The Edison and Ford Winter Estates: Ft. Myers Florida
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Visit the gardens, historic homes, and museum on your next visit to Fort Myers, Florida.
Visiting The Edison and Ford Winter Estates: (Jump To)
How to get to the Edison and Ford Winter Estates from Fort Meyers
Should You Book a Tour Guide for The Edison and Ford Winter Estates?
Can You Visit the Edison and Ford Winter Estates in the Rain?
How Much Does it Cost To Visit the Edison and Ford Winter Estates?
Is the Edison and Ford Winter Estates Open Since the Hurricane?
How To Get to the Edison and Ford Winter Estates From Fort Meyers
A visit to the Edison and Ford Winter Estates is easy from central Fort Meyers. If you’re like me and don’t mind a little walking, you can easily get there on foot. Alternatively, you can ride the Fort Meyers tram or trolly to get there in under 10 minutes. The tram is free and runs during the peak tourist season, the trolly is just 75 cents. (Paid with exact change to the driver or you can use the LeeFare app to buy tickets on your smartphone).
If you have a car, you can use the free parking lot.
What To See at The Edison and Ford Winter Estates
The Edison and Ford Winter Estates have three key areas to explore, the historic homes, the botanical gardens, and the museum. The grounds are separated by McGregor Blvd, with the homes and the majority of the interesting botanical items on one side of the road with the museum, historic laboratory, garden shop, and cafe on the other side.
The estate contains the two historic homes of inventor Thomas Edison and car entrepreneur Henry Ford. The two men shared a love for Florida and a love for camping and outdoor exploration. Eventually, they decided to become neighbors on the shared Fort Meyers estate.
While preparing for the visit was concerned to learn that you can’t go inside either of the homes. Fortunately, they do a great job of displaying both historic homes from the exterior. The homes have many windows and visitors are allowed to peer inside in a way that makes it possible to see much of the interior. If going inside is a must for you, twice-weekly interior guided tours are available. Visit their website for more information.
Throughout the property are numerous rare and exotic plants. Both men spent time trying to research a new way to produce rubber domestically. Many of the plants were brought to the grounds as a way to experiment to discover a rubber alternative.
The museum has a great collection of vintage automobiles and numerous models and inventions patented by Edison. There is much to see inside, I spent over an hour there.
Outside the museum is the laboratory. It’s a very impressive piece of history, but there is not much to see inside. Visitors can take a quick walkthrough on their way out.
Should You Book a Tour Guide for The Edison and Ford Winter Estates?
Guided tours of the estate are offered daily on a first-come, first-serve basis. Additional specific tours are offered on a scheduled weekly basis or by booking in advance. Options include a garden tour and an automobile tour.
The museum also provides a free audioguide via their app. You can download and listen to the audio descriptions as you make your way through the grounds
Can You Visit the Edison and Ford Winter Estates in the Rain?
A visit to the museum would be a great thing to do in the rain. However, visiting the homes and gardens would be a bad idea. The current policy is to close the outside areas if there is lightning in the area. It’s a shame there is not a “rainy day” ticket available for just the museum. They did mention that if my visit is rained out, they offer a ticket to come back another day.
How Much Does it Cost To Visit the Edison and Ford Winter Estates?
Tickets are currently USD$25 with discounts for children, including free admission for kids under five years old. The tickets are a little steep, but when you consider you get to see the museum, botanical garden, laboratories, and historic homes it becomes a better deal.
I spent just over two hours visiting the grounds and museum. A rainstorm was brewing, so I rushed a little toward the end.
Is the Edison and Ford Winter Estates Open Since the Hurricane?
Yes. The museum and grounds are fully open with no noticeable changes. I’m sure they would appreciate your visit as the area continues to bounce back from the hurricane.
Overall, I had a great visit to The Edison and Ford Winter Estates. I recommend you make time for it during your next visit to Fort Myers.
