TREASURE ISLAND, Fla. — Treasure Island was hit hard by hurricanes Helene and Milton, and the community is still rebuilding.
The area is home to many mom-and-pop motels, and many are still in distress.
One week ago, Janis Hassell took ownership of the Ebb Tide Inn. Every day since, it’s been nothing but work.
“I love a historical property. I want to always see them restored and brought back to glory,” Hassell said.
The motel has been around since the 1950s. It was heavily damaged during Hurricane Helene. Images provided by Hassell show floodwaters and the mess left behind.
Those scenes played out all over Treasure Island.
“When you drive down here and take a look, there are just lined up a lot of them are still in distress,” Hassell said.
Hassell is working to bring the Ebb Tide Inn back to its glory days, with what she says will be an old-school Florida vibe.
She shared renderings of the exterior, showing some colorful options. The same goes for the rooms.
“I’m personally sourcing vintage furniture for all of my units,” Hassell said.
The restoration has attracted a lot of attention from people who have stayed at the motel over the years, including Hartzell Stringer.
“It’s homey, and it feels like part of you, and it feels like part of Florida,” Stringer said.
The hotel is open for business, but there’s still a lot of work to be done to restore the old motel back to that 1950s vibe.
“The response I’ve gotten from the town and from the social media post is really positive, and reinforcing what my ideas are,” Hassell said.
It’s a labor of love for Hassell. Amid the dozens of renovated properties in the Pinellas coastal areas, she hopes future customers appreciate the vintage style.
The owners hope to have their refurbishing project completed by December.