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.
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.
ReplyDeleteWonderful mural Jack. Hopefully it will be re-open.
ReplyDeleteA throwback to an earlier era of family entertainment.
ReplyDeleteaw that's a bummer...hope they are able to reopen it...love the mural!
ReplyDeleteI have childhood memories of thing we did in the Everglades. The glass bottom boats stands out more than anything else.
ReplyDeleteI remember stopping there with my parents on our drives to Florida. Sorry to hear it closed. Just another part of my childhood gone.
ReplyDeleteI 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 .....
ReplyDeleteI 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!!
ReplyDeleteHopefully it re-opens... but still the private family should have the choice to do with their property as they wish...
ReplyDeleteI'm with Gracie about what to think about animals shown in such places .This being said, the mural is old fashion and attractive.
ReplyDeleteLove the ad, but I am not sure about the rest...
ReplyDeleteIt definitely feels like a throwback to an earlier era.
ReplyDeleteI'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.
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.
ReplyDeleteSuper 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.
ReplyDeleteVery mixed feelings here...
ReplyDeleteCommendable that one family ran it for so long - but it does seem a bit retro now. Gardens, yes, but not zoos.
ReplyDeleteNice mural.
ReplyDeleteSequim 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.
ReplyDeleteVery beautiful! Lot's of cool detail in this mural!
ReplyDeleteLéia
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.
ReplyDeleteTime marches on yet I dislike seeing a family business dismantled in our fast-paced world.
ReplyDeleteUh 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.
ReplyDeleteIf the animals were given the right conditions it's a pity the place has been closed.
ReplyDeletelooks like quite an old sign!
ReplyDeleteand to me, very american... :)