CRYSTAL RIVER, Fla. — A popular beaching spot in Citrus County is remaining closed months after Hurricane Helene.

Fort Island Gulf Beach is undergoing a major facelift, after storm surge wiped out the tiny beach and its facilities. Efforts to restore the beach for visitors and residents alike are ongoing.

“It’s all the way out on the Gulf, so this is one of the few areas where you can spend time right on the Gulf," said Eric Head, Community Services Director for Citrus County. 

The beach park was one of Hurricane Helene’s victims last September. With storm surge wiping out the beach and forcing the county to demolish existing restroom facilities that were there.

“We were already recovering from Idalia the year before," said Head. "The beach was still open and the pier had been damaged, but Helene pretty much finished it off. It did an extensive amount of damage to this little island. It took out our restrooms, it took out the pier and took out the boat ramp dock.”

It’s been a trying time, as Head says. But county staff have been hard at work. Striving to get the beach back open quickly and safely.

“Staff have already cleared the parking lots. They’ve redone the parking areas, the signage is going back into place, and we’ve made the area safe for folks to come back," Head said.

With the beach close to being back, attention turns to other areas in the park. Including the damaged fishing pier and tidying up the boat ramp.

“That’s going to take a little more time," Head said. "As soon as we get this finished, our attention has been and is going to get more prioritized on the pier and the boardwalk so we’ll get that restored.” 

With the aim of getting the park back and better than what it was before.

Head says they are focused on getting the beach area open first and then the boat ramp. Portable restrooms will be placed at the beach as new ones are built.

The county anticipates re-opening Fort Island Gulf Beach on or before February 21.