‘Seeing the true Florida’: Fundraising drive on to preserve unspoiled Collier acreage

Brittany Carloni
Naples Daily News

Bobbie Lee Davenport led 10 people on Sunday morning down a dirt trail lined with ferns and palm trees at the Naithoriendun Wildlife Sanctuary in rural Collier County.

The land had belonged to the late Bob Gore, a zoologist and conservationist who pieced together the nearly 200 acres surrounding his stilt home in Golden Gate Estates.

As Davenport led the group down the trail, she pointed out cypress trees and trail cameras that often capture photos of wildlife. She stopped the group at a gazebo along the trail where she said Gore would enjoy a glass of wine in the evenings.

Alexandra Sulecki, coordinator of the Conservation Collier Program, points out existing and planned trails to visitors during the soft opening of the Naithloriendun Sanctuary, also known as the Gore sanctuary, on Sunday, Nov. 18, 2018, in Golden Gate Estates.

Throughout the day people filtered into Naithloriendun from the gravel-topped 40th Avenue Southeast to see the property that belonged to Gore and hear the vision for its future.

“A lot of people are just finding out about this place,” Davenport said. “They need to hear the vision.”

Previous coverage:Proposed Bob Gore sanctuary in Golden Gate Estates to have open house

From 2017:Deal in works to put part of Bob Gore nature preserve in conservation group's hands

Davenport is president of the Cypress Cove Conservancy, which is raising funds to purchase the 10-acre parcel where Gore’s home stands and turn it into a nature center. The nonprofit has raised more than $60,000 and needs another $143,000 to complete the purchase, Davenport said.

The conservancy has a planned public-private partnership with Conservation Collier, which is planning to purchase 169 acres surrounding the Gore house.

Conservation Collier is scheduled to close on the 169 acres Monday, Nov. 19, said Alexandra Sulecki, coordinator of Conservation Collier.

Tom Mooney clears away foliage covering the huge "mother" cypress tree during the soft opening of the Naithloriendun Sanctuary, also known as the Gore sanctuary, on Sunday, Nov. 18, 2018, in Golden Gate Estates.

A nature center for education and community events

Plans for the property include turning the Gore home into a nature center for education and community events, Davenport said. Walking trails are planned throughout the property.

“We’re going to have the coolest nature center rivaled by none right here,” Davenport said.

The property can also be a service provider for Florida Gulf Coast University and Florida SouthWestern State College, Davenport said.

More:Happehatchee Center in Estero could come under Conservancy of Southwest Florida control

“There’s a huge educational component to some of the programs we’ll have here,” she said.

As funds are raised, volunteers continue to work on clearing walking trails, which were blocked with downed trees and branches after Hurricane Irma.

Bob Gore plays the guitar during one of the Forest Fests he would host at his Naithloriendun Wildlife Sanctuary in rural Collier County.

“We have a lot of work to do on the trails. We’re going to do major work once we own the place,” Davenport said.

The conservancy is prepared for this season and plans to get more people out to the sanctuary, Davenport said.

“We really need to raise the money this season,” she said. “Once the property is purchased, we can open the nature center.”

In the Gore house Sunday morning, musicians softly played guitar and piano. People walked through the rooms and ate snacks on the open-air porch overlooking the trees.

A chance ‘to see the true Florida’

Glee and Robert Finnegan, of East Naples, visited for the first time Sunday morning.

The couple love spending time in natural areas and are “always looking for new things,” Robert Finnegan said.

“I think it’s really beautiful,” Glee Finnegan said of Naithloriendun. “It would be lovely to have a place like this. This lets us come out and enjoy life in the Florida woods.”

Jean and Bill Burton drove from North Naples to see the sanctuary. They were inspired by Gore’s vision to preserve the area, Jean Burton said.

“I think it’s amazing. There is a lot of potential to see the true Florida here,” she said. “We have to be proactive and start preserving it.”

A gazebo where Bob Gore used to spend his evenings sits in a clearing along a trail during the soft opening of the Naithloriendun Sanctuary, also known as the Gore sanctuary, on Sunday, Nov. 18, 2018, in Golden Gate Estates.

Burton, who recently retired, said she is in search of new activities and places to explore. She said she would like to volunteer and help the property in the future.

“It’s a cause I believe in. You’re giving back to future generations,” she said.

Davenport, who knew Gore, said she was sure he was at the house in spirit Sunday. Framed photos of Gore throughout the years were placed on a table in the house.

“He would be jumping for joy because this is what he wanted,” Davenport said. “He wanted this land preserved.”