There are a few places that still exist that can only be discovered when they find you…read more Located just before the El Jobean bridge on State Road 776. Unseen by most,because of its remote location within the Myakka State Park forest. Originally, in the early 1900s it was the home of El Jobean's only post offices/ general store by a visionary named, Joel Bean. Today the historical property remains intact as a restaurant and lounge for local musicians. Ironically the history of Joel Bean can be best defined in verse 9 of a song titled The Ballads of El Jobean. "But there is only one here who has visions Of a city not so mean That shall rise above the present To dream of El Jobean" Should you visit this property you will find yourself surrounded by local and ageless musicians playing songs like that one. Along with a handful of other travelers and visionaries who have answered the calling to the sound of old El Jobean.

Very good to people who come for assistance. Meals are good as well…read more Took good care of myself , husband and my fog

I volunteered here for a few months after the main volunteer Gary explained how and what it was…read moreabout. It was a blessing to help the community and meet some really awesome people like Marylou! They all really care and will use all their resources to get people back on their feet.

Hotel Punta Gorda was one of the first buildings of any kind constructed in Punta Gorda. It was…read morelocated at the southern terminus of railroad service on Florida's west coast, which was provided by the Florida Southern Railway. The hotel was built by Henry Plant who was known for building grand hotels on Florida's east coast like the ones Henry Flagler was building on Floridas east coast. Hotel Punta Gorda was one of 20 grand hotels built in Florida in the 19th century when it opened in January 1888. During it's first season it served over 3,300 guests which was quite the feat considering the area was sparsely populated. The three story building contained 150 rooms all with a view of the waters of Charlotte Harbor. The Queen Anne style included clapboard siding, multi-paned windows, round conical roofed towers and a hipped roof. Not everyone was enamored with the beauty of the hotel. Reporter Mr. Peeples from the Punta Gorda Herald wrote in 1910: "The big unsightly building known as the Hotel Punta Gorda continues to be an eyesore and an incubus to the town and there seems no prospect that it will ever be anything else. ... The huge old hulk standing idle and ugly for nine years past is actually a curse to the community." Located in a remote area of Florida the hotel still had many modern conveniences like gas lighting, electric bells, steam heat and open fireplaces. The grounds were beautifully landscaped with camphor trees and palms. Visitors to the hotel included wealthy and notable snowbirds Thomas Edison, John Wanamaker, W. K. Vanderbilt, and the Samuel Colt family. The hotel declined through the years and closed in 1914. In 1924 Barron Collier purchased the hotel and changed it's name to the Hotel Charlotte Harbor. Over three years and $250,000 he remodeled the hotel and expanded the grounds. He stuccoed the exterior, added a fourth floor private apartments, a fifth floor glassed in ballroom, arches to the porch, a boat basin and a 176 x 80 foot swimming pool. In 1927 two clay tennis courts were put in for famous tennis player Big Bill Tilden who started his career in Punta Gorda and he won a tournament here in 1931. Reopened on January 2, 1927 the hotel flourished again with many famous guests until the Great Depression 5 years later. Upon Colliers death the hotel was sold to G. Floyd Alford in 1944 and he let Martin Fleischman take over the mortgage in 1956. Mr. Fleischman changed the name of the hotel to the Charlotte Harbor Spa and poured money into turning it into a health retreat but it never turned a profit. A fire on August 14, 1959 provided the death knell for the hotel. The fire could be seen or 25 miles and firefighters were called out from three counties. At one point the fire threatened to engulf the rest of the town. By the time the fire was put out there was only a blackened chimney and the twisted metal of the elevators left. The cause of the fire remains a mystery. A dedication ceremony was held on September 9, 2009, at West Marion Avenue for the historical marker. It was paid for by the Charlotte County Historical Center and the City of Punta Gorda. All that is left as a reminder of the hotel is this marker, a downtown mural, and the hotels fountain that sits in Punta Gordas History Park. The land the hotel sat on is currently for sale.

I found the office to be professional, warm community based environment. The people working there…read moreseem efficient in their skills as ell.

