What are the opening hours?

Monday 9am - 4pm Tuesday 9am - 4pm Wednesday 9am - 4pm Thursday 9am - 4pm Friday 9am - 4pm Saturday 9am - 4pm Sunday 9am - 4pm

Wonder Gardens

Fun, immersive, and interactive for all ages...come and experience Wonder! Zoological park & gardens Our current Hours are 9AM-2PM.
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We are open daily (except on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter Sunday). Admission is $12.00 for adults 13-64, $10.00 for seniors 65 and older, and $7.00 for children 3-12. Please consider the purchase of a membership and get unlimited free admission, reciprocal programs, and a 20% discount in the Wonder Shoppe. THE PAST
In 1936, the Piper family established The Reptile Gardens as a roadside attr

action 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. In April of 2013, the Pipers closed the Wonder Gardens, and local photographer and conservationist John Brady took over the property as a tenant and reopened the park. With the help of Ellie Krier, they started the formation of the non-profit 501(c)(3), Bonita Wonder Gardens. In July of 2015, the City of Bonita Springs recognized the economic, cultural, and historic value of this zoological and botanical attraction, and made a loan, enabling the nonprofit to purchase the 3-acre property and assets from the Piper family, saving it from potential commercial development. The property was later purchased by the City of Bonita Springs, while our charitable organization continues to manage all operations. Thus, began a new chapter of our public-private partnership to save this beloved attraction. THE PRESENT – YOUR WONDER GARDENS! Today, under the leadership of our Executive Director, Neil Anderson, and our board of directors, 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 in historic Downtown Bonita Springs. A historic icon, the Wonder Gardens stands as one of the few remaining cornerstones of Old Florida. Here, we tell a story of The Wonder Gardens’ past, present, and future, while educating our region about our environment and wildlife. Throughout its history, the Wonder Gardens has been supported by the community. Our partnerships with educational partners and businesses have allowed us to be contributing members of redeveloped and growing Bonita Springs. Visitors and Annual Memberships help us provide professional and high-quality care to our resident animals. Generous donor support allows us to improve and expand our exhibits. If SWFL area residents have not visited in some time, we hope they will enjoy the gardens along with our record 105,000 visitors!

11/21/2024

Just a reminder to take a deep breath and appreciate the little things in life...
..and to take a trip to the Wonder Gardens soon😉

11/20/2024

Don't forget to grab your tickets to Wine & Wonder before they sell out! This is definitely an event you won't want to miss🍷✨

11/19/2024

Did you know that both of our Red-shouldered Hawks were rescued from the wild?

Dwayne and Maui both suffered injuries that caused them to lose the ability to regrown their flight feathers, which is critically important for their survival. While they are able to glide for a short distance, they are unable to fly long distance. Due to this, they were both deemed non-releasable and now reside at the Wonder Gardens permanently.

Be sure to visit them and see if you can hear their iconic call throughout the gardens!

11/18/2024

Join Team Wonder!

If you are interested in having amazing animals as coworkers and being part of a WONDERful team, then the Wonder Gardens is the place for you!

Please email resumes with similar qualifications mentioned above to [email protected] or apply via Indeed.com

11/17/2024

Happy Sunday! When is your next trip to the Wonder Gardens?

We're open everyday at 9:00AM until last admission at 3:00PM.

See you soon✨

11/16/2024

Don't forget that Santa will be here next Sunday for photos🎅 Spots are very limited, so be sure to book yours today!

Tickets🎟: https://wondergardens.org/product/pictures-with-santa/

11/15/2024

Shake those tail feathers because it's almost the weekend!

11/14/2024

Help us make a difference in the lives of our animals this holiday season!

Our Amazon Wishlist is filled with items that our zookeepers can use to provide the best quality care for our animals. We also have items on there that help support or education department and the many programs they teach throughout the community.

Please consider helping us by donating now: https://a.co/eONVQxA

11/13/2024

Happy World Kindness Day from all of us here at the Wonder Gardens! We appreciate each and every one of you everyday❣️

11/12/2024

Join us for an unforgettable night of wine🍷, wonder✨, & fun🥳

Be sure to get your tickets today!

11/11/2024

Today and every day, we appreciate the selfless individuals who have served in our military. Thank you for sacrifices you have made on behalf of our country.

In honor of Veteran's Day, we are offering free admission to veterans and active duty military members today. To receive free admission, please present valid military ID or a membership card for a veteran’s organization with matching photo ID.

Millie the Military Macaw will be the first one to great you during your visit!

11/10/2024

Thelma is just popping in to say that the best cure for the end of weekend blues is a trip to the Wonder Gardens!

We're open everyday at 9:00AM with last admission at 3:00PM!

See you soon!

11/09/2024

Looking for the perfect gift for that animal lover in your life? Be sure to check out our animal paintings inside the Wonder Shoppe!

Animal enrichment is the process of providing animals with some form of stimulation in order to encourage natural behaviors, which helps to improve or maintain their physical and mental health. Painting introduces them to new textures and vibrant colors that they are able to move around and explore at their own pace.

All paint used is veterinarian approved and washed off once the enrichment session is complete.

11/08/2024

Have you ever wanted to get inside of a habitat to meet one of our resident animals up close?

Our Wild Wonders Encounter gives you the chance to go inside our Rainbow Lorikeet🦜 and African Spurred Tortoises🐢 enclosures to feed and interact with them!

