Taimy Alvarez / Sun SentinelCaribbean Club 104080 Overseas Hwy. Key Largo, Fl.
Taimy Alvarez / Sun SentinelHurricane Irma destroyed this small building at Postcard Inn Marina on Islamorada in the Florida Keys.
Taimy Alvarez / Sun SentinelPelicans wait for fish on what remains of the docks at Robbie's Restaurant and Marina Wednesday after Hurricane Irma's powerful winds severly damaged the docks of the popular restaurant and marina.
Taimy Alvarez / Sun SentinelThe bright yellow and blue wall of what remains of Captain Pip's office lies in the trees on Marathon blown there by Hurricane Irma. Cleanup began on Wednesday on the property.
Taimy Alvarez / Sun SentinelLorelei Restaurant and Marina property managers John and Rhonda Maloughney says the popular restaurant had minimal damage Wednesday in Islamorada.
Taimy Alvarez / Sun SentinelA trophy hammerhead shark lies on the ground with piles of debris in the parking lot of Postcard Inn Marina on Islamorada in the Florida Keys brought down by the powerful Hurricane Irma. Residents and business owners of the upper Keys are beginning to clean up and start re-building. However, officials are still not allowing re-entry into the lower Keys.
Taimy Alvarez / Sun SentinelMost of the Tiki Bar at the Postcard Inn Marina was destroyed by Hurricane Irma.
Taimy Alvarez / Sun SentinelRobbie's Restaurant and Marina 77522 Overseas Hwy. Key Largo, Fl.
Taimy Alvarez / Sun SentinelFormer Dolphins and University of Miami football coach Jimmy Johnson's BigChill was not damaged by Hurricane Irma. Johnson's home in Tavernier, Fl. was destroyed by Hurricane Irma.
Taimy Alvarez / Sun SentinelFlorida Keys Visitor Center 106240 Overseas Hwy. Key Largo, Fl.
Taimy Alvarez / Sun SentinelDebris caused by Hurricane Irma block the entrance to the Tiki Bar at the Postcard Inn Marina on Islamorada Wednesday in the Florida Keys.
Mike Stocker / Sun SentinelThere was virtually no traffic on the 7 mile bridge after Hurricane Irma hit the Florida Keys. Mike Stocker, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Taimy Alvarez / Sun SentinelThe large mermaid at the entrance of Lorelei Restaurant and Marina wasn’t damaged at all by Hurricane Irma in Islamorada.
Taimy Alvarez / Sun SentinelPaul Wojtecki, 31, takes a break from cleanup to eat lunch siting on the edge of what use to be Robbie's Restaurant and Marina's tarpon feeding dock entrance Wednesday in Islamorada, Fl. damaged by Hurricane Irma.
Taimy Alvarez / Sun SentinelFalled tried casued by Hurricane Irma’s winds block the entrance to Ballyhoo's Restaurant in Key Largo, Fl. Wednesday.
Taimy Alvarez / Sun SentinelFormer Dolphins and University of Miami football coach Jimmy Johnson's BigChill was not damaged by Hurricane Irma. Johnson's home in Tavernier, Fl. was destroyed by Hurricane Irma.
Taimy Alvarez / Sun SentinelGilda Rroshi racks seaweed Wednesday washed into Robbie's Restaurant dinning area and bar in Islamorada by Hurricane Irma.
Taimy Alvarez / Sun SentinelRobbie's Restaurant and Marina General Manager Cailin Reckwerdt, 21, said Hurricane Irma's powerful winds blew away about $500 of money stapled on the walls of the popular restaurant.
Taimy Alvarez / Sun SentinelPictures dry out on the bar at Robbie's Restaurant and Marina General along with leafs and other small debris blown in by Hurricane Irma.
Taimy Alvarez / Sun SentinelThe Raw Bar at Postcard Inn Marina on Islamorada was destroyed by Hurricane Irma.
Taimy Alvarez / Sun SentinelDan Strickland, 33, drags a boat through the debris filled waters which use to by the docks at Robbie's Restaurant and Marina in Islamorada destroyed by Hurricane Irma. Wednesday a team of people were already at Robbie's cleaning up and re-building the popular tourist spot known for feeding the tarpons.
Taimy Alvarez / Sun SentinelDebris litters the damaged docks of the Postcard Inn Marina on Islamorada in the Florida Keys Wednesday caused by Hurricane Irma.
Taimy Alvarez / Sun SentinelCaribbean Club 104080 Overseas Hwy. Key Largo, Fl.
Taimy Alvarez / Sun SentinelVehicles, a trailer and a large sign warn people to stay out of Gilbert's Resort Wednesday at 107900 Overseas Hwy. Key Largo, Fl.
