A look back at the week leading up to the day Hurricane Irma hit Lee County and what the weeks looked like in her passing. Andrea Melendez/news-press.com
Southwest Florida's natural attractions are reopening, at least partially, after a hit from Hurricane Irma that has left rangers with a to-do list of repairs.
Volunteers worked alongside park crews for weeks after the Sept. 10 storm to clear trees from parking lots, boardwalks and paddling trails.
The nature center at the Conservancy of Southwest Florida in Naples is set to reopen Wednesday, and a 1-mile section of boardwalk at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary east of Bonita Springs is expected to reopen Friday.
The cleanup is far enough along to swing some gates back open, but others still are slammed shut from the force of nature that was Irma.
The Big Cypress National Preserve east of Naples remains closed, as does Everglades National Park's Gulf Coast Visitor Center in Everglades City and the park's Shark Valley.
More: Hurricane Irma: Big Cypress, Everglades, state parks face long recovery in storm's wake
Lovers Key
At Lovers Key State Park just south of Fort Myers Beach, visitors can walk to the beach or rent a kayak, but many of the park's amenities are shuttered.
The park's beach tram isn't running. Also closed: the park's damaged bathrooms at the beach, a food concession and a picnic pavilion.
Ranger Robert Hughes said the park's beach could be back to near-normal next week but that the park's trails are closed "until further notice."
"I can't even guess," Hughes said.
Fakahatchee Strand
The story is similar at Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park north of Everglades City. Water still is flowing across Janes Scenic Drive and making it impossible to start the job of clearing brush, manager Steve Houseknecht said.
Once debris is cleared, visitors will be allowed to walk into the preserve on Janes, but vehicle traffic will have to wait for water levels to recede.
The Big Cypress Bend boardwalk off U.S. 41 East remains inaccessible, but the East River paddling trail reopened Monday.
More: Hurricane Irma destroys Everglades City firefighters' homes
Collier-Seminole Park
Trails still are flooded and closed at Collier-Seminole State Park east of Marco Island, administrative assistant Dana Ambrosi said, but campgrounds are open.
The park's landmark "walking dredge," used to build part of U.S. 41 East, and a re-created Seminole Fort survived the storm.
The park's canoe and kayak rental concession has not reopened.
More: Southwest Florida's tourism industry hurting from Hurricane Irma
![Emergency crews line up in Golden Gate Estates Monday,]()
1 of 175![One day after Hurricane Irma passed through the state]()
2 of 175![Margie Hackett slowly saws away branches that had fallen]()
3 of 175![Aerial photos show the damage left behind in Irma's]()
4 of 175![Aerial photos show the damage left behind in Irma's]()
5 of 175![Aerial photos show the damage left behind in Irma's]()
6 of 175![Aerial photos show the damage left behind in Irma's]()
7 of 175![Aerial photos show the damage left behind in Irma's]()
8 of 175![Aerial photos show the damage left behind in Irma's]()
9 of 175![Aerial photos show the damage left behind in Irma's]()
10 of 175![Aerial photos show the damage left behind in Irma's]()
11 of 175![A palm frawn lays on top of a classic car in Marco]()
12 of 175![A palm frawn lays on top of a classic car in Marco]()
13 of 175![The Marco Island Marriott can be seen one day after]()
14 of 175![One day after Hurricane Irma passed through the state]()
15 of 175![A flooded pool at Angler's Cover Condominiums Marco]()
16 of 175![Astrid Santos, 9, jumps into the pool at Angler's Cover]()
17 of 175![Johanna Leon swims along with her cousin Astrid Santos]()
18 of 175![Residents hang their towels and other laundry to dry]()
