Bonita Springs Florida Weekly

You’re invited: Everglades Wonder Gardens celebrates reopening


Famingos at flamingo beach in the Everglades Wonder Gardens. EVERGLADES WONDER GARDENS / COURTESY PHOTOS

Famingos at flamingo beach in the Everglades Wonder Gardens. EVERGLADES WONDER GARDENS / COURTESY PHOTOS

The Everglades Wonder Gardens, a beloved historic roadside attraction turned zoological family destination, is ready to welcome guests once again. On Thursday, October 1, the Wonder Gardens reopens to the public with limited capacity, and other coronavirus-related safety measures in place, after being closed for more than six months.

To celebrate with the community the Wonder Gardens will host a Family Day of Wonder on Saturday, Oct. 3, with wildlife interactives, including ambassador birds, baby alligators, and snake and tortoise talks. A Sense of Wonder Children’s Corner offers grab and take activities, highlighting the new Flamingo Lagoon and Terry and Arlene Riegel Lorikeet Pavilion. Meet Smurfy, Romeo and Rosita from Bird Gardens of Naples who are sure to delight. Maria’s Restaurant, Survey Café and For Heaven Shakes Ice Cream will be offering food onsite for the guests while the Wonder Gardens offers hand feeding encounters with flamingos, alligators and lorikeets at timed rotations to accommodate social distancing. Enjoy live music by the South Wind, a local Celtic group, performing from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Above: A green iguana sunbathes in the gardens. EVERGLADES WONDER GARDENS / COURTESY PHOTOS

Above: A green iguana sunbathes in the gardens. EVERGLADES WONDER GARDENS / COURTESY PHOTOS

“As an outdoor zoological park, our guests can safely enjoy the Gardens while only requiring masks in mask zones. In our efforts to welcome you back to the Gardens, we have taken every precaution in meeting CDC recommendations by enabling social distancing, foot traffic directional patterns and hand sanitizing stations. Additionally, we will close for cleaning and sanitization between our timed ticketing increments,” explained the new executive director of the Wonder Gardens, David Rahahe•¸ tih Webb. “We look forward to welcoming you back to the Wonder Gardens and celebrating safely, together,” said Mr. Webb.

The Gardens’ Wonder Shoppe is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and masks are required inside the shop. To guarantee your day and time, book your tickets in advance online at www.evergladeswondergardens.com Walk-up guests are welcome but not guaranteed entry to the Gardens.

Left: A pair of rainbow lorikeets share a perch.

Left: A pair of rainbow lorikeets share a perch.

Timed ticketing increments are 10-11:30 a.m.; Noon-1:30 p.m., and 2-3:30 p.m.

An 83-year-old cultural icon and designated historic resource of the City of Bonita Springs, the Everglades Wonder Gardens is a community centerpiece that has provided generations of Floridians and visitors the opportunity to experience rare and exotic plants and wildlife. In 2014, Bonita Wonder Gardens, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization formed to purchase and operate the Everglades Wonder Gardens. For more information, visit www.evergladeswondergardens.com. ¦

One response to “You’re invited: Everglades Wonder Gardens celebrates reopening”

  1. Bill Hopmann says:

    thanks for your article on the Everglades Wonder Gardens in Bonita Springs.

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