The Gulf Coast of Southwest Florida is renowned for its award-winning beaches, vibrant communities, and unique attractions like Smugglers Cove Adventure Golf. Located in Indian Shores, Madeira Beach, Fort Myers, Bradenton, and Sarasota, our courses are family favorites known for their whimsical pirate-themed designs, challenging adventure-style mini golf greens, and live baby alligators. Although the devastation caused by Hurricanes Helene and Milton tested the resilience of both the community and Smugglers Cove, we have reopened and are thrilled to welcome back our wonderful guests to our newly revamped adventure golf courses!
When Hurricanes Helene and Milton slammed into the Gulf Coast the devastation was widespread. With unprecedented flooding and high winds, Smugglers Cove Adventure Golf courses endured the full force of the hurricanes’ destruction. All five of our mini golf courses sustained damages, including Sarasota and Bradenton where Hurricane Milton made landfall. Hurricane Helene unleashed an 8-foot storm surge on our Madeira Beach course and caused equally catastrophic flooding to our Indian Shores location. Both courses were buried in massive amounts of sand and debris. Our pirate ship was heavily damaged, the once-perfect landscaping was obliterated, and the entire community was left in a state of ruin.
Hurricane Damage and After Repairs
When Hurricane Helene’s path indicated a potential hit to the Gulf Coast, we immediately began our preparations. Smugglers Cove staff lowered our legendary ship sails, took down our pirate flags, and most importantly, prioritized the safety of our baby alligators by evacuating them. We carefully caught each alligator, one by one, and relocated them all to safety, taking them completely out of the storm’s path. As one of the rare, licensed facilities in the USA authorized to house live alligators, we are deeply committed to their safety and well-being.
In the days following Hurricane Helene, Smugglers Cove responded to the major damage with determination and two goals: to restore the courses to their original glory and reopen as quickly as possible. Within days of Helene’s landfall on September 26th, although some repairs were still ongoing and the alligators were still evacuated, we were able to safely reopen. Within two days of reopening, Hurricane Milton unexpectedly formed in the Gulf of Mexico and was on a direct path towards the Gulf Coast. Once again, Smugglers Cove was facing another potentially catastrophic disaster.
In the days following both storms, it was clear that significant cleanup and repairs would be needed before families could once again enjoy mini golfing under the Florida sun.
One of the defining aspects of the recovery was the sense of community that emerged. Locals rallied to support small businesses, offering manpower, resources, and donations. The Smugglers Cove Staff stepped up and came in daily to revive our devastated courses. From cleaning mud out of the maintenance room to shoveling mounds of sand off the greens, our staff worked endlessly to restore our adventure golf courses to the way they were before the storms. With our nonstop efforts, while carrying the weight of our own personal losses, we were one of the first businesses to reopen, giving our staff a sense of pride and much-needed encouragement during this tough time.
The wonderful business relationships Smugglers Cove has built throughout the years paid off as local contractors and landscapers stepped in, ensuring the courses could regain their signature charm within record time. The Smugglers Cove team worked tirelessly, demonstrating their commitment to bringing the joy of mini golf back to the community as quickly as possible.
Making the courses safe for guests involved repairing damaged walkways, restoring electrical systems, and replacing the decimated landscaping. We also had to remove the salt water from our ponds so we could bring our beloved alligators home safely. The iconic pirate décor, such as our pirate ships and fun pirate props—an essential part of the Smugglers Cove experience— were meticulously cleaned, repaired, or replaced.
This effort paid off. Within days of the hurricanes, the Indian Shores, Madeira Beach, Bradenton, and Sarasota locations began to welcome back our dedicated visitors. Our swift recovery is a testament to our incredible staff’s dedication and reflects a community that came together in a time of need.
As the Gulf Coast continues its journey to recovery, Smugglers Cove Adventure Golf stands as a shining example of resilience and community spirit. Each location is fully operational, offering our visitors the same thrilling mini golf experience they’ve come to love. From our intricate pirate props to the lush tropical settings, everything has been restored to its former glory.
If you’re planning a visit to the area, know that all five Smugglers Cove Adventure Golf locations are open and ready to create new memories. Many other businesses have also reopened since the storms, and more are opening every day, showing the resilience and strength of our community. If you would like more information about the recovery efforts, what businesses have reopened, and what you can do to help, please visit:
Pinellas County: Hurricane Community Resources - Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber of Commerce
Manatee/Sarasota: Hurricane Recovery | Bradenton Gulf Islands – Bradenton, Anna Maria & Longboat Key Beaches
Now Open - Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce - Siesta Key, FL
Lee County Who's Open After Hurricane Milton? - Fort Myers Beach Chamber
We hope you will come out to the beaches for a fun and adventurous round of mini golf and to visit some of the other awesome businesses that are open and ready to welcome you. Your support is needed to help our community recover and restore the beautiful destination that you know and love. Stopping by not only guarantees a fun adventure but also supports a business that has worked hard to overcome the challenges of Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
Discover the joy of mini golf, support local businesses, and witness the resilience of Southwest Florida’s Gulf Coast. Smugglers Cove invites you to channel your inner pirate and make lasting memories on courses that have weathered the storm and come back stronger.