Moose Lodge on Anna Maria Island Resumes Operations

MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — The largest moose lodge in the nation has reopened, inviting members into a fully renovated facility.

The Anna Maria Island Moose Lodge was out of service for several months following Hurricane Helene, but it has fully reopened its doors earlier this month.

“It felt like losing a part of your home… part of your family,” remarked Debra Snook, who has been employed there since 2007.

Now that the family is back together.

“We’re all family. We support one another,” she elaborated.

Snook recounted the devastation caused by Helene, with Milton arriving a mere two weeks later.

“The water pushed the wall. Everything got displaced. Tables and chairs were stacked up with about five feet of sand on the floor,” she explained.

The building required extensive renovations — nearly everything was replaced.

“New beer lines, new water lines, new everything,” Snook noted.

The final phase of the rebuilding process involves completing the parking lot, which is projected to be open by Friday.

“They came in yesterday, and they are here today,” she mentioned.

The patio area opened for the first time on Thursday, and the staff believes this will positively affect business.

“I think that limited our business a little. Not a lot, but it is a slow time of year. Nonetheless, things are moving along pretty well,” she said.

With the entire lodge now operational, Snook has set her sights on one goal.

“I hope this year we can manage to donate and assist as many people as we did the year before the hurricane, because last year was quite tough. We were closed for about seven or eight months,” she reflected.

Surmounting the challenges posed by Helene and Milton has been tough — but Snook is confident that with both customers and employees back, that familial atmosphere is here to stay.

The Moose Lodge announces the return of the Queen of Hearts game.