Florida Flowers and Gardens: Everglades Wonder Gardens in Bonita Springs

In 1936, brothers Bill and Lester Piper established "The Reptile Gardens" as a roadside attraction along the newly-built Tamiami Trail from Tampa to Miami. As the animal and botanical exhibits grew, the attraction’s name was changed to the "Everglades Wonder Gardens" to better reflect its offerings. The Gardens also became known for its wildlife rehabilitation programs. For three generations, the Gardens was under the ownership of the Piper family. In early 2013, landscape photographer John Brady and his family leased the property from the Pipers and helped form a not-for-profit organization dedicated to saving the Everglades Wonder Gardens.

In 2014, a group of local residents formed the Bonita Wonder Gardens Inc., a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. With financial assistance, in the form of a $3.5 million loan from the City of Bonita Springs, the new organization was able to purchase the property and business assets from the Piper family in April, 2015, saving it from potential commercial development.

Thomas Hecker, who has extensive environmental non-profit management experience, started as the new Executive Director in January, 2017. “We’ve got a strong vision for the future,” he said. “We just need some time and funding to make it happen.” Hecker’s plan includes a renewed focus on education. “We want to bring kids in from local schools to really learn and experience what we have here,” he said. While renewed education is an important part of Hecker’s plan, there are many other projects that remain, such as rebuilding wildlife enclosures, nurturing the botanical beauty of the property and renovating the flamingo lake. A new building, wedding gazebo and dock are also in the works. “It’d be great to give tours on the Imperial River,” he said. A large green space for events would finish off the acreage. Once restored, the Wonder Gardens will be a great asset to the community of Bonita Springs.

Billboard for the Everglades Wonder Gardens

The Gardens is on Old 41 between W. Terry and Bonita Beach Road. This stretch of Old 41 is undergoing a renovation/beautification process, and it already looks like a trendy and inviting neighborhood.

The entrance to the Wonder Gardens ticket office and gift shop

Estero Island Garden Club members at the entrance

Greatly enlarged brochure featuring the attractions of the Gardens

Master Plan for a new and improved Wonder Gardens

Gift shop

Pink flamingoes in gift shop

Macaws & cockatoos in gift shop

A menacing owl suspended from the rafters

Big Joe exhibit in Natural History Museum

Big Joe was at one time the largest American crocodile in captivity. He was 15 ½ feet long and weighed over 1200 pounds. He attracted visitors from all over the world until he died of old age at 75 years old in 2003.