Monday, November 18, 2013

Everglades Wonder Gardens


The Wonder Gardens were an old-style Florida attraction operated for 77 years by one family.  It closed last year and the animals have been sent to other locations.  A local photographer is 
working to re-open the Wonder Gardens, while the family is trying to sell it and 
the city of Bonita Springs is considering whether to buy it.



This post is linked to Monday Murals.

24 comments:

EG CameraGirl said...

I wonder what 21st-century families think about old-style attractions. It could be a money-losing venture for the city of Bonita Springs...but maybe not.

Luis Gomez said...

Wonderful mural Jack. Hopefully it will be re-open.

Dave-CostaRicaDailyPhoto.com said...

A throwback to an earlier era of family entertainment.

Tanya Breese said...

aw that's a bummer...hope they are able to reopen it...love the mural!

Sharon said...

I have childhood memories of thing we did in the Everglades. The glass bottom boats stands out more than anything else.

Taken For Granted said...

I remember stopping there with my parents on our drives to Florida. Sorry to hear it closed. Just another part of my childhood gone.

PerthDailyPhoto said...

I have mixed feelings on this subject Jack, its like zoos..they're good in that they let people see animals they would otherwise never get to see and as much as I love taking photos there, there's just something .....

Sylvia K said...

I tend to have mixed feelings, too. I love being able to see animals that I wouldn't be able to see without zoos, etc. But I hate to see animals caged. That's one thing I really like about the zoo in Seattle, no cages mostly fenced in grassy areas so they could roam. The cats/lions and such were caged and yet their enclosures didn't look like a cage!! Wonderful place!! Hope your week is off to a great start, Jack! Enjoy!!

Anonymous said...

Hopefully it re-opens... but still the private family should have the choice to do with their property as they wish...

Malyss said...

I'm with Gracie about what to think about animals shown in such places .This being said, the mural is old fashion and attractive.

VP said...

Love the ad, but I am not sure about the rest...

William Kendall said...

It definitely feels like a throwback to an earlier era.

I'm of mixed feelings too... if the animals are given room to move about, a zoo might be okay, but if not... I'd have problems with it.

RedPat said...

It often seemed that the animals in those smaller places were quite tiny and thankfully that kind of thing is no longer very popular. It would be nice if they could reopen as a garden or something similar.

LOLfromPasa said...

Super mural but I am going to agree with many above...not sure about the zoo idea. Hope the decision on its future is the right one.

cieldequimper said...

Very mixed feelings here...

jennyfreckles said...

Commendable that one family ran it for so long - but it does seem a bit retro now. Gardens, yes, but not zoos.

Randy said...

Nice mural.

Kay said...

Sequim has an attraction like this - Olympic Game Farm - originally set up by a man who did animal training for Disney. It has long been popular, though toward the end of the founder's life it began to get a little frayed at the edges. His grandson now runs it and more energy has gone back into it. It seems to be a good family tour.

Cezar and Léia said...

Very beautiful! Lot's of cool detail in this mural!
Léia

Andy said...

There's also attractions in my part of Canada that have closed. Sometimes the municipalities buy them up but that plan doesn't seem to work too well.

Kate said...

Time marches on yet I dislike seeing a family business dismantled in our fast-paced world.

Oakland Daily Photo said...

Uh oh, does that mean Big Joe's closed too? Even if the Wonder Garden can't be saved, maybe someone will think to preserve the mural as a nostalgic momento. Thanks, Jack, for contributing to this week's Monday Mural.

Unknown said...

If the animals were given the right conditions it's a pity the place has been closed.

CaT said...

looks like quite an old sign!
and to me, very american... :)