Evan Dean
•6/15/2026
Along the Caloosahatchee River in Fort Myers, Florida, there’s a property that’s far older than most. But it isn’t just its age that makes it special. It’s who it belonged to. "When he arrived, I mean, it was as if Superman has just landed in Fort Myers," Matt Andres explained. He was Thomas Edison, the inventor who lit up America. America's most famous snowbirdBack in 1885, Fort Myers was a dusty cattle town of less than 350 people. But after visiting by boat, Edison was drawn to the area. He would buy 13 acres to build a winter home. Some historians call him the original snowbird. "He's seeking warm weather. He's trying to get away from the hustle and bustle of his daily life," Mike Cosden explained. "He's looking for vacation in a tropical paradise here. And that’s what he finds."But it wasn’t just Edison in Fort Myers. The power of uncommon friendsIn the 1910s, his friend Henry Ford — the automaker — came down for a visit. Soon after, he bought a house just next door. Other titans of industry, including Harvey Firestone, would also visit. The men became known as the "Uncommon Friends." "It's really just an amazing sort of relationship between these three men who, of course, helped shape and change modern America as we know it," Andres said. The men, including conservationist and naturalist writer John Burroughs, would boat and fish in Fort Myers. They all worked in the area, too.Edison, Ford and Firestone even built a laboratory on site in their search for a natural source of rubber. "We have this idea in the American historical mindset of the lone inventor saying, 'Eureka!' And none of that is the way the process actually works," Cosden said. "I think what you really see is collaboration being highlighted."More than a winter retreatEven more rare than the friendship itself is the fact that the homes, the lab and the inventions are still on site today and open to visitors. A nonprofit helps share the story of the Edison and Ford Winter Estates, which sit along Fort Myers' McGregor Boulevard. Cosden is the vice president of the estates, while Andres is the curator.As the country celebrates America 250, Edison and Ford are names etched in history forever for their remarkable achievements. But it’s the story of their friendship that people can learn from, even today. "Great ideas do not happen in isolation. They do not happen in a vacuum. We need one another. We need relationships," Andres said. "They relied on one another."DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.
