Coming of Age: Naples, Florida | Untold Stories | Florida History

[@gsaint-amour]

I was born in Naples in ‘77 and raised here. I miss the 80s and 90s Naples. Not so many communities, golf courses, and corporate franchises. The “mom and pop” shops & locally run restaurants/bars are almost all gone now. Updates over the last 15 years has taken the charm away and replaced it with rude and entitled snobs. No longer a friendly and relaxed beach town 😭

[@8.4V10]

I was born and raised in Naples in 99 and just over that small time I’ve noticed a huge change it’s not the same as it use to be. I still love it since it’s my hometown but it doesn’t feel like it used to anymore

[@MoMoMyPup10]

It's funny because I moved to Ft. Myers in 2006 and I've always been drawn to Naples _because_ of the charm and relaxing atmosphere 🤷‍♂....but I don't live there. My friend up north called it 'the Beverly Hills of the east coast' when she visited, and I guess that would explain the distaste you have. I just think that we get accustomed to the way things were and we throw out the baby with the bath water when it changes, not to our preference. Nostalgia is real and palpable, and the whole area has changed dramatically in the last few decades, but Naples is still a very beautiful city. At least everything _west_ of 41 😁

[@diodelvino3048]

i wish i was born in Naples earlier, but even i noticed the big changes especially with the lack of local spots to eat that arent chains and now we're one of the most expensive cities in Florida to live in. Yes theres so many rude entitle snobs here now, just horrible personalities coming down here to retire and they cant drive. Population in the area has exploded in recent decade and with the increase of tourism , all the smaller town feels are disappearing.

[@sharoncrawford3042]

You should see it now. My husband worked on mansions in gated communities. Nothing small about Naples at all. Air condition changed everything. Alot of these places are no longer there. Hugh condos all along the beaches. Port Royal is beautiful.

[@littlehummingbird1015]

My grand parents lived in Port Royal during the winters from about 1958 to 1985. Their original house is now unrecognizable....and sad to see.

[@MoMoMyPup10]

To look at it now is incredible after watching the origin story here. Port Royal and Gordon Dr. is obscene with jaw dropping wealth. I dropped I client off to go on a sightseeing tour in Naples and when she came back she said "now I know where the top 1/10th of 1% live"

[@imagineparrish]

Wish it was that way now.

[@wallaceowens1412]

Nu by

[@littlehummingbird1015]

You aren't the ONLY one! I lived there in the '50s.

[@inquisitor4635]

At 9:00pm every evening in Naples, some guy hits a master power switch and everything closes down.

[@littlehummingbird1015]

Gross~

[@michaelcurrie6008]

I would love to see one of these about Cocoa Beach. Merritt island cape canaveral area

[@wendyrobertson3899]

My Dad worked on the expansion of the Alley. Every bridge across there had a Pittsfield crew doing one step or another.

[@neversobeautifulnevers5462]

Clem Stewart was the Golf Superintendent of The Beach Club. Paul Nevers was a big part of the building of the "BIG CYPRESS GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB" He remained there after it opened in 1964 as the Golf Course Superintendent until he retired. In those days Ed Frank's son Paul Frank would land his yellow bi- plane on # 3 fairway (it was the longest one to land on) and take us kids up to fly over Naples. Try to do that today.

[@littlehummingbird1015]

🥺

[@catman8670]

Very interesting, but the snobbishness is sickening 🇺🇸

[@littlehummingbird1015]

Tragic to learn of that.

[@edpruitt5214]

@@littlehummingbird1015yyyyghh

[@shizzle1975]

For those complaining about traffic in Naples, this is nothing compared to the parking lot on I95 on the east coast of Florida. I’ve lived on both sides and the east coast is the nightmare.

[@waden404]

Go visit Pinellas County.....what a flippin mess. WAY over populated now.

[@sharoncrawford3042]

I knew Forrest Walker when I lived in Florida. Also his son Lorenzo Walker. They all became wealthy from real estate in Naples and Bonita Springs. I attended church with Lorenzo. Of course they all past away many years ago. I lived in SW Florida from 1982 until 2006. But my husband and I moved back to Ohio. Just way to many people down there. It grew like crazy while we lived there as well.

[@8.4V10]

Naples is my home town I do miss it id love to go back if I could

[@littlehummingbird1015]

@@8.4V10 Do you remember the Beach Store and the movie house next to it? We lived down the road on 3rd Ave South...near the end. Left in 1958 to move back to Penna....

