Everglades Airpark Day Launches a New Community Tradition

Everglades City had a picture-perfect weekend for the first-ever Everglades Airpark Day, hosted by the Friends of Everglades Airpark, Inc. The event brought together pilots, families, local volunteers, and classic car enthusiasts for a full day of food, music, aviation demonstrations, and small-town community spirit.

From the moment things kicked off, the atmosphere felt like “old Florida” at its best. Mike Merritt arranged for a local stone crabber to donate forty pounds of fresh claws, which didn’t last long once the crowd got a taste. The Everglades Lions Club kept the grills running nonstop, with Lions Felton Wells and Ted Lock flipping burgers and hot dogs as quickly as they could manage while Lion Connie Barker wrapped sandwiches for a line that never seemed to shorten. All ten Lions Club volunteers showed up to help cook and serve more than 400 pulled pork sandwiches, burgers, and hot dogs. No one left hungry. Children from the Chokoloskee Church of God sold homemade baked goods, and Jill Whitcomb offered “Hook ’em in the Glades” shirts from the recent fishing tournament.

The aviation activity was steady all day, with more than thirty-six planes flying into Everglades Airpark (X01). Families gathered around as winners were announced for free airplane and helicopter rides, adding even more anticipation to an already lively morning. All around the field, you could hear people comparing flight stories and watching the incoming traffic with big smiles.

One of the biggest hits with kids was the “wingless plane” brought in by Dan Carey’s Everglades Tour Company. Towed in specifically for the event, the cockpit let children climb inside and pretend to take off. Carey’s crew also helped visitors try a hands-on flight simulator, while Everglades Air Tours of LaBelle brought a more advanced simulator outfitted with the full panel of controls. Adults and children took turns trying to land safely — with mixed results and a lot of laughter.

Throughout the park, the community partners added to the energy of the day. Lorenzo Walker Technical College had a booth explaining their aviation mechanics programs. The Naples 99s, part of the national organization founded in 1929 to support women in aviation, shared information and items for sale. Volunteers from the Civil Air Patrol talked with families about the important safety and rescue missions staged from Everglades Airpark, including operations inside Everglades National Park when needed. Model airplane fans gathered around a display from Naples Model Airplane Club’s Cliff McMorris, who showcased part of his collection and demonstrated. The Cool Cruisers lined Broadway Street with restored antiques and classic cars, drawing visitors for photos and nostalgia.

Music from the Caloosa Country Band carried across the grounds through most of the day, giving the whole event a relaxed, festival feel. Between songs, people kept talking about something many hadn’t realized until they saw it for themselves: just steps from the Airpark, separated only by a small stream and a few acres of mangroves, sits the site of the new Everglades National Park Visitors Center. Several attendees pointed out how a simple boardwalk could one day connect the Visitors Center to the Airpark, opening the door to world-class air tours over the 10,000 Islands — an attraction that could rival other national park flight experiences like the Grand Canyon or Yellowstone.

That sense of possibility hung in the air all afternoon. Everglades National Park is on the edge of being rediscovered, and events like this remind everyone how important Everglades City is to that future. With so many families, pilots, and volunteers turning out, the first Everglades Airpark Day felt like the beginning of something much bigger for our community.

It was, in every way, a homegrown celebration — the kind that brings people together, sparks conversations, and leaves everyone already talking about next year.