Wonder Gardens to host 90th birthday celebration
Wonder Gardens to host 90th birthday celebration
Two-day event supports the future of the historic Bonita Springs wildlife and botanical sanctuary
BONITA SPRINGS, Fla. (Dec. 19th, 2025) — Wonder Gardens celebrates 90 years with a two-day weekend event, renewing the wonder and nostalgia for all.
The Night of Wonder will take place at Wonder Gardens from 6–9 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 31, at 27180 Old 41 Road, Bonita Springs, FL. VIP ticket holders can enjoy an early reception starting at 5 p.m. Tickets are $250 each or $500 for VIPs available now. The evening will take guests on a journey through the gardens, featuring local restaurant vendors, live entertainment, wildlife encounters, a mystery auction, and a Fund the Future Paddle Raise. Guests can also participate in a wine pull, hosted by Gulf Coast News anchor Peter Busch, with Shannon Livingston serving as auctioneer.
Following The Night of Wonder, the Family Fun Day event will take place the next day, Saturday, Feb. 1, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. This all-ages community celebration will feature hands-on activities, local entertainment, vendors, games, animal interactions and food and refreshments.
The Wonder Gardens hopes the event will engage both legacy supporters and a new generation of donors in support of its $1 million fundraising goal. The organization is also proud to announce its sponsors and local restaurant partners.
Event Marketing Grant Sponsor:
• Lee County Visitors and Convention Bureau.
Restaurant Partners:
• Tanglewood: A Southern Kitchen, WHOOOPSIEEEE On Wheels, FC Inland, BCN Paellas, Artichoke & Company, Zorba’s Mediterranean Grille & Bar, Enzo’s Italian Restaurant & Bar, Lujacks All-American Grill, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen, Simply Elegant Concierge and Sizzle Dining.
Terrific Toucan Sponsors – $ 5,000
• Billy the Bee Foundation, Inc., London Bay Development Group, Wintrust Banking Center Bonita Springs, The Perry Hotel Naples and FineMark National Bank & Trust.
Amazing Alligator Sponsors – $2,500
• Barron Collier Companies, Bonita Springs Utilities, CAPREIT, Rehmann, Sugarshack Downtown, Sam Sells Bonita, LMCU, Gotcha Covered, Marjorie Rubacky and Julie Pedretti.
Local Roots Sponsors – $1,000
• Brennan Manna Diamond, Complete Construction Group, Golisano Children’s Hospital, Oak Creek Charter School, Gail Markham and Gary Price.
In-Kind Sponsors:
• City of Bonita Springs, TLC Marketing & Creative Services, The SWFL Home Group | Coldwell Banker Realty, Print Spark, Flaire Creative, Ceremony Brewing, Rooftop at Riverside, Hyatt Coconut Point and Naples Transportation and Tours.
Entertainment Partners: Rewind Band, World Ukulele Day Bonita Springs and SWFL Living History.
Media Sponsors: èBELLA Magazine, Life in Naples Magazine, Gulfshore Life, Florida Public Media, Naples Trolley Tours and Visit Naples.
There are sponsorship packages still available for the Night of Wonder and Family Fun Day celebration. Visit https://wondergardens.org/90th-celebration/ for more information.
About Wonder Gardens
The Wonder Gardens is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) wildlife sanctuary in Bonita Springs, Florida. It was originally founded by Bill and Lester Piper in 1936 as The Reptile Gardens, a roadside attraction along the newly built Tamiami Trail. As animal and botanical exhibits grew, the attraction was renamed to The Wonder Gardens. In April of 2013, the Piper family closed the Wonder Gardens and local photographer and conservationist John Brady took over as a tenant and reopened the park and established 501(c)(3), Bonita Wonder Gardens along with Ellie Krier. Today under executive director Neil Anderson, The Wonder Gardens is home to a wide range of exotic animals. The organization is supported by the community through donations, sponsors, educational partnerships and memberships. For more information, visit https://wondergardens.org/. The organization has accounts on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
