What began as a lighthearted documentary exploring Sanibel’s seashell culture took a sharp turn when Hurricane Ian hit the island six weeks into filming.

The Lighthouse Cafe sign Kevin Walker and his wife found in the debris from Hurricane Ian in Sanibel, Florida. Walker returned the sign to the owner of the restaurant after it reopened.

The City of Sanibel has been working on re-nourishment of Lighthouse Beach, which is the home of the historic Sanibel Lighthouse.

Sanibel Causeway restoration: What to know Hurricane Ian forever changed the landscape of the Sanibel Causeway, simply because the storm shifted sands from the islands.

After being upended by Hurricane Ian, life on Sanibel Island is back to normal. And yet, housing inventory is piling up.

Sanibel Island is looking much better since Hurricane Ian, but while the lighthouse is standing tall, the pier isn’t doing too well.

Beaches opened along the Sanibel Causeway on Thursday for the first time since Hurricane Ian devastated the region.

Repair & Rehabilitation Products Repairs from Hurricane Ian on Sanibel Causeway Complete Restoration of the Sanibel Causeway completes, reconnecting Sanibel Island to mainland Florida.

NPR's Scott Simon talks to Dan Billheimer, owner of the Lighthouse Café in Sanibel, Florida, about reuniting with an artifact from his restaurant that had disappeared after Hurricane Ian in 2022.

On Sept. 28, 2022, Hurricane Ian destroyed portions of the causeway; the mainland approach was heavily damaged. Sanibel and Captiva were cut off from the mainland.

Starting with Hurricane Ian in 2022 and followed by Helene and Milton in 2024, the beaches on Sanibel Island have taken a beating.

Billheimer was speechless. The sign had welcomed customers to his restaurant before the business was destroyed by Hurricane Ian in 2022. Billheimer hadn’t seen the sign since.