Golden Gate
Located on the far northeastern part of the Naples area is the section of town known as Golden Gate. This area began development in the 1950s and 1960s, when Jack and Leonard Rosen, founders of Gulf American Corporation purchased the large 175 square mile are of Everglades swampland in the late 1950s.
You will notice quite a few similarities to Cape Coral here in Golden Gate as they were both built by the same developer, Gulf American Corporation. Cape Coral rapidly became a functioning city and a boater’s paradise, but Golden Gate had a more rocky start.
After their success with Cape Coral, they turned their attention to their next project, Golden Gate Estates. Here they had a different plan, they would just sell raw land and a dream. Lots were sold as acreage here with the Golden Gate sales force peddling land from 1 1/4 to five acres, convincing buyers — many of them middle-class workers and retirees — that they could become rich by later subdividing and redeveloping their own “estates.”
To prepare a subdivision that at least looked as if it was ready to receive thousands of happy new residents, Gulf American dug roads and cut canals through pristine pine flatwoods and marshy grasslands, cabbage palm hammocks and cypress stands. As they moved south of Alligator Alley, the company’s engineers turned a meandering creek into a razor-straight ditch that sluiced through prairies, sawgrass and mangroves and emptied smack in the middle of the rich estuary of the Ten Thousand Islands.
The company for a short time operated its own airline. Buyers were flown down to visit with two resort sites constructed. One was called Remuda Ranch (located where Port of the Islands is today) and the other was located on the site of the Golden Gate Golf Club. The areas that visitors would see were developed into the Cape Coral Style canal front developments. You will notice many similarities between Golden Gate City and Cape Coral. Both areas have “Parkways” running east and west and “Boulevards” running north and south.
At one point, Gulf American rewrote legal descriptions for 1,300 lots, relocating them a few miles away after minerals were discovered under the freshly sold parcels.
When the fraud was uncovered, the company was ordered by the state Installment Land Sale Board to suspend lot sales for 30 days. Ironically, Leonard Rosen was a member of the board.
In 1974 the company filed for bankruptcy, promising to provide phone service, electricity and central sewer lines in three years. But in 1979 GAC went down the tubes one last time, and a federal court shifted the responsibility for making Golden Gate a livable community to lot owners and county taxpayers.
In 1980 Avatar Holdings of Coral Gables became the final manifestation of GAC. It was left with a few thousand lots and a contract to provide water to the residents living in Golden Gate City.
By then reality had caught up to the grandiose dream of Golden Gate, and property values collapsed as the rest of the world learned of the debacle.
Only in the 70,000 acres north of Alligator Alley — in Golden Gate City and the surrounding estates — has the dream survived.
Golden Gate is considered the future of Collier County’s growth and development. Millions of dollars for parks, roads, and schools have been allocated by Collier County for the development and growth of this area. The Rosen Brothers were just WAY ahead of their time on the growth in the area.
Golden Gate City
Golden Gate City is now one of the fast growing communities in Naples. This large, established community is situated east of Central Naples, few minutes northeast of Interstate-75. The whole community is bordered by Collier Boulevard in the east, Santa Barbara Boulevard in the west, Green Boulevard in the north, and I-75 in the south.
The area is a diverse well-established neighborhood with a wide array of housing options. You will find that this is a mixed use area with commercial development along the main corridors (Golden Gate Parkway, Collier Blvd, and Santa Barbara Blvd) and multifamily properties along the secondary corridors with residential in the middle.
Golden Gate City is one of the most walkable neighborhoods in Naples with most businesses within a convenient walk from home. The area has convenient neighborhood schools (most kids walk to school).
At the center of the Golden Gate City area is the Golden Gate Community Center, a large park, and The Golden Gate Regional Library.
Golden Gate Estates
Golden Gate Estates is Naples’ premiere acreage community and offers a rural wooded feel. Here there are no HOA Fees and there is a live and let live attitude. This can sometimes be considered the “opposite of Naples” where most communities are governed by strict HOAs.
The area is great for pets, including dogs, cats and horses as well as a few farm animals. This is a VERY large area located east of Collier Blvd and is home to a few points of interest.
Shy Wolf Sanctuary
NGALA Wildlife Preserve
Waterfront & Boating
While Golden Gate lacks a beach of its own, the community has many miles of canals (no gulf access). Here you will find a place ideal for freshwater boating.
Within Golden Gate there is a canal system suitable for small craft boating. This is however a landlocked canal system and does NOT provide gulf access. Bridges across canals here provide between 3 and 7 feet of clearance underneath, and clearances will vary slightly depending on canal water levels.
Canal front homes often feature backyard boat docks, and those with a non waterfront home may launch vessels at Golden Gate Community Park and at a few other locations.