Hotel Blog

Visit the Historic Edison & Ford Winter Estates

• June 05, 2014

Enrich your stay at Fort Myers BEST WESTERN PLUS Beach Resort this spring by visiting the historic winter residences of American visionaries, Thomas Edison and Henry Ford.  This pastoral site dates from 1885, when Thomas Edison visited Florida and purchased property to construct a vacation home.
 

 
Open from 9:30am to 5:30pm daily, visitors enjoy access to Edison and Ford’s historic summer homes, of which there are nine buildings to visit in total.   Wandering the spacious rooms, one is immersed in the architecture and style of the late Victorian period.  From the homes, visitors enjoy quaint views of the Caloosahatchee River. 
 
The site also houses over 20 acres of award winning botanical gardens.  Originally constructed as an experimental garden for the production of industrial products, the garden now houses over 1000 varieties of exotic plants from around the world, including the stunning African Sausage Tree. 
 

A museum filled with unique historical and scientific artifacts is a must-see at the Edison and Ford Winter Estates.  Of particular interest are exhibits that detail Edison’s world changing inventions, including the telegraph, telephone and x-ray machine. 
 
An intriguing exhibit documents the adventures of Edison, Ford and a handful of other influential Americans, as they camped throughout Florida and the United States, travelling in Ford’s original Model T.
 
Looking for accommodation to visit the Edison and Ford Winter Estates in Fort Myers Beach?  Come and be our guest at the Best Western Plus Beach Resort Hotel.  Get an early start in the morning by taking advantage of our generous complimentary breakfast and then relax an unwind after your visit to the Edison & Ford Estate at our outdoor heated pool.  Book your stay today!