Everything to Know About the Historic McGregor Corridor

Stretching from Downtown Fort Myers to Punta Rassa, historic McGregor Boulevard is one of the region’s most picturesque roadways. Running alongside the Caloosahatchee River, McGregor is home to beautiful old homes and towering palm trees.

McGregor Boulevard gets its name from a man named Ambrose McGregor. When he died, his philanthropist widow donated money to help pave some of the roadway, as long as it was named in honor of her former husband.

While the stretch of roadway was primarily once used for cattle runs, funding from McGregor’s widow helped lay the framework for the future expansion of Fort Myers. A fountain made in her honor now stands at Fort Myers Country Club. 

You just can’t miss the royal palms that line McGregor either, and you can thank, none other than, Thomas Edison for them. Edison actually imported the palms from Cuba, which helped lead to the city’s nickname, “The City of Palms”.

The very subdivision in the area was named after Edison, too. Edison Park was built in the 1920s by a friend of the inventor.

These days, you can still visit Edison’s former winter home in the historic McGregor Corridor, as well as the former home of his once friend and neighbor, Henry Ford. The Edison and Ford Winter Estates is considered to be of the city’s top tourist attractions.

Some of the city’s most beautiful neighborhoods still sit along McGregor Boulevard today as well, including gated Gulf Harbour. The prestigious neighborhood features a deep-water marina, as well as direct Gulf access and plenty of other added amenities.

Nearby Palmetto Point is considered by many to be the city’s top boating communities, thanks to its deep-water canals. The community of Town & River Estates, meanwhile, features private boat docks, wide canals, and the advantage of direct Gulf access.