A must for first-time visitors to this stretch of the Florida coast, the Edison and Ford Winter Estates rank among Fort Myers’ most popular attractions. Choose a self-guided tour with help from the free Edison Ford app, or an hour-long historian-led walk through the estates. Tickets give you access to the homes, the museum, and the Edison Botanic Research Laboratory.
Themed tours focus on topics like the Edison Ford automobile collection or closed-off areas of the winter estate homes, and sightseeing cruises along the Caloosahatchee River depart from the on-site marina.
Tours are available in English, Spanish, French, and German.
Most visitors spend two to three hours at the estates and gardens.
The estates are accessible to wheelchairs and strollers, and wheelchairs are available to use for free.
The Edison and Ford Winter Estates are centrally located in the Fort Myers River District, within easy walking distance of several other top attractions. Free parking is available.
The grounds are usually open daily, except on Thanksgiving and Christmas. During the holiday season, the estates host a popular display, complete with twinkling lights and historic decorations.
A highlight of the property is the Edison Botanic Research Laboratory, where Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, and Harvey Firestone once worked on a project to grow and produce rubber in the United States. Much of the lab remains as it was, including the chemical processing area, machine shop, and darkroom.