Popular destination on south Siesta Key still recovering from Hurricane Milton
On March 21, Sarasota County staff announced that partial operations had resumed at Turtle Beach Campground on Siesta Key as of that morning.
“This is following extensive recovery efforts” in the aftermath of the 2024 hurricanes, a county advisory pointed out.
After Hurricanes Helene and Milton struck last fall, county staff reported that the southern portion of Siesta Key, especially, suffered extensive damage. The campground is the southernmost county facility on the barrier island.
“Campground staff are conducting a phased reopening to ensure all systems function properly,” the March 21 advisory on the campground added.
“At this time, only campers with pre-existing reservations will be permitted to check in. Once it’s confirmed that all systems, connections, and facilities are operating smoothly, the reservation system will be fully activated for new bookings.”
The advisory also pointed out that, because of “substantial damage from Hurricanes Helene and Milton, the campground bathhouse had to be demolished. Portable restroom/shower trailers will be in place, but no on-site laundry services provided.”
The county’s routinely updated park status report notes that campers who book reservations “will receive a list of nearby laundry facilities.”
“We appreciate our community’s patience and understanding while Sarasota County continues to recover from back-to-back hurricanes in 2024,” the county advisory said.
Adjacent to the campground, Turtle Beach Park facilities remained partially closed as of March 21, as well, the parks status report added. “The restrooms sustained damages from Hurricane Milton,” the report explained. Portalets are available, it noted, adding, “Parking, beach access, boat ramp, and playground are open to the public.”
To learn about the status of any of the county’s parks, visit SarasotaCountyParks.com.