One of Bonita Springs’ most treasured landmarks is celebrating an incredible milestone.
Shangri-La Springs turns 100 years old in 2026, marking a full century of history, hospitality, wellness and community in the heart of Downtown Bonita Springs.
To celebrate, the City of Bonita Springs will present an official proclamation at Shangri-La Springs on Wednesday, September 9, followed by a free community celebration featuring live music, local vendors, organic dining and more.
But before we get into the festivities, let’s take a look back at the history of this truly special place, and how it became such an important part of Bonita Springs.
A Century of Shangri-La Springs
The story of Shangri-La Springs begins even before the hotel was built.
A natural mineral spring still flows through the property today. According to the history shared by Shangri-La Springs, the spring was used by the Calusa people for medicinal and trading purposes long before modern Bonita Springs existed. Local history also connects the spring to the origin of our city’s name.
In 1926, Gilmer Heitman, one of the early visionaries behind the development of Bonita Springs, constructed the Bonita Hotel along what was then the Tamiami Trail and is now Old 41 Road.
The 35-room hotel cost approximately $65,000 to build and was originally intended to house prospective buyers while their new homes were being constructed. In other words, the property was connected to the growth of Bonita Springs from its very beginning.
The History of Shangri-La Springs: A Timeline
1926: The Bonita Hotel Opens
Gilmer Heitman constructed the original Bonita Hotel with 35 guest rooms. It was built by the Goodman Company of Fort Myers and served as a place for potential homebuyers to stay while homes were being built in the area.
1929: Gus Wester Takes Over Operations
Heitman leased the hotel to businessman Gus Wester, an experienced Florida resort operator who had previously managed Fisherman’s Lodge on Captiva Island.
1930: The Property Changes Hands
The Bonita Springs Hotel was sold to America’s Playground, Inc., a company that operated several Florida hotels. Around this period, a swimming pool fed by the property’s mineral spring became part of the resort experience.
1935: The DeFoor Family Purchases the Hotel
Robert Thomas DeFoor and Elizabeth Metcalfe Haverfield DeFoor purchased the hotel for $6,000. Elizabeth later retained ownership of the property and operated it with help from her son, Sterling Haverfield.
Like much of Southwest Florida’s tourism industry, the hotel struggled during the wartime economy of the 1940s and was eventually sold.
1950: The Hotel Becomes Villa Bonita
Walter A. Mack, owner of Mack Cadillac Corporation in Chicago, purchased the property for $40,000 and made extensive improvements.
Mack renamed the property Villa Bonita and created a cabana club on Hickory Island near what we now know as Barefoot Beach. Hotel guests were given access to the beachfront retreat, connecting the inland mineral-spring resort with Bonita’s beautiful coastline.
1962: Wellness Becomes a Greater Focus
Dr. Charles Gnau, an osteopath who believed in the restorative qualities of the mineral springs, purchased the property.
He installed the Indian Maid of the Springs statue and fountain, which remains one of the property’s recognizable features today.
1965: Shangri-La Is Born
R.J. Cheatham purchased the property and renamed it Shangri-La, inspired by the fictional paradise described in the novel Lost Horizon.
Under Cheatham’s leadership, the hotel became an institute centered on “Natural Hygiene,” emphasizing nutrition, rest, healthy living and the body’s connection with nature.
Many of the ideas that defined the property during this era – wellness, nourishing food and peaceful surroundings – remain central to the Shangri-La experience today.
1993: A New Restoration Begins
Leo Dahlman purchased Shangri-La with plans to develop it into a first-class health resort. With experience in historic restoration and hotel management, he restored portions of the property before it ultimately entered foreclosure.
1998: Lama Hana Trust Preserves the Property
Lama Hana Trust, the property’s current owner, purchased Shangri-La Springs in 1998.
The conservation-minded organization committed to protecting the historic character and natural beauty of the property while returning Shangri-La to its roots in wellness, hospitality and community.
More Than a Hotel
It is difficult to explain what Shangri-La Springs means to Bonita Springs without talking about the memories made there.
For many local families, Shangri-La is much more than a beautiful historic property. It is where friends have gotten married beneath the trees, where families have gathered for baby showers, and where birthdays, anniversaries and other milestones have been celebrated.
There is something special about entering the gates and feeling as though you have stepped into another world, even though you are just minutes from home.
As Bonita Springs continues to grow and change, places like Shangri-La help preserve a connection to the city’s past. The buildings, mineral spring, gardens and massive trees offer a glimpse of Old Florida, but the property has never been frozen in time. It has continued to evolve and find new ways to welcome the community.
Shangri-La Springs Today
Today, Shangri-La Springs sits on more than eight lush acres and offers a boutique hotel experience, an organic spa, event and wedding spaces, wellness classes and a busy calendar of public events.
Harvest & Wisdom, the property’s farm-to-table restaurant, creates seasonal dishes using produce from Shangri-La’s four-acre organic garden and orchard, along with locally sourced organic proteins and beverages.
Throughout the year, Shangri-La also opens its grounds for live music, artisan markets, art shows, wellness experiences, historical tours and other special programs.
Events like Art & Soul Community Nights allow residents to experience the property even if they are not staying at the hotel, attending a private event or visiting the spa.
That continued connection with the public is a big part of what makes Shangri-La so meaningful. After 100 years, it remains a place where Bonita Springs can gather.
Celebrate 100 Years of Shangri-La Springs
The community is invited to celebrate Shangri-La Springs’ centennial on Wednesday, September 9, 2026.
City Proclamation Ceremony
Time: 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
The City of Bonita Springs will present an official proclamation recognizing the 100th anniversary of Shangri-La Springs, which was established as the Bonita Hotel in 1926.
Descendants of two families who played defining roles in the property’s history are also expected to attend.
Gilmer McCrary Heitman IV, known as Mike, and members of his family will represent the descendants of hotel founder Gilmer Heitman. Wendy Cheatham Newman, daughter of R.J. Cheatham, will represent the family responsible for transforming the property into the Shangri-La Health Resort in 1965.
The ceremony will honor both Shangri-La’s history and the generations of people who helped preserve the property.
A Little Summer Soul
Time: 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Following the proclamation, the celebration will continue with A Little Summer Soul – a free community event featuring:
- Live music powered by Sugarshack Sessions
- A performance by Soul System Revival
- Local artists, artisans and vendors
- Organic dining options from Harvest & Wisdom
- A cash bar
- Complimentary valet parking
Admission to A Little Summer Soul is free.
Reservations are required for dinner at Harvest & Wisdom and can be made by calling 239-949-0749.
Event Details
What: Shangri-La Springs’ 100th Anniversary Celebration
When: Wednesday, September 9, 2026
City Proclamation Ceremony: 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
A Little Summer Soul: 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Where: Shangri-La Springs
Address: 27750 Old 41 Road, Bonita Springs, Florida
Admission: Free
Dinner reservations: 239-949-0749
For additional information, visit the Shangri-La Springs website.
Here’s to the Next 100 Years
Shangri-La Springs has had several names, many owners and countless chapters, but its connection to wellness, nature and hospitality has endured.
For a century, people have arrived at this little oasis in Bonita Springs looking for rest, celebration, connection or simply a beautiful place to spend time.
On September 9, our community will have the opportunity to come together and celebrate not only the history of Shangri-La Springs, but all of the weddings, showers, dinners, concerts and everyday memories that have made it part of Bonita Springs’ story.
Here’s to 100 years of Shangri-La Springs and to the many memories still to come.
