Old Florida Lee County roadside attraction sees new life after Hurricane Ian

Neil Anderson spent the majority of his lengthy zoological career in landlocked Wisconsin before becoming CEO of Wonder Gardens in Bonita Springs in August 2022. Just six weeks into his tenure, Hurricane Ian made landfall and a 3.5-foot storm surge from the nearby Imperial River flooded the 3-acre property. 

“You had to climb your way across the whole property. It really was a disaster in there,” Anderson reflects, “Where do you even begin?”

Approximately 15 staff members followed a hurricane plan to protect 180 rescued birds and reptiles at the nonprofit zoological park and botanical garden. “We put animals wherever you could think you could put them — from the bathrooms to up in the entrance building, the gift shop area, back in my office here in the administration building,” Anderson says. Even the flamingos managed to hitch a ride to a staff member's house to ride the storm out in their garage.