Bill Gunin is an awesome exec! He keeps the Chamber humming, works well with the board, members,…read moregovt leaders and community. When there is a Chamber event, Bill puts out signage that keeps everyone on track. Businesses that want to grow MUST join NP Chamber. Newcomers and long-time residents can pick up lots of info about local businesses. I love to participate in their many social events; they are great social networking opportunities. Get involved in the Chamber and your community. Gale

Located on a wall in front of Punta Gorda City Hall, this marker provides some of the early history…read moreand founding of the city. A different perspective from the parker over by the courthouse in Hector House Plaza. It reads, "Spanish fishermen from Cuba first gave the name "Punta Gorda" to this area in the early 1800's. The City was originally platted as "Trabue" by Isaac H. Trabue on February 24, 1885. The City of Punta Gorda came into being when a group of men met in a home on Cross Street and decided that the community should be incorporated. They walked to Pine Level and filed the necessary papers on December 7, 1887." It is marker number F-112 and it was erected in 1963 by the Florida Board of Parks and Historic Memorials in cooperation with The City of Punta Gorda. Punta Gorda's story begins long before the Cuban fishermen. The region was home to the Calusa people, a powerful Indigenous society that dominated Southwest Florida for centuries. Their shell mounds, canals, and fishing technologies shaped the landscape long before Europeans arrived. The name Punta Gorda appears on maps as early as 1851, referring to the literal fat point of land that juts into Charlotte Harbor. Before Trabue, a handful of post-Civil War homesteaders settled the area. Frederick and Jarvis Howard, both Union veterans, established a homestead south of the Peace River in the 1870s. James and Josephine Lockhart followed in 1876, building a home that later became central to the townsite. Lockhart eventually sold his claim to James Madison Lanier, a hunter and trapper who lived there for two years before moving on. The arrival of the railroad in 1886-1887 was the true catalyst for Punta Gorda's transformation. The Hotel Punta Gorda, built soon after, drew winter visitors and helped establish the town as a seasonal destination. [Review 1587 of 2025 - 2168 in Florida - 25137 overall]

I have worked with hundreds of municipalities and procurement people and have never had anyone…read moredeliver the speed and expertise of Cassandra Price. Amazing! I have never met her in person but she is awesome to work with on the phone. I sure hope the City of Punta Gorda recognizes what an asset she is...Tom, contract sales ARS Powersports Okeechobee Fl.

I agree with the people from Lee. I spent two years down there and used the south library off…read moreGladiolus (I believe it was on Bass.) and the north Fort Myers just over the Edison bridge. Unlike what is left of the Charlotte libraries, I never left a Lee county library empty handed. Unfortunately, I believe the reason for that is the difference in the size of the population. I'm sure Lee gets a much larger amount of funding. So much so that they have enough books to actually seperate them by type, making it easier to find what you're looking for. There is no excuse I can think of to not have a complete set of a series though. Has happened to me enough times that I no longer take out any part of a series. I tend to just be glad we have a library at all considering the state of things today. Overall I believe these people are doing the best they can with what they have to work with.

We recently moved to Charlotte County from Lee and we're disappointed in the limited selection of…read moreBOOKS at the Punta Gorda Library. Just about anything I'm interested in reading is only available electronically. The Biographies and History sections are minimal. Fiction is no better - as an example, they'll have one book from a series of seven, maybe 3 books from a series of 15 and a 32-book series has only 10 books - and they're not in series order. Makes it frustrating.

This store went above and beyond to make sure my package got to its destination on time. I…read moreappreciate Trish for being knowledgeable on different ways to send and what would or not come with tracking numbers. Everything was approved! Thank you

Located by US 41 and Cochran Ave. Shipping supplies for sales are full, however, shipping supplies…read morefor free such as Priority flat rate boxes, envelopes... are empty most of the time. Service is slow although not much customers as other PO around. Needs to improve for better service.

Staff was very helpful and got the job done! The building was very clean and neat. Thank you all…read morefor your help

Excellent efficient service!! All done by a phone call, and honestly I was expecting the opposite…read morefrom experiences long in the past. I was amazed!!