FORT PIERCE, Fla. (CBS12) — Fort Pierce is breathing a sigh of relief on Wednesday as beach erosion conditions improve, leading one restaurant to reopen its famous “Dune Bar“.
Island Beach Bar & Restaurant previously closed its beachside bar due to safety concerns.
The stabilization is credited to a combination of favorable weather and a recent emergency sand dump that successfully prevented the high tide from breaching the dunes. While the physical shoreline is now more stable, restaurant management says the visual change has led to varied reactions from visitors.

Fort Pierce is breathing a sigh of relief as beach erosion conditions improve, leading one restaurant to reopen its famous “Dune Bar” (WPEC)
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“Our tourists and people from all over Florida and essentially all over the world that come here that aren’t used to the erosion, they have mixed reviews because they don’t know what it used to look like and also what it’s going to look like,” said Jennifer Cranwell with Island Beach Bar.
Despite the current progress, the work is far from over. This emergency fix serves as a bridge to a much larger, federally funded dredging project set to begin next week. County officials are expected to provide more specific details on the timeline and logistics for that project.