Kendall Little | Naples Daily News
Did you know there’s a second zoo in Southwest Florida? The Naples Zoo is a popular and known spot to spend an afternoon, but Wonder Gardens in Bonita Springs tends to be overlooked.
Wonder Gardens has been operational for 90 years, bringing family fun to Bonita Springs in the form of animal encounters and education.
You’ll find rescued, rehabilitated, and non-releasable animals like alligators, flamingos, macaws, pythons, turtles and pheasants inside the facility. If you want to take part in an animal encounter, make sure to wear close-toe shoes and book a date online at wondergardens.org.
ADDRESS: 27180 Old 41 Road, Bonita Springs
HOURS: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. with last admission at 3 p.m.
PHONE: (239) 992-2591
ADMISSION:
Adults (13-64): $17
Children (3-12): $12
Seniors (65+): $15
Children under 3: Free
From naplesnews.com.
Are you looking for a home in the Naples, Florida area? Contact David at David@DavidFlorida.com or 239-285-1086.
Mark H. Bickel | Naples Daily News
A Naples home is No. 1 on the list for most expensive single-family property transfers in Collier County from May 1-31.
The property, located at 950 Admiralty Parade E., sold for $16,550,000. It has five bedrooms and seven bathrooms.
Following are the Top 10 real estate sales in Collier County recorded for May 2025:(Data provided by Royal Shell Real Estate)
950 Admiralty Parade E., Naples
List price: $17,500,000
Sold price: $16,550,000
Neighborhood/Development: Port Royal
Size: 9,054 square feet
Year built: 2001
Days on market: 836
Amenities: Bayfront, Boat Dock/Lift, Private Pool/Spa, Built-In Grill
View: Bay, Mangroves
See what other properties are on the Collier County May Top 10 List.
Are you looking for a luxury home in the Bonita Springs – Naples, Florida area? Contact David at David@DavidFlorida.com or 239-285-1086.
Kendall Little | Naples Daily News
After years of planning, the Pelican Bay Foundation presented its $6 million Pelican Bay Community Park upgrades to the Collier County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday.
The upgrades to the park include 20 new pickleball courts, eight refurbished clay tennis courts, an extended parking lot, concessions, and a new ADA-compliant playground. Half of the pickleball courts and three tennis courts would be reserved for Pelican Bay residential use. County residents can pay to play on the other courts.
Members of the private residential neighborhood Pelican Bay have been divided on the project since it began, with some supporting the upgrades and some calling for a complete stop.
After a few changes to alcohol and fee plans, the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) decided to approve the agreement with the Pelican Bay Foundation.
Alcohol: Now only for tournaments and events
As of Aug. 18, the proposed agreement between the Foundation and the county stated the park could sell alcohol within a fenced-in area.
But at Tuesday’s BOCC meeting, Foundation members announced they changed their plans. Now alcohol will only be sold at tournaments and special events after obtaining a permit.
See the plans and read more details on naplesnews.com.
Find a home in Southwest Florida. Contact David at David@DavidFlorida.com or 239-285-1086.
Mark H. Bickel | Fort Myers News-Press
It was a record year for Southwest Florida International Airport for total number of passengers who traveled to and from the Fort Myers airport.
Last week it was reported that RSW finished 2022 with 10,343,802 passengers, eclipsing the previous record set in 2021.
Taking it one step further, the airport has shared the 2022 rankings for the commercial airlines that have routes in and out of RSW. It’s not a competition. There is no trophy awarded that we are aware of, but it is something travelers might find interesting to know as they pass the time in the terminal waiting to take off or waiting for a loved one to arrive.
Delta heads the lineup.
Read the full article on news-press.com.
Are you flying in to Southwest Florida International Airport soon? Contact David to find your home in Southwest Florida. Email or call David@DavidFlorida.com or 239-285-1086.
Dave Osborn, Diana Biederman | Naples Daily News
The 2023 Naples Winter Wine Festival live auction Saturday generated millions of dollars at The Ritz-Carlton Naples, Tiburon.
Last year, the Naples Children & Education Foundation awarded more than $22.6 million to 50 Collier County nonprofits supporting underprivileged and at-risk children. The foundation is the founding organization of the Wine Festival, which raised more than $23 million last year, the majority of which was collecting from live bidding of auction lots Jan. 29, 2022.
The fundraiser, since its 2001 inception, has raised nearly $270 million for the foundation.
Here’s the lots and their winning bids:
Lot 1: An Ode to Krug Clos du Mesnil
Two twosomes scored a four-day trip to Champagne and Krug Clos du Mesnil vineyard. The lot includes a visit and vertical tasting of Clos du Mesnil plus an “in the middle of the vineyards” lunch experience. Chef Arnaud Lallement of the Michelin-starred L’Assiette Champenoise will prepare a private dinner, followed by a musical experience in the Krug Yurt….
Sold for: $260,000
Lot 2: King of the Road and Prince of the Cellar
The lucky winner owns a completely restored 1968 Vintage Ford Bronco with a new steel body finished in “Naples Cabernet Reserve Red” and a custom oak leather interior with diamond stitching…and a collection of 25 large format bottles from each of the 2023 Naples Winter Wine Festival’s participating vintners.
Sold for: $480,000
Lot 3: Test Your Vintner’s Palate at the Napa Valley Reserve
One couple’s dream of becoming vintners comes true with a membership to Napa Valley Reserve plus six cases of Napa Valley Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon. Visit the winery, work the harvest and get involved in blending. …Accommodations at Meadowood Napa Valley and dinner at The French Laundry round out this experience. Business class airfare from Fort Lauderdale to San Francisco is included for four.
Sold for: $180,000
Read all about the 50 lots sold and see photos and video on naplesnews.com
Contact David to find your new home in Southwest Florida. Email or call David@DavidFlorida.com or 239-285-1086.
Phil Fernandez | Naples Daily News
It’s a question many have been asking about Captiva’s South Seas Island Resort ‒ like Naples resident Charles A. Turner this week:
“When are they projecting to reopen?”
In what’s been described as a close to billion-dollar battering by Hurricane Ian, the storied South Seas Island Resort has set sail for a September reopening.
That would put it close to the one-year mark of the earth-shattering storm that slammed Southwest Florida Sept. 28.
“We estimate we had eight-and-a-half feet of storm surge,” said Greg Spencer, CEO of Winter Park-based Timbers Resorts, the compound’s owner since 2021. “We took a pretty good hit. Almost every building on the property needs a new roof.”
The targeted date wouldn’t be lost on Spencer, who first talked last year of Ian’s timing.
“Ironically, our one-year anniversary was the day the storm hit,” said Spencer, who referenced the renovation price tag. “We estimate it’s going to be anywhere from $800 million to a billion.”
Read the full article on naplesnews.com
Contact David to find your new home in Southwest Florida. at David@DavidFlorida.com or 239-285-1086.
