The Wonder Gardens
The Wonder Gardens
4
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
About
In 1936, the Piper family established The Reptile Gardens as a roadside attraction along the newly built Tamiami Trail from Tampa to Miami. As the animal and botanical exhibits grew, the attraction’s name was changed to the Everglades Wonder Gardens to appeal to visitors. The Wonder Gardens captured the nostalgia, history and wonder of old Florida, augmented with tropical flora and fauna from around the world. For nearly eighty-five years the Everglades Wonder Gardens has inspired, educated, and engaged our community and visitors with a one-of-a-kind experience. The Wonder Gardens is home to rescued and non-releasable birds and reptiles nestled among the sprawling banyan trees and plantings. While preserving the very best of The Wonder Gardens, the charitable organization cares for more than 300 resident animals, is upgrading wildlife enclosures, growing the botanical beauty of the property, adding education programs and events, and further engaging the community to enjoy this jewel i
Duration: 1-2 hours
Meets animal welfare guidelines
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See what travellers are saying
- Stuffl1 contributionA little disappointing!Visited with a group of friends. We were hoping to do the animal experience but it books up early. Desk staff was not particularly friendly or helpful. A nice little location but about 20-25% of the exhibits were closed. Would be nice to have better signage on some of the exhibits.Visited December 2023Travelled with friendsWritten 6 December 2023
- ncccyndi1Malvern, Ohio155 contributionsNice animal rescue gardenWent there on a beautiful Sunday morning. All the animals were active since in was cooler. Saw few flamingos and lots of parrots. This is an animal rescue park. Lots of turtles and gators. Small park with beautiful plants. Only complaint was that you couldn’t go into the lorikeet area without a special tour. Would suggest that you would charge for the food right there so everyone would have a chance to feed them if wanted. All in all nice little park/garden.Visited March 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 24 March 2024
- Dennis FFort Myers, Florida353 contributionsThumbs Up!Any place that's been around for over 85 years has had its ups and downs. We were there several years ago and clearly see this place is on a strong upward move. New exhibits are being built to expand the already-broad areas of animal and botanical specimens. It's well worth a visit and will leave you wanting to return.Visited August 2024Travelled with familyWritten 1 August 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
549 reviews
Excellent
258
Very good
176
Average
63
Poor
34
Terrible
18
Jules L
Saint Paul, MN9 contributions
Feb 2020
You do not want to miss this location! I hand fed birds, turkeys, flamigos and threw food to the alligators. I saw peacocks flume their feathers. In one area, if you have bought a 1 dollar ticket, for a small cup of sweet juice you will have parrots literally on your arm drinking the juice. Worth every penny of a small entrance fee. Little children were all around also feeding the animals. Honestly I did not want to leave.
Written 13 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sally280
Naples, FL41 contributions
Feb 2020
The best tea room is in Bonita? The very unique setting and the wonderfully prepared
delicacies make this the Best Tea Room, excuse me it should read, The Best Tea Pavilion.
This beautiful French Pavilion is on the grounds of the Everglades Wonder Garden in
Bonita. The Moe Family Tea Pavilion is air-conditioned for one's comfort along with tropical fans and a
chandelier hanging above white clothed tables. Fine china and intricately handmade
handmade tea treats with clotted cream are not only eye catching but delicious. Tea is served every Tuesday
and Thursday at 2 pm.
If time permits, one should also visit the Lorikeet Pavilion as well as the Butterfly Pavilion and
do not forget to feed the flamingoes.
delicacies make this the Best Tea Room, excuse me it should read, The Best Tea Pavilion.
This beautiful French Pavilion is on the grounds of the Everglades Wonder Garden in
Bonita. The Moe Family Tea Pavilion is air-conditioned for one's comfort along with tropical fans and a
chandelier hanging above white clothed tables. Fine china and intricately handmade
handmade tea treats with clotted cream are not only eye catching but delicious. Tea is served every Tuesday
and Thursday at 2 pm.
If time permits, one should also visit the Lorikeet Pavilion as well as the Butterfly Pavilion and
do not forget to feed the flamingoes.
