A beloved fishing retreat in Ruskin, Pirate’s Pointe Resort, has reopened its doors to guests after enduring severe damage from Hurricane Helene.

A Dream Realized: Tom and Tammie Saxon have been the proud owners of Pirate’s Pointe Resort since 2015, situated on West Shell Point Road. The couple envisioned this two-acre property on the Little Manatee River as their ultimate retirement project, offering a serene “staycation” spot where visitors could enjoy a quick escape to an island-like setting.

“We put our life savings into this place because we wanted to live our dream together,” Tom shared.

The Wrath of Helene: After barely recovering from the impacts of Hurricane Idalia, Hurricane Helene brought even more destruction. “The water levels were unprecedented, reaching up to 4-4.5 feet,” Tom recalled.

The aftermath was heart-wrenching, with Tom describing the scene as devastating. “Seeing all our furniture, appliances, everything wiped out and destroyed, it was overwhelming. We had to start from scratch,” he said. The surge was so powerful it even flipped the floating docks and shifted heavy picnic tables.

However, the Saxons rallied. “We decided it was time to roll up our sleeves and get back to work,” Tom stated with determination.

Rebuilding Efforts: Since the hurricane, Tom and Tammie have been working non-stop, dedicating six days a week to restore the resort’s 16 cottages. While there remains much to be done, the resort joyfully welcomed its first guests back this week.

Pirate’s Pointe Resort is located at 1800 Kofresi Court in Ruskin. For more information or to plan your visit, check out www.piratespointeresort.com.

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(Image credit: WTVT)