Treasure Island’s beach is primed for spring break, but the hurricanes’ aftermath lingers. Many hotels, bars, restaurants, and shops remain in shambles, still reeling from storms Helene and Milton.

Jason Beisel, a city official, explains that a 10-foot storm surge engulfed the island, leaving no building unscathed. “Recovery isn’t quick—it could take years,” he says. “Is there as much to do as before? Not quite.”

Beisel notes a shortage of lodging options for visitors. Short-term rentals were swept away, and some hotels, like the Thunderbird, won’t reopen in time for peak season.

Gutted restaurants and bars await restoration, but the city has stepped in with a fix: commissioners greenlit tents and food trucks in parking lots to keep businesses afloat during this critical time.

Beisel points to bureaucracy as a roadblock. “Being an island makes rebuilding tougher. There are so many regulations, and the process drags on,” he says.

The visible scars of the storm unsettle visitors. Ray Johnson recalls, “We drove by the wreckage, jaws dropped, block after block—it’s still here, they’re still picking up the pieces.”

Yet Johnson insists the beach’s allure endures. “These are still some of the world’s most stunning shores. No matter where you’re from in the U.S., this is a must-see,” he says.

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