The Bonita Springs Riverside Park is located on old US 41 Road in Olde Bonita and sits on the Imperial River. The park is used for holiday celebrations, art shows, festivals, Movies in the Park, and the Celebrate Bonita Festival. Also in the park is our band shell. Our amenites include sheltered picnic tables, park benches, and restrooms. On the grounds is the historic Lile’s Hotel and the historical Imperial River cottages that have been restored as part of a downtown redevelopment.
The cottages were built in 1945. They were originally located on the edge of the Imperial River. Their bungalow style was common at the time, and they featured board-and-batten siding and gabled roofs. The city of Bonita restored the cottages, stripping off their exterior paneling — added at some point over the years — and replacing it with the original style of overlapping boards.
The Liles Hotel is one of the oldest buildings in downtown Bonita. J. Wallace Liles of Ozark, Ala., built the Liles Hotel in 1926 and 1927. It eventually expanded into the Imperial River Court tourist camp. The Imperial River Court, Liles Hotel and its six nearby cottages appeared in a Sean Connery movie, “Just Cause.” It was filmed in the early 1990s.
Come explore the past and the future or just relax, take in the beauty and have a picnic.
Usage Fees:
Riverside Park is free for all to visit and enjoy.