19 of 175![An electrical crew works to fix downed power lines]()
20 of 175![A nearly capsized boat rests outside Goodland, Fla.]()
21 of 175![Damage in Drop Anchor, a 55-and-over community, can]()
22 of 175![Damage in Drop Anchor, a 55-and-over community, can]()
23 of 175![Scott Bowers removes storm shutters from his home in]()
24 of 175![Damage in Drop Anchor, a 55-and-over community, can]()
25 of 175![Damage in Goodland, Fla. Monday, September 11, 2017.]()
26 of 175![A capsized boat and a destroyed marina sit along the]()
27 of 175![A woman looks across the channel to a demolished marina]()
28 of 175![Residents assess damage from East Naples down to Marco]()
29 of 175![Residents assess damage in Goodland after Hurricane]()
30 of 175![Residents assess damage in Goodland after Hurricane]()
31 of 175![Patrick Greivell sifts through belongings at his parents']()
32 of 175![Margie Hackett looks back at her home and the near]()
33 of 175![The backyard of John and Margie Hackett in Goodland,]()
34 of 175![Margie Hackett slowly saws away branches that had fallen]()
35 of 175![John Hackett stands in front of his home and the downed]()
36 of 175![Several buildings in the Gordon River apartment complex]()
37 of 175![Several buildings in the Gordon River Apartment Complex]()
38 of 175![Several buildings in the Gordon River Apartment Complex]()
39 of 175![A downed tree brought a blanket of soil with it in]()
40 of 175![A car and house sit in high water in Immokalee Monday,]()
41 of 175![A downed tree blocked a road in Ave Maria Monday, Sept.]()
42 of 175![Wrangled bleachers fell onto the football field at]()
43 of 175![Many roads were flooded in Immokalee following Hurricane]()
44 of 175![Powerlines were down on Immokalee Road in Golden Gate]()
45 of 175![A downed powerline blocked part of the road in Immokalee]()
46 of 175![Families made their way home from shelters in Immokalee]()
47 of 175![Flooding could be seen in Golden Gate Estates Monday,]()
48 of 175![A car was damaged in Immokalee Monday, Sept. 11, 2017.]()
49 of 175![A downed traffic light sits in water by a gas station]()
50 of 175![Men duck beneath a downed power line in Immokalee Monday,]()
51 of 175![A house was damaged in Immokalee Monday, Sept. 11,]()
52 of 175![A house was damaged in Immokalee Monday, Sept. 11,]()
53 of 175![A turtle crossed a flooded road in Golden Gate Estates]()
54 of 175![A mailbox fell over into a flooded street in Golden]()
55 of 175![A flooded street surrounded a boarded house in Golden]()
56 of 175![A downed sign could be seen in Ave Maria Monday, Sept.]()
57 of 175![Panels that fell off a Winn-Dixie in Immokalee during]()
58 of 175![Barbara Rice steps through her flooded yard after assessing]()
59 of 175![A car passes by on a road left flooded by Hurricane]()
60 of 175![Cassidy Armstrong checked out the destruction caused]()
61 of 175![North Collier Fire Rescue stops to check on a car stalled]()
62 of 175!["I'm devastated. I have lost everything." said Lynne]()
63 of 175![North Collier regional fire chief James Cunningham,]()
64 of 175![A car passes by on a road left flooded by Hurricane]()
65 of 175![A swing set left tangled by Hurricane Irma in Naples]()
66 of 175![Joseph Cofield works to clear fallen trees and debris]()
67 of 175![A fallen palm tree blocked a section of 107th Ave N.]()
68 of 175![Cassidy Armstrong checked out the destruction caused]()
69 of 175![Hurricane Irma's water washed away sand, causing significant]()
70 of 175![Iglesia Pentecostes Peniel in Naples Park was surrounded]()
71 of 175![An uprooted tree caused by Hurricane Irma left water]()
72 of 175![Shannon Potter describes her experience during Hurricane]()
73 of 175![A fleet of U.S. Postal Service trucks were placed in]()
74 of 175![A street sign for Immokalee Rd was ripped to the ground]()
75 of 175![A car passes by on a road left flooded by Hurricane]()
76 of 175![Rick Smith describes his experience during Hurricane]()
