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tide of the retirement of thousands puff y clouds – just you and the
of World War II aviators,” says local environment.”
historian and real estate appraiser Ray Wing South’s Star
Carroll, “many of whom continued Myrt Rose is a standout
working in the aviation industry after among neighbors. She fl ies a
entering private life. mint-condition 1941 Piper Cub and
Polly did sense an opportunity owns a legacy as colorful as her bright
for a niche market when Naples was blue and yellow plane, which she
spreading its wings only a decade after parks in her garage.
Hurricane Donna. In addition to parachuting
Noted local Realtor Bill and fl ying helicopters too, she was a
Plane truth: Wing South neighborhood marks 50th anniversary Earls, with John R. Wood Properties, barnstorming wing-walker – upright
says Wing South and others tend
as well as upside down.
to be small subdivisions catering to She attracted international
recreational fl iers who otherwise headlines at age 75 in 2011 by
“ heers for 50 Years.” “You get to live with your plane; would compete for limited hangar space at conventional airports. accidentally fl ying into the restricted airspace around President
C it’s right there at your fi ngertips,” Pilots with larger planes require more services than fl y-ins can Obama, who was in nearby Chicago for a birthday party.
So says the birthday banner at
explains Kevin Dey, a neighborhood
provide, he explains, though Wing South does off er fuel sales. She made the mistake of having her radio off for a casual
a Naples neighborhood where leader whose work these days is
Convenient fuel comes in handy for day trips, Dey says, fl ight, which also let her assume the two F-16 fi ghter jets that
another sign also catches your eye: “Taxiing blocking new development next
such as jaunts to Key West for “hundred dollar hamburgers” – forced her down were coming by to admire her “cute little plane.”
airplanes have the right of way.” door from fi ghting air traffi c noise
plane costs included. An unapologetic Rose joshed to a reporter that Michelle
Th at narrows the half-century milestone later, with help from County
Th e freedom is worth every penny to Dey. “You are up Obama should have baked a cake for the president and kept the
to a single place, Wing South Airpark off Commissioner Penny Taylor.
by Jeff Lytle there and it’s like heaven – or Disney World,” he says. “It’s clean, celebration in Washington.
Rattlesnake Hammock Road. Residents come One home is even designed
and go by planes kept in oversized attached garages just as boaters to resemble an airport control
come and go from big docks in waterfront communities. tower, which Wing South does
At Wing South, the sound of takeoff s and landings fail to not have. No one on the ground
raise anyone’s ire as they might at other airports. Instead, the traffi c even serves as a traffi c controller.
inspires slogans such as “We all love airplane noise,” which some Pilots at night can activate runway
residents go so far as to call “music.” lights with a click of their radio
And that music does not all come from tiny putt-putt microphone. NEED CAR STORAGE?
planes. Th e 4,400-foot runway can handle twin-engine propeller Th e airpark started life in the middle of nowhere. “Sure
planes and small jets. looked like a runway being built in Nowhereville,” the late Bob
Still, one of the best parts about Wing South, says Ettinger wrote of a fl yover in 1973. “Th ere was not another soul in
resident Fizz Papp, is its peace and quiet. “It’s a real community,” sight for miles.”
he says. “We all have common interests, and dogs are welcome, Now it is in the heart of the urban area. Nearby Naples
with lots of space for them to enjoy in a secure, gated community.” Airport is a good, friendly neighbor, actually carving a notch in its 2 Locations to Choose - Naples and Bonita Springs, Florida
Th e “common restricted fi ve-mile airspace for planes coming to and from Wing
interests,” of course, South, Dey says. MONTHLY, SEASONAL, ANNUAL, HURRICANE
are love of planes In fact, in the days before modern GPS tracking, non-
and fl ying them, resident pilots would mistake Wing South for the airport on
often daily. Marco Island.
Th ose are Wing South was the brainchild of developer George WE HAVE YOU COVERED!
passions acquired in Dewey Polly in an era when a go-getter could have a hand in
the military and/or almost everything around Naples. Polly was a Collier County MONITORING • HURRICANE RATED • 100% CLIMATE CONTROLLED
commercial airlines, commissioner and local booster, owner of Th e Pewter Mug. He
or as bucket list is credited with popularizing the name Alligator Alley, founding www.NaplesUltimateGarages.com | JB@NaplesUltimateGarages.com
hobbies later in life. landmark radio station WNOG (for Wonderful Naples on the
With a big plus at Gulf) and spearheading what is now Delnor-Wiggins State Park.
Wing South. Polly did not invent the airplane community concept.
“Wing South and most other airparks fl ourished on the rising 239-682-6599
Myrt Rose

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