Garren Grup, REALTOR, CDPE, GRI… Naples & Bonita Springs, FL

For thousands of years, Southwest Florida's Calusa Indians paddled the rivers and back bays of this area. These earliest residents were stewards of the land and fierce warriors (Calusa means "the fierce people"). The tribe lived nomadically off the lands, always staying close to a river known as Surveyor's Creek, which they believed had the power to heal the sick. The Calusa way of life was changed forever with the arrival of Ponce De Leon during the Spanish exploration, and by the 18th century, the tribe was gone altogether. Through a combination of war, disease and dissemination (evidence suggests that the Calusa who remained either fled to Cuba or were absorbed into other Florida tribes). Much of what we know about this enigmatic aboriginal culture has been gleaned through the Spaniards' documents, as well as its art, unique painted pottery and impressive shell mounds, which still survive today.

The area was all but forgotten as the country fought a civil war and expanded westward, until the 1880's. During that time, Braxton B. Coomer purchased 6,000 acres of land and opened a pineapple, banana, and coconut plantation. With the addition of workers from the north, the largely unpopulated area began to flourish and was transformed into a community called Survey.

Within a few years, Survey developed from a scattering of homesteaders into a community; in 1887 a small, thatched-roof, log-walled public school was built, and by 1910 the two story, frame Eagle Hotel was in business catering to visitors attracted to the unspoiled area's bounty of hunting and fishing. At this time there were no roads to Survey, so the only way to reach the remote community was by water.

The biggest catalyst in the evolution of the region came in 1912, when J. Henry Ragsdale bought 2,400 acres of land around Survey. He believed that the name Survey lacked appeal and changed the name of the area to Bonita Springs in order to attract new residents, Indian Spring Branch became Oak River; and Surveyor's Creek was upgraded to Imperial River. His purchase also led to the addition of railroads and a highway system, dubbed the Tamiami Trail because it connected Tampa to Miami. With its completion, Southwest Florida was connected via roadway to the rest of the country.

By the early 1920's, Barron Collier, in his thrust to expand his empire, had extended his Fort Myers-Southern Railroad to include Bonita Springs which, with his new Tamiami Trail, brought another land boom to the area. And one more old name disappeared when Fiddlerville, so called for its millions of tiny fiddler crabs became Bonita Beach.

New attractions helped bring more visitors to Bonita Springs. At Everglades Wonder Gardens, Bill and Lester Piper displayed panthers, bears, and other native Florida animals and supplied rare animals to the Chicago Zoo. A Canadian, Harold Crant, saw the millions of shells lying, free for the taking, knee-deep in brilliantly colored windrows along the beaches and opened the Shell Factory. The factory burned down in the early 40's but was rebuilt later in North Fort Myers.

As the years passed the U.S.41 Bypass and I-75 corridors opened up more access that brought shopping malls, modern office facilities, and outstanding golf courses into the area.

Today, Bonita Springs is an attractive area with beautiful beaches, fine restaurants, and excellent recreational facilities and has become another flourishing Southwest Florida city. Akin to its neighbors a few miles north in Estero, Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Sanibel Island & Captive Island and its southern neighbors, Naples & Marco Island the region defined as Southwest Florida continues to be not only beautiful but in 2004 was the smallest city ranked as one of the top 10 tourist destinations in the U.S. It is hard to believe that, a little more than three generations ago, the roots of this thriving community were a scattering of homesteaders' shacks by a creek in the back of nowhere - a place called Survey.

Come explore this beautiful destination and enjoy the beautiful white sand beaches, boating, fishing, golfing, shopping and fine dining that is so abundant in this area.

Garren Grup, REALTOR®...

Noteworty Results in Bonita Springs , Estero & Naples!

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3 Distinctly Different Amenity options to Enjoy:

1. Golfing
2. Dining
3. Spa, Fitness & Tennis Center

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Garren Grup, REALTOR®...

Noteworty Results in Bonita Springs , Estero & Naples!