The Florida Keys & Key West tourism infrastructure is intact throughout the 125-mile-long island chain after Hurricane Milton’s outer bands brushed the Keys Wednesday, bringing tropical storm wind gusts but no significant impacts.
The Florida Keys Overseas Highway, including all 42 bridges, is fully open.
Key West and Florida Keys Marathon international airports were unaffected and remained open and operational. The Port of Key West reopened to commercial maritime traffic Thursday morning.
No emergency protective actions, including visitor or resident evacuations, were taken by Monroe County Emergency Management officials as the dangerous core of Hurricane Milton was forecast to remain well away from the Keys island chain. No significant power outages occurred in the Keys.
Throughout the Keys, accommodations, attractions, museums, restaurants and other businesses of interest to visitors remained open as the storm passed.
Dive, snorkel and fishing charters are returning to normal operations.
Florida state parks throughout the Keys reopened Friday.
Everglades National Park and its Guy Bradley Visitor Center at Flamingo are open in mainland Monroe County. Dry Tortugas National Park, located 68 miles west of Key West, reopened Friday with the Yankee Freedom III ferry and Key West Seaplane Adventures resuming trips to the park out of the island city.
All activities for Key West’s upcoming Fantasy Fest 2024, scheduled Friday, Oct. 18, through Sunday, Oct. 27, and themed “It’s a 90s Neon Cosmic Carnival,” are to take place. The internationally renowned costuming and masking festival is to feature masquerade parties, costume competitions, street fairs, performance art, glamorous galas and a glittering grand parade.