Some of our region’s most cherished museums, theaters and arts organizations faced significant challenges in the wake of the hurricanes. Several were still recovering from the devastation caused by Helene less than two weeks earlier, only to be struck even harder by Milton in some cases. Dedicated staff, volunteers and supporters rallied together to assist in the cleanup, ensuring that “the show must go on.” The Ringling Museum campus fared relatively well through the recent hurricanes, especially considering the widespread devastation in the surrounding area. The Historic Circus Museum sustained roof damage, which is currently being repaired, leading to a temporary closure for a few weeks. Meanwhile, the Museum of Art galleries and the Tibbals Learning Center remain open, and the collections are unharmed. The storm’s most significant impact was on the grounds, where several trees were lost, the banyan trees sustained heavy damage and Ca’d Zan was severely affected, leaving it closed to the public for the foreseeable future. As a campus of Florida State University, The Ringling Museum has benefited from substantial support from the university’s leadership throughout the storm. Their assistance has been essential in securing the campus and supporting recovery efforts. “FSU has been an incredible support, offering immediate attention and care to the grounds the morning after Hurricane Milton hit the area and assisting us in putting structures in place for the ongoing care of our grounds and collections,” says Executive Director Steven High.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MARY BENSEL IS GRATEFUL FOR THE COMMUNITY’S CONTINUED SUPPORT OF VAN WEZEL PERFORMING ARTS HALL.
The storm’s surge reached a peak of six feet, causing significant damage to the boat dock below the terrace and severely flooding the mansion’s basement. “The basement, which houses the building’s mechanical systems, was inundated with water, so we had to close the building,” says Bethany Ritz, Public Relations Manager for The Ringling. “Additionally, the surge brought in two large boats during high tide, which caused further damage to the terrace. Those repairs will take time.”
Currently, the Bayfront Garden Tour is the only outdoor tour available, aside from the usual art museum tours. Ritz notes that the tour offers a unique opportunity to observe the resilience of nature as it recovers from the storm. “We’re viewing this as a rebirth or reimagining,” she explains. “The concept of resilience fascinates me—how, as individuals and as a community, we adapt to change. That process makes us stronger, more resilient.” The storm also impacted the walkway along the bay.
“Normally, we’d have walking tours through Ca’d Zan several times a day, and tours extending up to The Belvedere Tower,” Ritz says. “But we’re introducing a new tour called the Ringling Legacy Tour. It will combine a walk through the grounds with a visit to the Museum of Art, offering insights into the legacies of John and Mabel Ringling and their influence on Sarasota.” While the damages are expected to be repairable, a thorough assessment is still needed to evaluate the condition, conservation needs and financial resources required. According to a press release, The Ringling looks forward to welcoming guests back to Ca’ d’Zan as soon as it is fully restored.
The morning after Hurricane Milton, Mary Bensel, executive director of Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall reached out to her facilities manager to check on the status of the iconic theater. “You’re not going to be happy,” he reported. “It’s really bad.” For those who worked within the walls of the theater, it was a disaster unlike anything they had ever faced. “I actually found it to be worse than COVID,” said Bensel. “During COVID, we were all in it together—the whole theater community, we all supported each other. But with this, despite all the offers of help, we felt a little bit alone. Still, we had the city of Sarasota behind us, and that made a world of difference.”
The Van Wezel had weathered floods before but this hurricane was different. When Bensel arrived at the theater later that afternoon, she found the doors that led down to the kitchen were pushed open, the interior flooded with debris and muck. “It was so slippery, I couldn’t even walk in there,” she recalls. “But the maintenance crew and the tech guys, they went right in. It was heartbreaking. You could see the damage everywhere.” The fire department had already shut off power to the building and turned off the backup generator for safety, but the theater’s recovery was just beginning. Saltwater had reached the electrical panels, sparking fears of a fire. The kitchen was unrecognizable; appliances floated in the standing water. The rugs in the grand foyer, normally dry, had absorbed the brunt of the water. The surge even made its way up ramps, flooding actor dressing rooms and the orchestra pit below. As the team began to assess the damage, the extent became clear. About four feet of water had entered the building. The orchestra pit had been flooded. The kitchen was gone. The saltwater had corroded drywall, soaked through the carpets and compromised everything electrical.
The shows that had been planned for the holiday season, the heart of Van Wezel’s calendar, were all canceled. “It’s been heartbreaking for me,” Bensel said. “I’m a huge Christmas person, and we had to cancel every Christmas show, which was just so upsetting.”
The staff offered customers the choice between a full refund, a credit for future performance or a donation to support the theater’s recovery. Many patrons chose to donate. One generous woman even wrote a check for $2,500. Despite the devastation, the community support was palpable. But the reality was harsh. “It’s going to take millions to fix this,” Bensel said, estimating the damage at between $7 million and $10 million, though it is still too soon to know for sure. The theater staff and volunteers, led by the facility manager Jerry Sheffer and technical director Nathaniel Myers, have worked around the clock to get the Van Wezel back on its feet. The focus has always been clear: get the theater open in time for the January shows. While the kitchen was still being rebuilt and new appliances were still being ordered, the staff made a decision to refrain from offering dinners to their patrons. For now, they would offer a full liquor bar and some simple, quick snacks—french fries and other guilty pleasures. “We just want to get the shows on the stage,” Bensel said. “That’s what we’re about. Bringing joy to people.” On January 2nd, the theater reopened with a performance by the National Ballet of Ukraine. Menopause the Musical 2 followed and from January 14-19, they presented the much anticipated Broadway show, Funny Girl.
Both campuses of Marie Selby Botanical Gardens were badly affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Damages included downed power lines, broken glass in the greenhouse, large amounts of debris from fallen trees and destruction of docks and decks. “It’s been incredible how quickly we’ve been able to turn around and reopen and that’s really a testament to our team and the community support,” shares Selby President and CEO, Jennifer Rominiecki. While Selby did have to cancel Lights at Spooky Point, the annual Halloween event at the Historic Spanish Point Campus, they were able to pull off Lights in Bloom®2024 in time for the holidays at the Downtown campus. “Our team worked closely with our lighting partners at Fairs in the Air so that as debris was being cleared, the holiday lights were installed. They basically followed each other through the process of installing two million lights so that all was aglow at Selby Gardens once again.” Although repairs are still taking place, both campuses are open and exhibits like the Orchid Show at the Downtown campus and the Patti Smith exhibit at Historic Spanish Point were able to open as planned. “I think these storms really underscore why we undertook the master plan for our Downtown campus, which is all about resiliency for the long term,” adds Rominiecki, encouraging visitors to attend exhibits and show support of the beautiful bayfront sanctuaries.
Photography by Wes Roberts.