Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park in North Naples was known as "Old Florida" since it preserved the beautiful native flora and fauna of southwest Florida in its natural state. Driving into the park was reminiscent of my childhood vacations to Florida in the '70s.
So when Hurricane Ian came raging through on September 28, 2022, it was heartbreaking to hear of the damage to this beloved beach and state park.
Delnor-Wiggins is still closed as of this writing six weeks later, but recovery efforts are well underway.
May 15, 2023 UPDATE:
As of today, Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park is now OPEN!
(To see a current list of all the open beaches in Naples and Collier County, see my post What Naples Beaches are Open after Hurricane Ian?)
Here are a few photos of Delnor-Wiggins Pass six weeks after Hurricane Ian.
Clean-up is well underway!
Demolishing the Delnor-Wiggins Ranger Station
You can see a video of the demolition of the ranger station at the entrance to Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park HERE.
Aerial photo of the Delnor-Wiggins clean up. November 17, 2022.
7 weeks after Ian.
Photo credit: Kevin J. Nestor
We all love Delnor-Wiggins and can't wait till the day we can return for a picnic on the beach or a lazy-river float through the pass!
What Naples Beach is Open after Hurricane Ian?
So you may be wondering, if Delnor-Wiggins is closed, where can you go to the beach in Naples? As of November 8, 2022*, the only Naples beach that is open to the public after the hurricane is Vanderbilt Beach North at Bluebill Ave. just south of Delnor-Wiggins. You will need to park at Conner Park and walk across the bridge to the north entrance of Vanderbilt Beach.
You will still need to wear closed-toed shoes and stay out of the water until all the dangerous debris and bacteria are gone. You can learn more about this beach access on my post How is Vanderbilt Beach North Naples on Gulf Shore Drive after Hurricane Ian? You will also be able to see photos of how it is currently doing in recovery efforts.
*Since writing this post, other beaches in Naples and Collier County have opened! To see the updated list, click HERE to see my post What Naples Beaches are Open after Hurricane Ian?
Stay Updated on Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park
To stay updated on the progress and reopening of Delnor-Wiggins, follow the Facebook page Friends of Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park.
Where is Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park Located?
Support Naples Hurricane Relief
Naples is special in our hearts as well as many others, who are heartbroken over the devastation that Hurricane Ian brought SW Florida.
We wanted a way to help those in our own beautiful hometown who were impacted by Hurricane Ian, to rebuild and come back stronger and more beautiful than ever, so that families can continue to create wonderful lifelong memories here in this little slice of paradise.
$5 of every shirt purchased will go towards SW Florida relief efforts at: Destiny United Relief and Meals of Hope. These are both reputable organizations that we personally know, have worked with, and highly recommend. Thank you! 💜
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