[@pfcampos7041]

I grew up there from 1972 to 1999 it continues to grow rapidly to the point its hardly recognizable when I go back home.

[@littlehummingbird1015]

passed away....

[@Mr_Mgun]

moved to naples in 73 it is not the same as it was, sorry to say.

[@DR-mo5rt]

Current Naples is so busy and the traffic is terrible it’s basically the same as in high end and wanting nothing but the best but u get snobs in that category and for the cost of a one bedroom apartment is around 1200 and people make the same minimum wage as everyone else it’s literally ridiculous.... a complete separation between the rich and middle class because ur either rich or poor here so being middle class somewhere else still puts u as low man on totem pole down here

[@sharoncrawford3042]

This person is correct.

[@littlehummingbird1015]

I can well imagine. I have heartbreak over what Naples has become....we lived there in the 1950's.

[@diodelvino3048]

Yup even worse now, Average rent for one bedroom is around $1,500.

[@candicecorbin4690]

Its a land of opportunity, :) great place to be as an artist! I love it here :)

[@kathryncrowleybryan5844]

I love FL

[@sharoncrawford3042]

My husband worked in pelican bay. Exactually its in Bonita Springs.

[@yourlocalhitman4166]

Pelican Bay is in Naples not Bonita, you're thinking of Bonita Bay

[@flman1284]

​@@yourlocalhitman4166 or Pelican Landing

[@rorybellamy2533]

a $10. beach lot ? and they could not sell them. that is something

[@wed6790]

17:23 where did it all go wrong😂

[@sharoncrawford3042]

Its not a well kept secret now......

[@housemachine509]

What about current Naples?

[@needsomeink]

It sucks

[@sharoncrawford3042]

Alot of traffic and way to many people. Use to live there. Moved there in 1982. But it was a lot different then.

[@larzhillbot1443]

Mega overpopulated i moved away from Ft Myers 20 years ago for same reasons developers ruined every thing

[@larzhillbot1443]

@@sharoncrawford3042 grew up at Ft Myers beach back in 60/70s when it was still mom and pop beach cottages ... Now a Concrete Hell

[@littlehummingbird1015]

@@larzhillbot1443 I can imagine that they did...they always do!

[@billrayburn1756]

My name is Bill Rayburn i was raised in naples back in the 60. My farther was one of men that help build golden gate estates. The land was under water until they dug the canals to drains it. that is not were it started from if you would like to a lot more let me know,

[@AJ287772]

Any stories of north Naples, Naples park, what I-75 was like

[@itsnitz0575]

That's cool. I know exactly what you're talking about. I grew up on 27th st nw in Golden gate estates. Every road connected basically along the canals with trails we use to ride to jump from st to st lol. I was there in the 80s and 90s

[@colleendelvecchio4130]

I can't wait to live in naples!

[@paulwaters5125]

We're full.

[@littlehummingbird1015]

ARe you the snob type? IF so, you will fit in from what I've read.

[@rickkrehling4878]

Krehling industries hank....

[@larzhillbot1443]

Ruined by over population same as Ft Myers

[@littlehummingbird1015]

So sad to hear that....I could ride my bike to school...go into town from school for lunch during the lunch hour...ride bikes everywhere.

[@devangel3614]

They need to give tax and other breaks to those who own historic vernacular homes to help preserve them and demotivate the sale of history to those who will raze it and put up multi-storied undistinguished condo boxes in their place.

[@littlehummingbird1015]

I think there are few original homes there anymore....sad to say!

[@waden404]

As much as i like my state, Naples is just 'too much' for me. Growing up in Clearwater, i dont even go to the rat race known as Clwtr Beach at this point.

[@sharoncrawford3042]

There are banks on every corner almost in Naples.

[@sharlenesizer9906]

Maybe because of all of the people with money that own homes there! Haha 😉

[@littlehummingbird1015]

Just wait....when the economy crashes....just imagine what will happen to all those billionaires there! And...all the properties too...may end up like a ghost town, don't ya think?

[@itsnitz0575]

​@@littlehummingbird1015no

[@littlehummingbird1015]

@@OMTZ0 we'll see.....

[@4cornerpcast]

Port Royal was a Blk American community

[@itsnitz0575]

Huh? That was river park. Port royal started off as one of the most extravagant places to live in Naples. You had to be literally hand picked to live in that community. 😂

[@teop7887]

...now being over developed, over priced, and overrun by NY and NJ trash.