Flamingo

Old Florida Gems: Edison, Ford and Flamingos

Bob GibsonUncategorized
Memories of Old Florida Roadside Attractions: Thanks to the City of Bonita Springs for rescuing and operating Everglades Wonder Gardens which first opened as a reptile park in 1936.
A glimpse of Florida pioneer life: The meticulously preserved Edison and Ford Winter Homes date from 1885 when Thomas Edison and his good friends built vacation homes in Fort Meyers. Edison’s home, gardens, and lab tell the story of the inventions that changed the world, his love of the Florida wilderness, and his friendships with Henry Ford and Harvey Firestone.

Florida’s pre-Disney roadside attractions were mostly family run zoos highlighting deadly reptiles and exotic birds.
On Highway 80 from West Palm to Ft. Meyers, the coastal sprawl runs out twenty miles inland and lush green farmland takes over–with sugar cane, corn and vegetables dominating the roadside views surrounding Clewiston and Belle Glade. The Old Florida towns Alva and LaBelle are charming stops for fresh breakfast, citrus and home grown honey.

The illustrations in this article were taken on locations that still exist today. Period scale model automobiles (toys) and forced perspective photography were used to re-create memories of a vintage Florida roadtrip. The Flamingo is real, and fifty-six years young according to the friendly staff at Everglades Wonder Gardens.