They once stood like a promise at the edge of the island: drive through the Fort Myers Beach Arches and you knew you’d made it. I’m joined by Gina Sabiston from Restore Fort Myers Beach Arches to tell the full story behind one of Lee County’s most iconic landmarks and why a piece of it is on the path to returning at Bowditch Point.

We walk through the Arches’ origins in the mid-1920s, how hurricanes derailed early development plans, and how the stone gateways outgrew their marketing purpose to become the “front door” to Fort Myers Beach for decades. Then we get into the hard part: the growth years, the old drawbridge headaches, evacuation concerns, and the 1979 demolition that left generations feeling like the island lost a piece of itself.

Gina shares how original Arch stones were preserved for decades, how the nonprofit team navigated engineering, county permitting, and fundraising, and why the plan evolved from a full rebuild at the original site to a commemorative portion built with authentic materials at Bowditch Point. We also talk about the bigger stakes of historic preservation, heritage tourism, and keeping Fort Myers Beach from sliding into “everywhere USA,” especially as the community continues to move forward after Hurricane Ian.

Want to help finish the project and leave a mark by the beach? You can still support the effort and follow progress through the Restore Fort Myers Beach Arches Facebook page. Subscribe, share this with a friend who loves Fort Myers Beach history, and leave a review so more neighbors can find the story.

Restore Fort Myers Beach Arches
Gina Sabiston
Restore The FMB Arches Website
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