooded by Hurricane Helene, is still under renovation. “Before the storms, we had about 130 employees; now, we’re down to about 40,” Chandler shared, expressing gratitude for the beach’s reopening but acknowledging the impact on tourism-reliant businesses.

The Clearwater Beach Recreation Center Parking lot is open for those planning to visit. Many local businesses, including restaurants and hotels, sustained heavy damage from Hurricanes Milton and Helene, which left debris and sand strewn across coastal properties. Popular spots like Jimmy’s Fish House and Iguana Bar were gutted by Helene, with doors, windows, and furniture thrown around.

Clearwater Commissioner Brian Scott emphasized the importance of visitors returning. “They’re hurting right now, and while we’re not fully back, more businesses are reopening every day,” he said.

According to Visit St. Pete Clearwater, 80% of area hotels and businesses are back in operation, underscoring the importance of tourism, which is the leading economic driver in Pinellas County, supporting 1 in 10 jobs.

(Image credit: ABC Action News Tampa Bay)