To celebrate the 120th anniversary of the National Wildlife Refuge System on March 14, the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel announced the rollout of its post-Hurricane Ian reopenings.

On Sept. 28, the near Category 5 storm ravaged the refuge’s habitat and facilities, triggering the closure of all its waters and land to public access. On Feb. 1, the refuge reopened the Tarpon Bay Recreation Area. On April 4, it will reopen the gate to Wildlife Drive for the first time with a Sanibel & Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce ribbon-cutting ceremony. The refuge’s Visitor & Education Center will also reopen that day.

“The ‘Ding’ team, with help from refuge crews around the U.S., has been working nonstop to get parts of the refuge open so the public can once again view the wildlife, which has made a remarkable comeback since Hurricane Ian, especially the birds,” Refuge Complex Project Leader Kevin Godsea said. “It’s fitting that we make the auspicious, highly anticipated announcement of our Sanibel reopening to honor the occasion when, 120 years ago, President Theodore Roosevelt created the National Wildlife Refuge System right here in Florida, at Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge.”

The observation tower on Wildlife Drive suffered little damage from the storm, and it too will be accessible as of April 4, along with a section of the Indigo Trail, Wildlife Education Boardwalk, and Wulfert Key Trail. Fishing and paddlecraft-launching spots on Wildlife Drive will also reopen, and narrated tram tours will recommence — initially on Tuesday and Thursday only.

The Wildlife Drive hours will start out on Saturday through Thursday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Entrance fees remain the same as pre-Ian: $10 for vehicles, and $1 for pedestrians and cyclists older than 15.

Along with the exhibit area in the Visitor & Education Center, the Refuge Nature Store will be open on Saturday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The center’s auditoriums and classroom will remain closed until further notice.

Facilities also to remain closed will include: most of the Indigo Trail, except for the segment between Wildlife Drive and the Wildlife Education Boardwalk; Mangrove Overlook; Calusa Shell Mound Trail; and the trails of Bailey Tract. Staff continues cleanup efforts in these areas with the help of volunteers. No reopening dates have been set for these facilities.

At the Tarpon Bay Recreation Area, the Tarpon Bay Explorers recreation concession is offering limited facilities, rentals, and tours. Hours are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, with last rentals issued at 3 p.m. Guided kayaking tours of the Commodore Creek Trail are available on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 10 a.m.

“We could not have mitigated the severe damage we suffered this quickly without the incredible support of our wonderful friends group, the ‘Ding’ Darling Wildlife Society, and all the help we received with cleanup from civic groups, condo associations, students, and just so many other volunteers,” Godsea said. “Thanks to everyone who brought us to this point. Cleanup will be ongoing for quite a while, so it’s tremendously gratifying to see and feel the love from friends and fans all over the U.S.”

For more information about the narrated tram tours at the refuge, visit tarponbayexplorers.com.