Sunday Favorites: Did Midnight Pass Reopen?

First and foremost, I extend my deepest condolences to everyone who experienced loss during the recent storms that impacted our area. My intention in writing this article is not to diminish the hardships faced but to shed light on a significant geological event that occurred during the storm.

For the first time in 40 years, Midnight Pass on Siesta Key, which links Little Sarasota Bay with the Gulf, has naturally reopened. Suncoast Aerials was the first to capture this remarkable event during a flyover, showcasing the flowing pass. Since then, the footage has gone viral, with thousands sharing the news, and WFLA reporting on the development. Only time will tell if the pass will stay open, as previous man-made attempts to restore it have failed. The debate over whether to reopen Midnight Pass has sparked controversy for decades, but it seems Mother Nature has now made the final decision.

Originally, Midnight Pass served as a natural boundary between Siesta Key and Casey Key. However, in the 1980s, it was closed after a group of influential homeowners pressured local governments to intervene and protect their valuable properties from the erosion caused by the waterway’s natural migration. As one might expect, this decision was highly controversial, sparking decades of debate over whether the pass should be reopened. Numerous attempts—both official and unofficial—have been made to restore the pass. The most recent involving a $1 million allocation from the state budget that would’ve helped fund the design and permitting needed efforts to reopen the pass. However, as reported by WFLA, the initiative was vetoed by Governor Ron DeSantis, effectively halting the project

Now situated within the Jim Neville Marine Preserve and Palmer Point Park, Midnight Pass has existed for over a century. Early charts dating back to the1840s refer to the waterway as 'Buccaneer Pass,' but the name changed due to the pass's unpredictable, swift migrations, often appearing to shift overnight. Historic maps highlight the significant movement of the pass along a three-mile stretch of coastline. Over the past century, it has shifted both north and south dramatically, as detailed in a 2013 Siesta Sand article titled 'Midnight Pass: Lessons Learned After 30 Years.

In the 1960s the pass seemed to settle into its surroundings and Mote Marine acquired it for its laboratory. By the 1970s, the pass had narrowed and began migrating North. It became imperative that Mote relocate as the pass filled in, preventing Mote vessels from accessing the Gulf. The changing landscape reduced Mote’s 10-acre grounds by a few acres every year. A document Siesta Sand obtained from Mote predicted the result if the organization stayed. ”The inexorable onslaught of the waves, the shark tanks, the docks, the trailers would be gobbled up by the Gulf,“ it warned.

By the early 1980s, the homes of two prominent residents, retired engineer Pasco Carter and renowned artist Syd Solomon, were threatened by encroaching waves. Together, they petitioned state and local governments to relocate Midnight Pass. After extensive deliberation, it was decided to fill in the existing pass and move it farther south, away from their multi-million-dollar homes. On December 5, 1983, heavy machinery was used to fill in the pass. What followed were eight unsuccessful attempts to relocate it. Eventually, Pasco and Solomon abandoned the efforts, citing financial hardships, and the pass remained closed. People were outraged, after all, the nearest Gulf access point to the North was Lido Key, and to the south, it was Venice Inlet.

Helene appears to have resolved the issue naturally in a way that few can dispute. If the pass had been reopened by human intervention, it likely wouldn’t have retained its original natural characteristics. Instead, the pass might have been transformed into a more rigid, engineered structure, with its sand walls and natural migration restricted, potentially compromising its ecological integrity.

While this is not the first time a hurricane has altered the characteristics of a beloved landmark, it may be the first time one has ever been restored. In 1921, a hurricane almost destroyed Passage Key, reducing it to nothing more than a sandbar. At the time, the island was lush with vegetation and teeming with wildlife, particularly birds, as it had been designated a federal bird reserve. A cyclone-induced tidal wave destroyed everything. The island game warden, Asa Pillsbury, and his wife narrowly escaped, evacuating after they became alarmed at some of the behaviors of the birds, according to the book “Lures and Manatee” by Lillie Brown McDuffie.

The reopening of Midnight Pass is a rare and significant event, showcasing the power of nature to restore what human intervention could not. While the future of the pass remains uncertain, its natural resurgence offers a glimpse of hope for the preservation of its ecological integrity. As history has shown with other landmarks like Passage Key, the forces of nature are unpredictable, sometimes destructive, and occasionally restorative. Only time will tell if Midnight Pass will remain open, but for now, it stands as a reminder of nature’s ability to reclaim and reshape the landscape in ways beyond our control.