Gulf American sold Cape Coral land by flying buyers in for free. The company ran its own airline between Miami and Fort Myers and hired another airline to bring prospects from the Northeast and Midwest. Small planes also gave free rides over the lots. This page is part of our history of Cape Coral.
Photo: Gulf American’s third sales office, the Chandler Building, in 1961. Small planes used a paved street nearby as an airstrip. Restored and colorized from Lies That Came True by Eileen Bernard. Colors are added digitally.
The free rides
The idea was simple. Show people the land from the air, then walk them to a sales office. The book Lies That Came True says planes named “The Spirit of Cape Coral” carried visitors over the lots, and that by 1961 more than 100,000 passengers a year were taken up, with a Cessna leaving about every eight minutes.
When the streets were runways
The book says the first airstrips were paved streets, Cape Coral Parkway and Southeast 47th Terrace, before a dedicated airfield was built near Southeast 26th Street. The photo above is the book’s 1961 picture of the Chandler Building, and its caption says small planes used the paved street nearby as an airstrip. The Cape Coral History Museum also says the Rosens built an airfield to promote the community.
From Cessnas to airliners
Wikipedia says the company set up Gulf American Airlines, with five Douglas DC-3 planes flying between Miami and Fort Myers. Starting in 1958, it also hired Modern Air Transport to fly prospects in from the Northeast and Midwest, with a free meal on board. Wikipedia says that business made up about 25 percent of Modern Air’s total. The book adds that the company later bought Modern Air Transport, in 1966, and that the Fort Myers airport, Page Field, extended its runway for the flights.
How the selling worked
Wikipedia says buyers were also invited to free dinners in hotel banquet rooms, where a sale could close in about 90 minutes, and that buyers had six months to cancel. The book describes the same six-month window as an inspection privilege that let sight-unseen buyers keep, exchange or get a refund. The book also says the mailing list grew from 70,000 names toward half a million. It says the company was reporting sales of $1 million a day by 1965.
For more on how the city grew, read the history of the Cape Coral Bridge and what a Cape Coral lot cost in 1959. If you are moving here from out of state, our relocation guide is the place to start.
Fly and Buy FAQ
How did Gulf American sell Cape Coral land?
It flew prospects to Southwest Florida for free and showed them the land from the air. It also held free dinners and sold lots by mail and in sales offices. Buyers had a six-month window to cancel.
Did planes take off from the streets?
Yes, according to the book. It says paved streets such as Cape Coral Parkway and Southeast 47th Terrace served as early airstrips. A 1961 photo caption in the book says small planes used a paved street as an airstrip.
How many people flew in?
The book says more than 100,000 passengers a year by 1961.
Where was the Cape Coral airfield?
The book says a dedicated airfield was built near Southeast 26th Street. The Cape Coral History Museum confirms an airfield was built to promote the community.
Sources
- Wikipedia, Gulf American Land Corporation
- Wikipedia, Cape Coral, Florida
- Cape Coral History Museum, History of Cape Coral
- Eileen Bernard, Lies That Came True (book)
Eileen Bernard worked in Gulf American’s publicity department, so her book is an insider’s account of Cape Coral’s early years. We use it alongside the other sources listed here.
Brenton Miebach, REALTOR®
Southwest Florida Lifestyle Living, eXp Realty. Helping buyers and sellers in Cape Coral, Fort Myers and Estero. Call or text 239-990-7738 or email brenton@brentonmiebach.com.
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