Sarasota’s Midnight Pass Reopens Naturally After Decades of Closure

During the particularly treacherous hurricane season of 2024, Sarasota’s beloved Midnight Pass reopened.  And as of today, the pass remains open, slowly allowing larger volumes of water through, having a remarkable effect on ecosystems inland it once nourished and flushed. 

Why was Midnight Pass originally closed?

Midnight Pass was created in 1920 by a hurricane.  The primary reason the pass was closed in 1983 was to protect the property of two landowners whose homes were in jeopardy of being swept into the water as erosion occurred.  This caused an immediate firestorm of questions and outrage from environmentalists, nearby residents and citizens with basic questions about the rich wielding their power and money to protect their own interests.  The effected individuals maintained that the pass’s natural progression to the north had nothing to do with the ill-placed constructions of their homes, but just nature standing in the way of their living literally, right on the water.  So, the pass was closed and as a result, impacts on the health of Sarasota Bay were immediately noticed, including reduced clam numbers. 

The Reopening

During the 40 years Midnight Pass was closed, efforts by local homeowners and the Army Corps of Engineers to reopen the pass were quickly thwarted by nature.  However, in 2024 after a barrage of Hurricanes including Hurricane Helene and Milton, nature decided the pass should reopen, and it did.  Celebratory runs through the at first-narrow opening of Midnight Pass by small boat owner’s and jet skiers were seen all over social media and people were in disbelief the pass was opened. 

Mother Nature seems pleased with her decision to reopen Midnight Pass, as today there is approximately 100 feet between the sides of the pass.  Increased water volume and activity throughout the pass are giving modern-day Sarasota residents a glimpse of what life was like before the pass was closed.  Moving to Sarasota in 1995, I wasn’t privy to that experience but luckily for me, my husband grew up right on Casey Key, and recounts tales of riding his dirt bikes to both ends of the island and camping right on the banks of the pass when there were no houses constructed there.  The reopening and shifting of Midnight Pass are amazing feats of nature, not to be manipulated by homeowners.  And   the flushing of the bay is an important element of the opened pass.  Mother Nature knows best.

Photos courtesy of Restore Midnight Pass Now!!  Facebook page.