Written 12 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
smokeylinks
Marco Island, FL38 contributions
Aug 2022
A small zoo of birds and alligators. The grounds are very nice. One of the parrots will attempt to sing "What a beautiful morning" if prompted. Some of the others are quick to say "hello". They are in the process to expand the exhibits, so we will be back to see what's new.
Written 7 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Michael G
Ludlow, United States47 contributions
Feb 2020
The wonder gardens remind me of the old tourist attractions that I remember from the 1950’s. There is a gift shop and a museum with older type displays. Apparently, the facility was damaged after a recent hurricane but they are recovering although a few exhibits are still empty.
The local animals such as Florida Panthers, black bear, racoons, etc. have been removed and the facility now contains snakes, gators, turtles, and lizards. There are many exhibits containing parrots, and macaws. Many birds such as ibises’ peacocks, and flamingos roam free and may be fed by hand with food purchased in the gift shop. A new Victorian type enclosure contains lorikeets which may be fed a nectar like substance from a cup. These are aggressive birds when feeding. A similar enclosure is used for the tea room.
The facility is under new leadership and is a non-profit some update may require some time. The grounds are covered with exotic local plants such as bamboo and orchids. The animal enclosures are somewhat crude but are being upgraded. Visitors must remember that this is not a zoo but an animal rescue facility.
My wife enjoyed feeding the flamingos and wandering the grounds. We spent approximately 2 hours there.
The local animals such as Florida Panthers, black bear, racoons, etc. have been removed and the facility now contains snakes, gators, turtles, and lizards. There are many exhibits containing parrots, and macaws. Many birds such as ibises’ peacocks, and flamingos roam free and may be fed by hand with food purchased in the gift shop. A new Victorian type enclosure contains lorikeets which may be fed a nectar like substance from a cup. These are aggressive birds when feeding. A similar enclosure is used for the tea room.
The facility is under new leadership and is a non-profit some update may require some time. The grounds are covered with exotic local plants such as bamboo and orchids. The animal enclosures are somewhat crude but are being upgraded. Visitors must remember that this is not a zoo but an animal rescue facility.
My wife enjoyed feeding the flamingos and wandering the grounds. We spent approximately 2 hours there.
Written 5 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
drbrds22
Orlando, FL216 contributions
Mar 2021
This is one of the old roadside attractions of yesteryears. It is very inexpensive, easy to access and fun for all ages and abilities. Don't be cheap. Purchase the $2 cups of food. Watch out for the turkeys--they will grab your cup and abscond with it! The flamingos were "fed up" by the time we arrived but were they ever beautiful! Many new exhibits are being built so it appears Everglades Wonder Gardens IS going to survive and THRIVE. Disregard the old reviews when the attraction was declining, this is true no more and you can ensure this by visiting the Everglades Wonder Gardens soon!
Written 19 March 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Parker Sturbridge
971 contributions
Jan 2020
This place evokes the old tourist attractions of the 1960's. After you go through a tacky gift shop (yes, plastic flamingos, alligator heads, etc.) and a bit of a worn out museum, guests are taken outside for a self-guided tour. Lots of flora and fauna around the area, along with alligators, snakes and turtles (all properly sequestered in their own habitats of course). Walk back to the flamingo pond where you can get flamingos to eat grains (provided at the gift shop) right out of your hands!!!! And yes, there is hand sanitizer for after. Lots of fun for kids and adults alike. They're doing a major renovation of the place, but there is still a lot to see. And the staff are super friendly.
Written 1 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ellen A
2 contributions
Apr 2021
My friend and I took 6 kids here and had a nice time. It's very user-friendly, kids had a good time. The $ for the amount of time we spent (if you calculate value in $/minute spent), was a bit too high. We spent an hour at this place. I would have loved for it to take a bit longer.
Written 14 April 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kenneth K
Wheaton, United States89 contributions
Feb 2021
Since our visit last year while visiting the area, there is a lot of remodeling and upgrading of the animal habits. Don't be discouraged that some areas are currently blocked off and under construction,as there are several new exhibits in the works including a bald eagle/raptor aviary, koi pond and parasols & parrots courtyard.
