Our Story
OUR HISTORY
The history of the springs begins hundreds of years ago with the Calusa Indians who were the original inhabitants of this area. They used the natural spring water for medicinal and trading purposes. Then, in the early 1500s, Juan Ponce De Leon discovered the spring in his quest for the Fountain of Youth. Although he never found it, many believe the natural mineral waters running through the spring have special healing properties.
This natural mineral spring, which is still flowing on the property today, is the very spring for which the city was named – Bonita Springs.


The history of Shangri-La Springs starts in 1921 when Gilmer Heitman, considered to be a visionary of Bonita Springs, constructed The Heitman Hotel with 25 rooms along Heitman Avenue, now known as Old 41 Road. The hotel was built as a place to stay for home buyers during construction of their house.


Our stately property features an intimate boutique hotel experience with 2 guest suites in the main building and an additional 6 guest rooms in the Villa Ascona building near the property’s courtyard.
Amenities include a full-service organic spa, organic restaurant featuring ingredients from our on-site 4-acre USDA certifiedĀ organic garden and orchard, destination wedding venue, meeting rooms and a lively event calendar.