77 of 175![North Collier regional fire chief James Cunningham]()
78 of 175![Wayne Ewald, below, an inspector with North Collier]()
79 of 175![North Collier Fire Rescue works to clear debris from]()
80 of 175![The Naples Grande Beach Resort suffered roof damage]()
81 of 175!["I'm devastated. I have lost everything." said Lynne]()
82 of 175!["I'm devastated. I have lost everything." said Lynne]()
83 of 175![Neighbors of Lynne Mattes strung clothes out to dry]()
84 of 175![Downed electrical wires and poles could be seen across]()
85 of 175![Sorrento Villas resident Marty Lawton's air conditioning]()
86 of 175![Residents of Windsong Club Apartments clear the main]()
87 of 175![Sonya Hunter holds a baby squirrel she rescued in her]()
88 of 175![Sonya Hunter holds a baby squirrel she rescued in her]()
89 of 175![Sonya Hunter, left, assesses damage in her uncles']()
90 of 175![After Hurricane Irma had made its' way through Florida]()
91 of 175![After Hurricane Irma had made its' way through Florida]()
92 of 175![Judy Alander kisses her granddaughter Mia Amell on]()
93 of 175![Rolan Vermette, 81, takes a moment to sit outside of]()
94 of 175![Rolan Vermette, 81, takes a moment to sit outside of]()
95 of 175![Rolan Vermette, 81, takes a moment to sit outside of]()
96 of 175![An American flag lays on the ground in the front yard]()
97 of 175![Damage from Hurricane Irma can be seen at St. Demetrius]()
98 of 175![Jerry Hunt assesses damage to his four-acre property]()
99 of 175![Jerry Hunt assesses damage to his four-acre property]()
100 of 175![Egrets and other birds roost on Jerry Hunt's four-acre]()
101 of 175![Sean Swing, center, a paramedic firefighter with Collier]()
102 of 175![Damage can be seen a day after Hurricane Irma made]()
103 of 175![Damage can be seen a day after Hurricane Irma made]()
104 of 175![Damage can be seen a day after Hurricane Irma made]()
105 of 175![Marco Island Police turn away residents from crossing]()
106 of 175![Damage from Hurricane Irma can be seen at the Marco]()
107 of 175![Damage from Hurricane Irma can be seen at the Marco]()
108 of 175![A tree is down in the parking lot of a gas station]()
109 of 175![A utility pole is snapped in half on Immokalee Road]()
110 of 175![A light pole is down in the parking lot of a gas station]()
111 of 175![A light pole in down in Ave Maria. Kristyn]()
112 of 175![A crew works to clear downed trees from the main road]()
113 of 175![A line of utility trucks from Texas wait to learn where]()
114 of 175![Norm, a resident of Chokoloskee, sips from a water]()
115 of 175![Maria Romero, 6, steps over debris in her home the]()
116 of 175![Carlos Soto, right, and his nephew Ricardo, 14, in]()
117 of 175![Leticia Magana cleans out her trailer the morning after]()
118 of 175![Maria Romero, 6, stands in the doorway of her home]()
119 of 175![A woman walks in to her trailer from her flooded yard]()
120 of 175![Leticia Magana cleans out her trailer the morning after]()
121 of 175![From left, Jose Valentin, Maria Guadalupe, 5, and Mario]()
122 of 175![Maria Romero, 6, carries paper towels to help clean]()
123 of 175![A car flooded the morning after Hurricane Irma came]()
124 of 175![Carlos Soto in his flooded trailer park the morning]()
125 of 175![An exposed bedroom of a trailer in flood water the]()
126 of 175![Leticia Magana cleans out her trailer with son Luis]()
127 of 175![From left, Jose Valentin, Maria Guadalupe, 5, and Mario]()
128 of 175![A trailer park on the morning after Hurricane Irma]()
129 of 175![Luis Ladrilleros, left, and brother Alejandro Mandujano,]()
130 of 175![A man stands in flood water the morning after Hurricane]()
131 of 175![Olga Schramm takes a video on her phone of the damage]()
132 of 175![Liza Wells stands on the patio of the second floor]()
133 of 175![Roof damage in two places to Naples Grande.]()
134 of 175![Tatum Johnson switches from tennis shoes to boots while]()