These encounters occur once a day on select days, so make sure to book ahead of time to be part of this wonderful experience✨

For more details & to book follow the link below:
https://wondergardens.org/product/wild-wonders/

11/07/2024

Wanda just wanted to stop by and tell everyone to keep going strong because the weekend is almost here!

11/06/2024

Did you know that Violet Turacos have fourth toe that rotates backward? This helps to give them a better grip when perching. See if you can spot it the next time you're here at the Wonder Gardens!

📸: Zookeeper Melissa

11/05/2024

Thank you to the Alzheimer's Support Network of Naples, for coming out yesterday to meet and greet our African spurred tortoises and prepare a delicious harvest-themed treat! This experience is part of our "Flourish, Nourish, Cultivate, Connect" program, a sensory-rich hands-on experience that connects people, plants, and animals for mutual wellbeing.

Contact [email protected] if you are interested in sponsoring or booking a program for your group.

11/04/2024

Next time you're visiting, be sure to check out our newly renovated space inside the Wonder Shoppe! You'll be transported through the history of the Wonder Gardens while visiting some new reptilian faces. Let us know what you think on your next visit!

Address

27180 Old 41 Road
Bonita Springs, FL
34135

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 4pm
Tuesday	9am - 4pm
Wednesday	9am - 4pm
Thursday	9am - 4pm
Friday	9am - 4pm
Saturday	9am - 4pm
Sunday	9am - 4pm

Telephone

(239) 992-2591

Website

http://www.wondergardens.org/

Alerts

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Videos

Support the Wonder Gardens and Rooftop at Riverside with our first-ever ongoing fundraiser! 🌿✨ Visit Rooftop and add a donation to your tab to make a difference. Plus, don’t miss out—on select nights, Wonder Gardens will be there with ambassador animals! 🐢 Enjoy the view, meet some amazing creatures, and contribute to a great cause. #WonderGardens #RooftopAtRiverside #OngoingFundraiser #GiveBack #supportlocal

Just another day in the life of a slippery slider! 🐢💦 Watch this aquatic turtle show off its moves around its habitat! #TurtleLife #AquaticAdventures #ShellSliding

Have you heard any funny noises when walking by our alligator pond? Well it’s mating season for the American Alligator and these males will bloat with air then let it out in a rumble that causes the water over its back to look like it is vibrating. It’s important to always give alligators their space when you encounter them in their natural environment, especially if you hear this loud bellowing!”

Happy Earth Day! Make sure to get out and enjoy nature! The world is full of Wonder!

Kiwi cooling off on a hot SWFL day! Happy St.Patty’s day from the Wonder Gardens!

*DISCLAIMER!! Snake feeding shown below* Check out our Burmese Python, Pan, demonstrating the perfect strike during his feeding! All of the carnivores at the Wonder Gardens receive frozen thawed protein sources as this prevents any potential injuries to them during feedings. Right now Pan measures over 8 feet long and weighs around 50 pounds! While this may seem large, he still has quite a ways to go as adult Burmese pythons can get up to 20 feet long when fully grown! #snakefeeding #animaleducation #feedingdemonstration #burmesepython #invasivespecies #environmentaleducation

Our Wild Wonders Animal Encounters are a great way to experience the Wonder we have to offer right in the heart of Bonita Springs! Thanks to our wonderful volunteer, Joe for creating this beautiful video!

Wine & Wonder Uncorked VCB Webcam Footage

Check out this amazing time-lapse of our first annual Wine & Wonder; Uncorked wine-tasting event from the @visitfortmyers live webcam feed of our beautiful gardens! You can view the live webcam at https://www.visitfortmyers.com/webcams#bonita-springs

Kiwi wanted to stop in your feed! DYK Kiwi, our yellow-naped Amazon Parrot mimics a variety of phrases she heard over the years! In this video, she counts to 5! #amazonparrot #swflfun #bonitaspringsfl #evergladeswondergardens #conservation

Who do you relate to the most? 🐢 #zookeepers #zoo #florida #turtles #macaws #animals #zookeeper #zookeeperlife #zoolife

This July, say no to single use plastics! #plasticfree #plasticfreejuly #turtles #conservation #zoo #florida #floridazoo #sustainability #sustainable #education

Shortcuts

Our Story

Admission is $12.00 for adults 13-64, $10.00 for seniors 65 and older, and $7.00 for children 3-12. Open Monday-Sunday from 10 am - 4 pm, except Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. This cultural icon has been a focal point of Bonita Springs first started as a facility to rehabilitate injured animals. The gardens remained with the original owners for over 78 years and has been non profit since 2015. It has become a place for visitors to enjoy the botanical gardens and see wildlife in an intimate way, something that modern parks cannot provide. The modern Everglades Wonder Gardens focuses on interactive and immersive experiences, some of our wildlife includes beautiful birds, large alligators, reptiles (including a 16 ft python), a flamboyance of flamingos. A mature botanical garden, which has some of the most exotic specimens from around the planet. The Gardens appeal to the many visitors who frequent Southwest Florida from all over the world, as well as the local community and its residents. Follow us on Twitter as @WonderGardensFL, on LInkedIn and on our YouTube Channel, http://www.youtube.com/user/WonderGardensFlorida. Sign up to be on our email list at http://bit.ly/1xx4W0f.