FLORIDA KEYS - The Florida Keys' largest hotel, the Casa Marina Resort in Key West, and the Dry Tortugas National Park have reopened to visitors after recovering from damage sustained during Hurricane Wilma.

The return of the Casa means that more than 95 percent of lodging entities are operational in the Keys, according to tourism officials.

"Most of our damage was related to storm surge, which flooded our lower concourse and caused problems in the electrical room," Kevin Speidel, the property's general manager, said Friday (Nov. 18). "Our guest rooms, for the most part, are all intact."

Speidel said only 11 of 311 guestrooms are not operational. He predicted they would return to service in mid-December and that post-storm refurbishments have resulted in an even larger beach for Casa guests.

Little Palm Island, an upscale luxury resort off Big Pine Key in the Lower Keys, reopened Dec. 21, according to a resort spokesperson. After Wilma's storm surge damaged the property's extensive tropical landscaping, management and staff undertook a $500,000 landscaping project to bring the 5.5-acre island back to its pre-storm lushness.

The vast majority of properties are open, but travelers with reservations should check with lodging facilities in advance before traveling to the Keys, to reconfirm their plans as well as to ensure needed amenities are available.

Situated about 70 miles west of Key West in Dry Tortugas National Park, Fort Jefferson reopened Monday, Nov. 21, according to National Park Service officials. The Fort Jefferson Ferry, Sunny Days Catamaran and Seaplanes of Key West, which provide daily tours to Fort Jefferson, have resumed service.

Almost all attractions in the Keys are now open. For a status list of attractions click here. For a status on parks in the Florida Keys click here.

Both Florida Keys Marathon Airport and Key West International are operating normally with full return of commercial and general aviation service during morning and evening hours.

Hurricane Wilma passed over the island chain Oct. 24. Although Wilma's winds left little structural damage, they impacted foliage in the Lower Keys and several residential regions were hit hard by storm surge, tourism officials said. The most affected areas are in residential neighborhoods from Marathon through Key West. The storm had little impact on the Upper Keys.

The Keys Overseas Highway (U.S. Highway 1) is fully open and contractors are making excellent progress in removing storm-related debris from shoulders along some sections of the road.

"Although conditions may not be ideal in some parts of the Keys, we are fortunate almost all tourism facilities are open and providing quality vacation experiences," said Harold Wheeler, director of the Keys tourism council. "I think visitors will understand we are cleaning up as quickly as possible and we appreciate their decision to continue plans to travel here."

For more details on the Keys, call 1-800-FLA-KEYS or explore this Web site.