‘Stairway to Heaven’: Remains of Fort Myers Beach cottage create hope after Hurricane Ian
Social media comments call it the “Stairway to Heaven” and the “Miracle Stairs,” but for Scott and Michelle Nist, it is just a vision of hope.
When Hurricane Ian blasted onto Fort Myers Beach in September, it demolished their bright blue 1950s cottage. But the white staircase, that once led to the front door, was intact.
“We figured everything was gone, so we were surprised that the stairs were there,” Scott began. “The deck and the swings made it through too.”
“When the storm turned toward Fort Myers instead of Tampa, I just knew in my gut we would not be as lucky with this one,” Michelle added. “I just turned on my Ring camera, and I just blessed the stairs and prayed for all the people down there. We just said a prayer for thanksgiving for all the time we did have with the house.”
The couple was in Michigan during the storm but returned to see the damage when the beach reopened.
“I definitely saw the stairs as a ray of hope,” Michelle said.
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What Michelle and Scott didn’t foresee was the popularity of the stairs. Friends and then complete strangers started sending them photos and videos of the staircase. They saw videos of it on social media. Soon dozens and dozens of people started commenting. Many made references to it being a stairway to Heaven.
“I sing ‘Stairway to Heaven’ every time I pass them,” Garnet Bowden commented on Facebook.
“Stairway to Heaven” for sure. I had goosebumps while reading their story and all the beautiful touching comments,” added Jackie Schroeder.
“Looks like a staircase to Heaven and that is something that never ends. Hope is in your future,” added Barbara Persyn.
Others commented on the stairs being a sign of faith and God.
“What an amazing story of hope and faith,” Kim Berlain commented on Facebook.
“Those stairs are truly a sign of hope for a bright future,” stated Vicki Reynolds.
“Powerful beacon of hope,” commented Kathy Kirkeby.
“If hope had a meaning you could see, this is it,” stated Shannon Frost Scharf. “Those stairs represent strength.”
“Well that made me cry for sure,” added Karla Martinez. “It is amazing that inside all of the destruction and pain is a little piece of hope or what I like to say a sign from God.”
“Totally amazing the stairs didn’t get washed away,” added Lois Edwards. “I believe in signs from God and the fact that those steps are still there is reason to be hopeful and to start anew in your recovery.”
The Nists are surprised at how popular their stairs have become.
“You don’t know how many people have sent us videos and we see these videos on YouTube and we see those stairs,” Michelle said. “There are people that stop and sit on the stairs or are sitting on the swings. Just yesterday some people sent a picture of them sitting on the swings. I’ve seen our stairs posted on other videos; it is a little surreal. We are surprised a little bit, but it doesn’t really have anything to do with us.”
“It might have something to do with that little prayer,” Scott rebuked.
The couple bought the home in 2015 and began improving the cottage.
“When we bought the house, it was non-descript so Michelle took her talents and lots of paint brushes and made it look like it was looking, and then we hired 2 Nice Guys and they built the stairs and the deck,” Scott explained.
Mike Hodgdon and his stepfather Bob Preman, co-owners of 2 Nice Guys, based in Fort Myers, built the staircase in 2016 replacing an old rickety one that was there when the Nists bought the house.
Hodgdon says he likes to go above what is required when building for a client.
“If something calls for a two by six, we do a two by eight,” Hodgdon said. “Whatever they call for, we do more.”
Hodgdon said the stairs are made of ground contact pressure treated wood. The posts were imbedded deeper than code requirements and they used more concrete than needed.
“This was going to be their dream home,” Hodgdon continued. “We do it like we are doing it for our own family members. I am very proud that it stayed. I am very sorry that they lost their home.”
The Nists had been using the house part time but planned to make it a more permanent home this past fall when their youngest daughter went off to college. This was supposed to be the first year that they spent the entire winter here.
“We had the little idyllic beach cottage right across from the beach,” Scott said. “It served a lot of our family. “When the storm was coming, we kind of knew that this would probably happen. But the memories are what are important. There is something magical about that place
On social media, commenters are hoping the Nist family gets to return to a magical place on Fort Myers Beach.
“I hope you can attach something to those stairs soon to start a new album of memories,” commented Janine Kopff on Facebook
Wow, what a story! I hope they can put a new home behind those stairs to make some more fantastic memories at Fort Myers Beach,” added Jessica Fluharty.
The Nists don’t know when or if that will happen. They keep getting asked about rebuilding, but right now they just don’t know.
“Right now, we are looking at reality,” Scott explained. “This is a beach cottage for us. This is just a vacation place so we don’t want to get in the way of those that are there all the time. We would love to rebuild in the next couple of years, but it is still unknown.”
Whatever they do, they said the staircase will be part of the plan.
“We will do something with it for sure,” Michelle stressed.
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This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Fort Myers Beach cottage's 'stairway to heaven' brings hope after Ian
