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.
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.
Close-up of Big Joe
Display in Museum
Alligator with prey in its mouth in the Museum
Splayed alligator skin becomes a giant plaque in the Museum.
Bird cages for Macaws
Winnie, a blue and gold Macaw
A koi pond with fisherman sculpture
Pond with koi
Plants for sale
Huge staghorn ferns hanging from old growth trees
The name “staghorn” comes from their uniquely-shaped fronds.
Duck enclosure
Ibises in the duck enclosure
The ibises go anywhere they want.
Alligator signs
Alligator pond
Alligators
Alligators sunning
A cone-domed cage for a white cockatoo
Cockatoo
A green iguana with a black-ringed tail named “Buddy” in a glassed-in enclosure
Carol and Joanie in a parrot cut-out board
Carol and Margaret in the cut-out board
Ibises in a pond
Flamingoes
Flamingoes by their pond
The Imperial River runs right alongside the Gardens property.
Cactus garden
Cactus garden
Pond with water lilies
Bromeliad garden
A peacock roamed the grounds, but never went far from the bird enclosure.
Members admiring Big Foot
Bromeliad garden
A peacock roamed the grounds, but never went far from the bird enclosure.
A guinea hen that the peacock had a “thing” for is inside the enclosure--an unfortunate case of unrequited love.
Tortoises
Bantam rooster, Big Foot
Joanie and Margaret taking a break
Picnic area
Stray alligator in the pathway
Water feature with cascade