The Wonder Gardens have been around since the 1930's and is a unique place to see many tropical birds, reptiles, gators etc, Peacocks roam the grounds and you can feed the flamingos and other animals when available in a nice garden setting. The staff is great and one was telling me that they are in the process of developing educational programs. The Wonder Gardens is a wonderful place for kids and adults and it is very nice to see the improvements they are committed to.
The Wonder Gardens have been around since the 1930's and is a unique place to see many tropical birds, reptiles, gators etc, Peacocks roam the grounds and you can feed the flamingos and other animals when available in a nice garden setting. The staff is great and one was telling me that they are in the process of developing educational programs. The Wonder Gardens is a wonderful place for kids and adults and it is very nice to see the improvements they are committed to.
Written 13 February 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
briandlowery
Cleveland, OH10 contributions
Feb 2020
My husband and I enjoyed the grounds and all the wild life. It is amazing that they have recovered so quickly and well after storms created much chaos. The staff were very friendly.
We especially got a kick out of feeding the pink flamingos and larakeets. Be ready, when they know you have food, you are surrounded by eager bills but no worries, it didn't hurt.
The wild life were very well taken care of, even the alligators, which were named and noticed if they didn't surface for their food (chicken).
You can spend as much time as you want.
We especially got a kick out of feeding the pink flamingos and larakeets. Be ready, when they know you have food, you are surrounded by eager bills but no worries, it didn't hurt.
The wild life were very well taken care of, even the alligators, which were named and noticed if they didn't surface for their food (chicken).
You can spend as much time as you want.
Written 2 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Amyjane4321
Fort Myers, FL40 contributions
Oct 2020
What a cool place! The flamingos are amazing! They have absolutely gorgeous blue peacocks but also a really pretty white peacock, too! Lots of ducks, turtles and gators, too! The grounds are really pretty, as well, with lots of different plants including numerous bromeliads and orchids. They even have a butterfly garden! Most of the area is shaded by big, beautiful trees.
This is a great way to spend a couple of hours. They even offer some very inexpensive plants (bromeliads, bonsai, etc) for sale.
There's also enough space to be socially distant.
This is a great way to spend a couple of hours. They even offer some very inexpensive plants (bromeliads, bonsai, etc) for sale.
There's also enough space to be socially distant.
Written 12 October 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We are happy you enjoyed yourself! Please visit again soon !
Written 17 October 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Actually I see i’m their website that they are currently closed.
Written 8 August 2020
I think so. But it would be better to call them to make sure.
Written 8 June 2019
Prices are above....but don't forget to buy bags of food...I think $1 each....make sure you get some for the flamingos...and if you have older kids...the alligators. They are marked with picture on the bag
Written 4 May 2019
How does this experience compare to the Naples zoo? If you could only visit one, which would you choose?
Written 18 February 2019
Its a totally different experience. The Naples Zoo is very small. Not many large animals. The Botanical gardens doesnt have large animals, and is just what is says, a beautiful garden setting with a bonus of a few smaller animals and of course, alligators
Written 19 February 2019
How much walking is involved to feed the flamingos and see the attractions?
Written 9 February 2019
I’d say a moderate amount. There are sidewalks throughout the garden so those with mobility issues can use a wheelchair. It’s not a large place but if you want to experience each exhibit, you’ll have to walk a little.
Written 9 February 2019
Do you sell gift certificates? I’d like to buy tickets as a present.
Written 16 December 2018
I’m not sure, but if you give them gift cards they can use them for that or anything else. Hope this helps.
Written 16 December 2018
Adults 13-64 = $12
Seniors (65+) = $10
Children 3-12 = $7
Under 3 is free
They were undergoing a major renovation. But it was still worth the money to see the different exhibits
Written 31 July 2016
...if i'm reading correctly, i have to pay for a volunteer opportunities presentation...and then do i have to pay every time i come to the gardens to work as a volunteer???
Written 30 November 2015
Hello, sorry for the delayed response! Our volunteer presentations are free of charge as well as any day you volunteer. We are very appreciative of our volunteers. They are our greatest resource!
Written 7 December 2015
How far of a walk is it to the alligator pen?
My mother in law cannot walk too far and she would like to see the aligators.
Thank you.
Jack
Written 15 March 2015
Less than 50 yards and there are places to sit when you get there.
Written 15 March 2015
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