Wednesday, November 4, 2026
Serving Everglades City, Chokoloskee and surrounding communities
The Everglades City Lions Club served over 400 sandwiches. Joyce, Connie, Caryn, and Sally were serving.
Charlie Gray, an instructor for Lorenzo Walker Technical College, explains the programs available for students interested in Aviation.
Paul Sims, a Board Member of Friends of the Everglades Airpark, Inc., instructs his granddaughter, Sailor.
Marco Civil Air Patrol with Mr. and Mrs. Bryant Garrett and Collier County Trinity Scott. Bryant is the Collier County Executive Airports Manager, and Scott is the Transportation Management Services Department Head. All enjoyed the Airpark Day's festivities.
John Shay from Marco Island examines the Wingless Piper Cub provided by Everglades Air Tours from LaBelle, Florida. Shay, a former private pilot in the area for many years, stopped by to wander through the show.
Winners of one of the free helicopter rides were Janet and Joe, pictured here with Greg Melanson, who donated the rides on his helicopter.
Great fun with a large crowd enjoying helicopter rides, music, classic cars, and complimentary stone crab by Mike Merritt.
Cars from Cool Cruisers of Southwest Florida drove their classic cars to Everglades City.
Music was provided by Caloosa Country of Alva, Florida.
Over 36 planes came to the event from Venice, Sarasota, Naples, and Miami.
This restored plane served in the U.S. Navy during World War II.
Judy Sims, board member of Friends of the Everglades Airpark. New members are encouraged to join.
A guest takes photos during a helicopter ride.
The Everglades Lions Club food booth.
This is the Flight Simulator provided by Everglades Air Tours, now currently located at the LaBelle Airport.
The Naples Chapter of the ’99s was established in 1929 to promote Women in Aviation.
Airpark Day was a rousing success with a great crowd coming out to enjoy everything the event had to offer!
The day started with several people pitching in at precisely the right times. My neighbor, Cindy, came along to help Judy Sims set up the Friends booth. Paul Sims had his team in place to pick up six golf carts from one of our premier RV Parks to use at no cost for providing transportation to pilots from the Airfield to McLeod Park. Paul managed the Airport part with ease; approximately 36 planes came to the event. The VP and former president of the Lions Club set about staging the food booth. All 10 volunteers for the food booth arrived and began prepping the food.
Pastor Jesse Wilson and one of their musicians arrived and began tuning up. The Car Club “Cool Cruisers” were arriving, and all the vendors were in place. The National Anthem was sung, Pastor Jesse gave an invocation, and our first-ever Airpark Day was officially open. All hands were on deck,and the show ran along as if perfectly staged.
The food was prepared, and all tables were full. The vendors had plenty of patrons, and the car show added that extra dimension for all who attended. The event connected our tiny town to one of its largest assets - the Everglades Airpark - which is adjacent to one of our nation's largest national parks. In a few weeks, Everglades National Park will be dedicating a multi-million dollar Visitors Center like no other in America.
This Airpark Day was planned and executed on its own merit on one of Florida’s most beautiful Saturdays for flying. The Friends of the Everglades Airpark, Inc., just gave Everglades City a new ray of hope for the future of our proud community.
Everglades Air Tours provided a Wingless Piper Cub, allowing children to sit behind the wheel of an airplane. They also provided a state-of-the-art flight simulator for patrons to try their hand at flying into the Everglades Airpark.
At the end of the day, over 400 sandwiches of pulled pork, hamburgers, cheeseburgers, and hot dogs were served along with water and lemonade. Attendees enjoyed helicopter rides, music, classic cars, and complimentary stone crab from Mike Merritt.
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