Taimy Alvarez / Sun SentinelA Tiki Bar drink menu covered in sand is among the debris scattered on the property of the Postcard Inn Marina on Islamorada, Fl. Wednesday.
Taimy Alvarez / Sun SentinelDerick Peterson, 39, who runs Porky's jet ski rentals, talks about what it was like coming back and seeing the destruction caused by Hurricane Irma to the office of Captain Pip's Charters on Marathon, Fl.
Taimy Alvarez / Sun SentinelDerick Peterson, 39, who runs Porky's Bayside Restaurant and Marina’s jet ski rentals, looks at what remains of Captain Pip's Charters office right next door to Porky's Restaurant on Marathon, Fl.
Taimy Alvarez / Sun SentinelBallyhoo's Restaurant Key Largo, Fl.
Taimy Alvarez / Sun SentinelLorelei Restaurant and Marina property manager John Maloughney says the popular restaurant had minimal damage Wednesday in Islamorada.
Taimy Alvarez / Sun SentinelStacked chairs put away before Hurricane Irma hit the Florida Keys were not damaged by the strong storm at Lorelei Restaurant and Marina in Islamorada Wednesday.
Taimy Alvarez / Sun SentinelGilbert's Resort 107900 Overseas Hwy. Key Largo, Fl.
Taimy Alvarez / Sun SentinelDan Strickland, 33, and Paul Wojtecki, 31, raise the American flag at the end of the destroyed docks at Robbie's Restaurant and Marina Wednesday in Islamorada blown to pieces by Hurricane Irma.
Taimy Alvarez / Sun SentinelPorky's Bayside Restaurant and Marina MM 47.5 Marathon, Fl.- Taimy Alvarez / Sun SentinelCaribbean Club 104080 Overseas Hwy. Key Largo, Fl.
- Taimy Alvarez / Sun SentinelHurricane Irma destroyed this small building at Postcard Inn Marina on Islamorada in the Florida Keys.
- Taimy Alvarez / Sun SentinelPelicans wait for fish on what remains of the docks at Robbie's Restaurant and Marina Wednesday after Hurricane Irma's powerful winds severly damaged the docks of the popular restaurant and marina.
- Taimy Alvarez / Sun SentinelThe bright yellow and blue wall of what remains of Captain Pip's office lies in the trees on Marathon blown there by Hurricane Irma. Cleanup began on Wednesday on the property.
- Taimy Alvarez / Sun SentinelLorelei Restaurant and Marina property managers John and Rhonda Maloughney says the popular restaurant had minimal damage Wednesday in Islamorada.
- Taimy Alvarez / Sun SentinelA trophy hammerhead shark lies on the ground with piles of debris in the parking lot of Postcard Inn Marina on Islamorada in the Florida Keys brought down by the powerful Hurricane Irma. Residents and business owners of the upper Keys are beginning to clean up and start re-building. However, officials are still not allowing re-entry into the lower Keys.
- Taimy Alvarez / Sun SentinelMost of the Tiki Bar at the Postcard Inn Marina was destroyed by Hurricane Irma.
- Taimy Alvarez / Sun SentinelRobbie's Restaurant and Marina 77522 Overseas Hwy. Key Largo, Fl.
- Taimy Alvarez / Sun SentinelFormer Dolphins and University of Miami football coach Jimmy Johnson's BigChill was not damaged by Hurricane Irma. Johnson's home in Tavernier, Fl. was destroyed by Hurricane Irma.
- Taimy Alvarez / Sun SentinelFlorida Keys Visitor Center 106240 Overseas Hwy. Key Largo, Fl.
- Taimy Alvarez / Sun SentinelDebris caused by Hurricane Irma block the entrance to the Tiki Bar at the Postcard Inn Marina on Islamorada Wednesday in the Florida Keys.
- Mike Stocker / Sun SentinelThere was virtually no traffic on the 7 mile bridge after Hurricane Irma hit the Florida Keys. Mike Stocker, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
- Taimy Alvarez / Sun SentinelThe large mermaid at the entrance of Lorelei Restaurant and Marina wasn’t damaged at all by Hurricane Irma in Islamorada.
- Taimy Alvarez / Sun SentinelPaul Wojtecki, 31, takes a break from cleanup to eat lunch siting on the edge of what use to be Robbie's Restaurant and Marina's tarpon feeding dock entrance Wednesday in Islamorada, Fl. damaged by Hurricane Irma.
- Taimy Alvarez / Sun SentinelFalled tried casued by Hurricane Irma’s winds block the entrance to Ballyhoo's Restaurant in Key Largo, Fl. Wednesday.
- Taimy Alvarez / Sun SentinelFormer Dolphins and University of Miami football coach Jimmy Johnson's BigChill was not damaged by Hurricane Irma. Johnson's home in Tavernier, Fl. was destroyed by Hurricane Irma.
