Ceremony to be held to honor Arches with historical archer
Restore Fort Myers Beach Arches announced they will hold a ceremony on Sept. 19 at 10:30 a.m. to unveil a state historical marker of the former Fort Myers Beach Arches.
The ceremony will take place on San Carlos Island off Fisherman’s Wharf at the original location of the Arches.
The Arches stood for decades since the 1920s as the entrance to Fort Myers Beach through a draw bridge, before being knocked down in 1979 to make way for the Matanzas Pass Bridge.
Restore Fort Myers Beach Arches has been working for years to build a replica of the Arches to pay tribute. The organization has been working with Lee County and donors to build a smaller commemorative arch at Bowditch Point Regional Park, incorporating original stone from the Arches, along with an engraved brick pathway and interpretive signage.
Ray McDonald, who leads the nonprofit organization, said this week that Danielle Larson of Southern Shore Construction and David Nelson of David Nelson Masonry are working together on the project. Larson’s team will construct the concrete foundations and arch structure, while Nelson will install a masonry veneer using salvaged stone supplemented with newly quarried stone of the same type.
The project is fully funded, McDonald said, with additional contributions directed toward a maintenance trust to support its long-term care. Construction is anticipated next year, subject to county approvals and coordination with park restoration work, McDonald said.
Editor’s note: This story has been corrected. The ceremony on Sept. 19 will take place at 10:30 a.m.