135 of 175![Dwight Brown lights a cigarette as he and Dalton Daffin]()
136 of 175![Steve Jewell, 52, pulls metal from the streets at Naples]()
137 of 175![Thomas Manley, 73, looks over the damage to his property]()
138 of 175![Roofs and car port materials litter the streets at]()
139 of 175![Charles Pulkownik, 56, and his dog Cesar rode out]()
140 of 175![Charles Pulkownik, 56, and his dog Cesar rode out]()
141 of 175![Resident Charles Pulkownik, 56, rides in Naples Estates]()
142 of 175![April McCausland looks over the damage to her home]()
143 of 175![April McCausland looks over the damage to her home]()
144 of 175![Roofing and siding litters the streets at Naples Estates]()
145 of 175![Steve Jewell, 52, walk through the water in the streets]()
146 of 175![Larry Donnerstag, 87, center, is helped back to his]()
147 of 175![Peniel Pentecostal Church on 107th Ave. in North Naples]()
148 of 175![Don Cochran canoes from Everglades City to try to get]()
149 of 175![Arron Barlett and Sally Osceola live in the Estuary]()
150 of 175![Dalton Daffin at a home in Everglades City on Sept.]()
151 of 175![Braxton Kidder walks around the perimeter of his father's]()
152 of 175![Bob Burgan stands outside of his condo to assess damage]()
153 of 175![Boats piled up in the water between Everglades City]()
154 of 175![Thomas Schramm and his dog, Klaus, hitched a ride into]()
155 of 175![A grill lays in the road on CR 29 on the drive into]()
156 of 175![Scene driving into Everglades City on Sept. 11, 2017.]()
157 of 175![Scene driving into Everglades City on Sept. 11, 2017.]()
158 of 175![Scene driving into Everglades City on Sept. 11, 2017.]()
159 of 175![A vehicle in the parking lot of the sheriff's office.]()
160 of 175![Thomas Schramm looks around at the flood waters coming]()
161 of 175![A vehicle unsuccessfully attempts to drive through]()
162 of 175![Hurricane Irma knocked over a truck trailer onto the]()
163 of 175![View of fallen trees near the Naples Daily News building]()
164 of 175![View of fallen trees near the Naples Daily News building]()
165 of 175![View of fallen paln trees near the Naples Daily News]()
166 of 175![Scenes from a damaged boardwalk and washed-out beach]()
167 of 175![Flooded parking lot at Park Shore Plaza on U.S. 41]()
168 of 175![K Food Mart on U.S. 41 and Southwest Boulevard on Sept.]()
169 of 175![Broken tree branches at 10th Ave South near Second]()
170 of 175![Uprooted palm tree blocking Sixth Avenue South near]()
171 of 175![Crumpled metal paneling stripped off a roof at the]()
172 of 175![Closed Naples Pier on Monday following Hurricane Irma.]()
173 of 175![Flooded Gulfshore Boulevard near Fourth Avenue South]()
174 of 175![Tree branches and palm fronds are scattered on Fifth]()
175 of 175
Koreshan Historic Site
The farmers market is open Sundays at the Koreshan State Historic Site in Estero, and rangers again are offering tours on weekends.
Campgrounds are open, and so are trails, but the grass is high, so hikers should wear long pants, ranger Mike Gonzalez said.
"They still need a lot of work," he said.
More: Hurricane Irma caused ‘extensive damage’ to Collier beaches; damage elsewhere less severe
Delnor-Wiggins Pass
Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park park ranger Bill Thaller stood Tuesday at the park's gatehouse in North Naples and remembered what it looked like after Irma.
The storm had covered parking lots in sand and downed trees and jumbled the park's dune boardwalk, which still is closed.
The observation tower still stands. Beaches and picnic areas are open. So is the boat launch. Raccoons scamper through the brush, and gopher tortoises lumber across the road.
"How do you think it looks?" Thaller asked a visitor. "It was a mess."
More: How to help, volunteer and donate to those affected by Hurricane Irma
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