- Taimy Alvarez / Sun SentinelGilda Rroshi racks seaweed Wednesday washed into Robbie's Restaurant dinning area and bar in Islamorada by Hurricane Irma.
- Taimy Alvarez / Sun SentinelRobbie's Restaurant and Marina General Manager Cailin Reckwerdt, 21, said Hurricane Irma's powerful winds blew away about $500 of money stapled on the walls of the popular restaurant.
- Taimy Alvarez / Sun SentinelPictures dry out on the bar at Robbie's Restaurant and Marina General along with leafs and other small debris blown in by Hurricane Irma.
- Taimy Alvarez / Sun SentinelThe Raw Bar at Postcard Inn Marina on Islamorada was destroyed by Hurricane Irma.
- Taimy Alvarez / Sun SentinelDan Strickland, 33, drags a boat through the debris filled waters which use to by the docks at Robbie's Restaurant and Marina in Islamorada destroyed by Hurricane Irma. Wednesday a team of people were already at Robbie's cleaning up and re-building the popular tourist spot known for feeding the tarpons.
- Taimy Alvarez / Sun SentinelDebris litters the damaged docks of the Postcard Inn Marina on Islamorada in the Florida Keys Wednesday caused by Hurricane Irma.
- Taimy Alvarez / Sun SentinelCaribbean Club 104080 Overseas Hwy. Key Largo, Fl.
- Taimy Alvarez / Sun SentinelVehicles, a trailer and a large sign warn people to stay out of Gilbert's Resort Wednesday at 107900 Overseas Hwy. Key Largo, Fl.
- Taimy Alvarez / Sun SentinelA Tiki Bar drink menu covered in sand is among the debris scattered on the property of the Postcard Inn Marina on Islamorada, Fl. Wednesday.
- Taimy Alvarez / Sun SentinelDerick Peterson, 39, who runs Porky's jet ski rentals, talks about what it was like coming back and seeing the destruction caused by Hurricane Irma to the office of Captain Pip's Charters on Marathon, Fl.
- Taimy Alvarez / Sun SentinelDerick Peterson, 39, who runs Porky's Bayside Restaurant and Marina’s jet ski rentals, looks at what remains of Captain Pip's Charters office right next door to Porky's Restaurant on Marathon, Fl.
- Taimy Alvarez / Sun SentinelBallyhoo's Restaurant Key Largo, Fl.
- Taimy Alvarez / Sun SentinelLorelei Restaurant and Marina property manager John Maloughney says the popular restaurant had minimal damage Wednesday in Islamorada.
- Taimy Alvarez / Sun SentinelStacked chairs put away before Hurricane Irma hit the Florida Keys were not damaged by the strong storm at Lorelei Restaurant and Marina in Islamorada Wednesday.
- Taimy Alvarez / Sun SentinelGilbert's Resort 107900 Overseas Hwy. Key Largo, Fl.
- Taimy Alvarez / Sun SentinelDan Strickland, 33, and Paul Wojtecki, 31, raise the American flag at the end of the destroyed docks at Robbie's Restaurant and Marina Wednesday in Islamorada blown to pieces by Hurricane Irma.
- Taimy Alvarez / Sun SentinelPorky's Bayside Restaurant and Marina MM 47.5 Marathon, Fl.
By Phillip Valys | [email protected] | South Florida Sun Sentinel
PUBLISHED: | UPDATED:
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MM 84: Theater of the Sea, 84721 Overseas Highway, Islamorada; 305-664-2431 or TheaterOfTheSea.com
None of the live animals were harmed during the storm at this longrunning roadside tourist spot, although the park itself sustained minor damage, including fallen trees and fences.
The animal enclosures were also still intact, said Jeremy Hauwelaert, Theater of the Sea’s director of sales and marketing. “We’ve got some damage to our buildings, like our gift shop,” he said. “We just need to make sure that the areas for our guests are safe. For example, we need to make sure that the stadiums and walkways all have the debris cleared.”
Park staff are still uncertain about when the attraction will reopen, although they’ve stopped accepting reservations for now. A Facebook update posted on Sept. 12 said that phone service was “nonexistent” throughout the Florida Keys. Post-Irma satellite images from the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration confirm Hauwelaert’s observations, showing fallen trees and debris covering a few of the roofs.
Open since 1946, Theater of the Sea is the second oldest marine mammal attraction in the world. Its saltwater lagoon was originally a quarry for developer Henry Flagler’s Overseas Railway. The park offers lagoons, tropical gardens, snorkeling, eco-cruises, live dolphin shows, a private swimming area and various ways to interact with sea life (dolphins, sea lions or rays).
