Selby Gardens cancels 'Lights at Spooky Point' at Spanish Point

Both Marie Selby Botanical Gardens downtown and Selby’s Spanish Point campus in Osprey are closed until further notice and the annual Halloween-themed “Lights at Spooky Point” at Spanish Point is canceled this year.

According to an email from Selby President and CEO Jennifer Rominiecki, initial assessments have revealed that power is out and some power lines are down at Selby’s 45-acre downtown campus.

In addition, 20% of its new solar panels came down and were damaged. 

They are part of a solar array that made Selby’s Green Orchid restaurant the first energy net-positive restaurant when it went live in May.

New buildings and historic structures at Selby’s downtown campus are in good condition, the email said.

In January, Selby opened phase one of its master plan expansion, adding 188,030 square feet of state-of-the-art facilities, a parking garage and a welcome center. 

One of Selby's historic buildings is Selby House, the original residence of benefactor Marie Selby and her husband built in the early 1920s.

There are numerous downed trees at Selby, but not its Bunya Bunya, banyans or Moreton Bay Fig, the email said.

Glass was broken in Selby’s conservatory and in all of its greenhouses, but the structures are still intact and Selby's extensive plant collections are unharmed. 

Since its formation in 1973, Selby has housed the largest scientifically documented collection of living orchids in the world. On Saturday, Oct. 5, Selby was able to open its doors to its annual orchid show, which is named “Purple!” this year, cleaning up from Hurricane Helene.

Down in Osprey at Spanish Point’s 33-acre campus, there are 20 major trees blocking access to paths and walkways as well as large quantities of debris. 

Cock’s Footbridge has suffered major damage, but all historic structures are in good shape. The exception is a chimney at White Cottage, which came down.

Nevertheless, the damage is significant enough to warrant the cancellation of "Lights at Spooky Point," originally scheduled from Oct. 9-31.