TREASURE ISLAND, Fla. — In just a few weeks, Sunset Beach Pavilion on Treasure Island will reopen after being closed for nearly two years.
Hurricanes Helene and Milton forced the beachfront venue to shut down, and with its official reopening scheduled for June 4, it is coming back just in time for summer.
Restoration efforts started in January, and renovations are still underway.
“As we all know, Hurricane Helene wreaked havoc on this island,” said Treasure Island Public Information Officer Jason Beisel.
“The whole island went underwater and if you’re this close to the water, such as the Sunset Beach Pavilion, you’re going to receive some damage,” he added. “And so, that water came up, it damaged the boards. It damaged the railings. It took the stairs out and it piled up a lot of debris.”
The newly renovated Sunset Beach Pavilion will officially reopen June 4. (Spectrum News/Justina Rhines)
Beisel said that when he first saw the pavilion after Hurricane Helene, he thought it was a total loss.
“It looked like the place was off its foundation,” he said. “But it was after we examined it more, it wasn’t off its foundation, so that’s one reason we were able to save it.”
Despite the destruction, this treasured spot survived.
After working with FEMA, Beisel said that it made the most sense for the city to reopen the space in a more sustainable way.
The city redid the floors, railings and bathrooms. In all, he said it took about $350,000 to get the pavilion back up and running.
According to Beisel, the pavilion’s character remains the same, it just has a cleaner look.
The pavilion has been around since 2003 and has welcomed many guests.
Damage to the Sunset Beach Pavilion seen after Hurricane Helene. (Photo: Treasure Island)
Beisel said the revenue from renting out the space helps maintain the building and fund different programs in the city’s Parks & Recreation Department.
“Whether it’s a civic association coming out here, whether it’s a neighborhood event, mostly you’ll see weddings out here, because, I mean, you can’t beat this view to have a wedding,” he said. “After people heard the pavilion was opening back up, we’ve already got people reserving the place and people already inquiring about getting this place rented.”
Craig Rothschild, owner of The Roth Hotel, said he is excited to see the return. His hotel is about one block away from the pavilion.
“The first wedding that they’re going to do in the pavilion, they’re going to rent out The Roth Hotel, so we’re really excited about it,” said Rothschild, whose hotel is about a block away from the pavilion. “And hopefully there’ll be more weddings to come.”
The view from the Sunset Beach Pavilion. (Spectrum News/Justina Rhines)
The wedding party was able to secure blocks of rooms during a typically slower month of June.
“It’s great to be full this time of year,” Rothschild said. “You know, February, March, April, that’s the busy time of year,”
It’s much needed after Rothschild witnessed the wrath of the hurricanes at his hotel. He said water reached up to 3 feet in all of the rooms, and they had to gut each and every one of them.
The Roth Hotel reopened a year ago, and Rothschild said it’s ready for some company.
“We’re really happy that they’re going to be back,” he said.
For Beisel, the pavilion’s reopening signals strength within the city.
“This is another sign that we’re getting back to where we were pre-storm, and we’re actually moving forward to be more resilient and get more development in the city,” he said. “So, it’s a sign that things are coming along.”
The pavilion’s grand opening is June 4, and Beisel said the plan is to have a party on the beach with food trucks and live music.