Ruskin fishing resort reopens after extensive damage from Hurricane Helene
RUSKIN, Fla. - A Ruskin fishing resort reopened on Monday after extensive damage from Hurricane Helene.
Couple's passion project
The backstory:
Since 2015, Tom and Tammie Saxon have owned Pirate's Pointe Resort off West Shell Point Road.
"They call it a quick trip to the islands. Bring your food. Bring your clothes," Tom said.
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It was the Saxon's retirement passion project to purchase the two-acre resort on the Little Manatee River. Tom said the property serves as the perfect "staycation" destination.

"We invested our life savings into this place and wanted to work together and make our dreams come true," he said.
Hurricane Helene damages
Just as the Saxons recovered from Hurricane Idalia's damage, storm surge from Hurricane Helene impacted the property even worse.
"I've never seen water get that high. I want to say at one point I measured about 4-4.5 feet of water," he said.
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Tom said walking around the property was devastating.
"You feel helpless at that moment. I came back here. There were many tears shed," he said. "Everything....furniture, refrigerators, appliances, the whole nine yards. Everything was wiped out and destroyed. We had to get rid of everything."
The storm surge overturned the floating docks and 350-pound picnic tables were also moved around. He said,

"Me and my wife, we got to thinking. It's time to pull up the bootstraps and let's get back to work," Tom said.
Picking up the pieces
Since then, the couple has worked tirelessly, six days a week, to restore the property and its 16 cottages. Though there's still work to be done, the couple welcomed their first guests on Monday afternoon.
Pirate's Pointe Resort is located at 1800 Kofresi Court in Ruskin. For more information, visit piratespointeresort.com.
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