Wonder Gardens in Bonita Springs celebrates 90th anniversary

BONITA SPRINGS, Fla. —

The Wonder Gardens in Bonita Springs is celebrating its 90th anniversary this weekend, marking a significant milestone for one of Florida's last roadside attractions that has faced numerous challenges over the years.

Originally opened in 1936 by the Piper brothers as the Reptile Gardens on the newly built Tamiami Trail, the attraction has evolved over the decades, becoming a symbol of old Florida amidst the changing Gulf Coast.

"This is kind of like an oasis of old Florida," Neil Anderson, executive director, said. "You walk in here and people go, 'I can't believe this is in here, this is like an oasis.'"

The gardens faced bankruptcy in 2015, with developers eyeing the prime real estate. However, the city of Bonita Springs intervened, providing a $3 million loan and eventually purchasing the property. The 2020s brought new challenges with the COVID-19 pandemic and Hurricane Ian.

"Literally where we're standing, we'd be in waist-deep storm surge through the whole gardens, it was just devastating," said Anderson, who became executive director just six weeks before Ian hit.

Anderson emphasized the importance of creating a vision that could unite everyone, leading to a public-private partnership, modernized animal habitats, and increased ticket sales.

Alina Adams, a frequent visitor, shared her personal connection to the gardens.

"I actually grew up in Naples, so I came here as a kid too," she said. "It's really cool, my mom is here, so it's cool to have multi-generational stuff that creates this sense of community."

As the gardens look to the future, Anderson expressed confidence in their longevity.

"Are you confident the Wonder Gardens will make it to 100 years?" he was asked.

"I'm very confident we'll go 100 years," he said.

The anniversary celebration is scheduled for Saturday at 6 p.m. Click here if you're interested in tickets for the event.

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