A Story of Resilience Through Hurricane Season

This hurricane season has been one of the most challenging times our business has faced. In the span of just a month, we were hit by not one but two major hurricanes—Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton. Both storms brought powerful surges and flooding that left lasting impacts on our office, equipment, and spirit. But as challenging as it’s been, we’re committed to the future. SUP Englewood is here for the long haul, and we’re ready to welcome you back starting November 1st.

Our Comeback: How You Can Support Us and the Park

Despite everything, we’re rebuilding with hope and renewed determination. Starting November 1st, we will resume our operational duties at Don Pedro Island State Park. Our commitment to the park and our community is stronger than ever—we’ll be on-site daily, opening and closing the park, ensuring it’s ready for your visits, and helping with environmental stewardship efforts.

Here’s how you can support our comeback and the continued upkeep of this beautiful area:

• Book Your Adventure: By reserving a tour or rental with us, you’re directly supporting both SUP Englewood and Don Pedro Island State Park.
• Purchase a Gift Card: Perfect for friends, family, and loved ones, gift cards are available and can be used for future bookings and merchandise.
• Shop Our New Merchandise: Our online shop will be launching soon.

A Hurricane Season to Remember

The beginning of October had us in preparation mode as Hurricane Helene approached. We started storing kayaks and securing equipment days before the storm, anticipating the storm surge. Despite the fact that Helene passed 150 miles offshore, the surge was extraordinary. Growing up in Florida, I’ve seen coastal erosion from even the smallest of storms, but seeing Lemon Bay rise over 6 feet was a first. It was a historic event, one that reminded us of the power of nature.

After Helene passed, we quickly began repairs—pulling up flooring and drying out drywall in our new office building, running dehumidifiers, and conducting mold mitigation. But as soon as we were ready to start laying down new floors, the tropics had formed another hurricane: Milton. We had barely cleaned the trailers before we found ourselves back in prep mode, preparing for another storm.

Hurricane Milton brought us even more flooding, and we watched from afar as the cameras showed water rising higher than before. There’s nothing you can do but brace yourself. When the water finally receded, the reality of managing two properties hit us hard. Still, through all the cleanup and losses, we refused to let these storms break our spirit.

How You Can Help Keep Our Mission Alive

The support we’ve received from our community, friends, family, and even strangers has been overwhelming. We’re excited to announce that by November 1st, we’ll be back to daily operations, open seven days a week. Here’s how your support can help us continue our mission:

1. Environmental Goals and Stewardship: When you book with us, a percentage of each sale goes back to Don Pedro Island State Park. This directly supports the conservation and maintenance of this vital ecosystem. We’ll also be hosting waterway cleanup events soon, where you can join us in making a difference.
2. Community Education and Safety: Our Coffee and Conservation series is ongoing, with new topics each month. These events, held at the Englewood Chamber of Commerce, are open to anyone interested in learning about local conservation efforts and environmental topics. Our next speaker will be joining us on November 19th—we’d love to see you there! Please RSVP at this link.
3. Promoting Safe Paddling: At Don Pedro Island State Park, we’re committed to the safety and education of all paddlers. We lend out safety equipment and share valuable information about paddling responsibly in this beautiful area.
4. Memberships and Merchandise Coming Soon: To ensure our long-term sustainability, we’ll be introducing membership options and launching our online merchandise store soon. Merchandise sales and memberships will help prepare us better for future storms. Stay tuned as we hope to have the online store ready in time for holiday shopping!

A Message of Thanks and Determination

Hurricanes Helene and Milton tested us in ways we hadn’t anticipated. But through it all, we are incredibly grateful to everyone who has reached out to offer help and words of encouragement. We’re thrilled to be reopening and look forward to welcoming you back to SUP Englewood.

If there’s one thing we know, it’s that we’re here to stay. We invite you to join us in this next chapter—whether that’s by booking a tour, buying a gift card, or simply spreading the word. Together, we can continue to protect and enjoy the beautiful environment that makes SUP Englewood so special.

Thank you for standing by us. Let’s keep the adventure going, one paddle stroke at a time.